60 years on....

'For in war just as in loving you must always keep on shoving
Or you'll never get your just reward.
For if you are dilatory in the search for lust or glory
You are up Sh*tcreek and that's the truth, Oh! Lord.

So let us do real fighting, boring in and gouging, biting.
Let's take a chance now that we have the ball.
Let's forget those fine firm bases in the dreary shell-raked spaces,
Let's shoot the works and WIN! yes, win it all.'

( fragment of Poem written by George S Patton in Normandy, July 1944 )

Diary, July 31st

'I thanked the staff for their long endurance during non-employment and said I knew they would be just as good when the fighting started, and to always be audacious.....
Got to bed about 1.00 o'clock, August 1st '

At noon on August 1, US 3rd Army would officially become Operational in France.

__________________
"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Hmmmm.... He was a bit odd wasnt he..?

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"Watch that Fu*ker, he'll 'ave someones eye out!" King Harold at Hastings 1066.

Diary, August 2nd.

East of Avranches we caught up with the 90th....the division is bad, the discipline poor, the men filthy and the officers apathetic. I saw one artillery lieutenant jump out of his jeep and hide in a ditch when one plane flew over at high altitude firing a little. I corrected these acts on the spot.

Some men were getting rides on guns and others made no comment. I called them babies and they dismounted.'

__________________
"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson