The Longest Day Turns 70

Today marks the 70th Anniversary of The Longest Day.  Last Fall, Umlaut accomplished a life long goal of visiting Normandy, France and the D-Day battlefields.  Calling the experience epic doesn't begin to do it justice.  Anyway, I have not been in a writing mood recently (which is why this space has been silent) but since a picture is worth a thousand words here are several thousand "words" on my pilgrimage: 

Pegasus Bridge

Sainte-Mère-Église [Note the tribute to Pvt. John Steele]

Sainte-Mère-Église.  This site is now a public restroom.... Awkward.

I stumbled into Carentan, France almost by accident.  If you've watched Band Of Brothers you understand why this was a big deal... Unfortunately, the plaque on the village's monument to the 101st Airborne was badly oxidized and hard to read.

 Dragon's Teeth - Juno Beach
 

This view is looking down on the Omaha Beach killing zone from the bluff where the Germans were entrenched in 1944.  It's now where the American Cemetery is located.

What I listened to while walking on Omaha Beach.  Maiden.  Always.

This is a panoramic shot of Omaha Beach taken from the water's edge and looking towards the bluff where the Germans were entrenched in 1944 and where the American Cemetery is now located.  I walked from the water's edge all the way back up to the top of the bluff.  Images from the dozens of World War II books that I've read since I was a kid and the scenes from The Longest Day and Saving Private Ryan almost blinded my psyche.  It was one of the most intense experiences ever and was made even more profound because I was literally the only human on the beach... which tripped me out.  As my feet sank into the sand with each step I felt like I was walking on the souls of all the dead soldiers.

Two of Robert Capa's famous Omaha Beach photos taken in the heat of combat on D-Day.

 Master Of Puppets.. The American Cemetery - Omaha Beach

I have no idea....

 

Pointe du Hoc.  The ground is still scarred and misshapen from the June 1944 combat.  The ruins of old German fortifications are everywhere to climb into and feel the ghosts of war. 

How do you say Master Of Puppets in German?  The German Cemetery - La Cambe, France

An Unknown German Soldier

An Unknown British Soldier.. The British Cemetery - Bayeux, France

 German Hetzer Tank Destroyer... I think.

German Panther with a shell hole in the right side of the turret that probably killed it.

Operation Overlord Cookies.  Deliciously liberating!

The American Cemetery Visitors Center - Omaha Beach

This has been my obligatory June 6th rant.  On the way back to America, some pimply-faced World War II vets called me a fag.  I'm way behind updating this space with Metal and Lock 'N Loll stuff... Writer's block is a bitch.  Stay tuned and let's see if I get my word mojo back. Until then, remember and commemorate this day:

The Day Of Days

June 6th: The Anniversary of D-Day AND The International Day of Slaaayeer. Honor and celebrate accordingly...



San Diego - 6/06/06!!
(From the Umlaut Archives)


Visit these previous Umlaut posts about this hallowed date:

• 06/06/06
• The Longest Day
• Overlord

"Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

Overlord

Sixty-three years ago today.

If you don't know what I'm talking about I'll do what I always do when I encounter indifference about History: Exclaim "What the fuck...", shake my head in dismay, and walk away to rant about it in this space.

Those who fail to learn from History are doomed to listen to crap music.

• 06/06/06
• The Longest Day
• Umlaut @ The National World War II Museum
  

On a Music Geek note, Umlaut's Favorite WW2 Songs are:

• Aces High - Iron Maiden
• Angel Of Death - Slayer
• Bomber - Motörhead
• Chattanooga Choo Choo - Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
  
• I Was A Kamikazi Pilot - Hoodoo Gurus
• I'll Be Seeing You - Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
  
• The Longest Day - Iron Maiden
• ME 262 - Blue Öyster Cult
  
• Sentimental Journey - Les Brown & His Orchestra
• The Messerschmitt Pilot's Severed Hand - Thee Headcoats
• We'll Meet Again - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra

FLASH.... THUNDER.

The Longest Day

Before I was a Music Geek, I was a History Geek... and it's already been well-documented in this space how Iron Maiden have always bridged those two sides of me. I dare you to name a more literate band. Dare. YOU.

Anyway, here's a screen shot from a bootleg DVD of Maiden's October 12, 2006 show at Nassau Coliseum in New York during the song 'The Longest Day':


'The Longest Day' is from Maiden's latest album. Extra credit if you can identify what's on the stage backdrop.... Okay, I know you probably went to public schools so I'll tell you: The backdrop images are the front pages of newspapers from June 1944 announcing the D-Day invasions at Normandy, France. D-Day. Operation Overlord. Omaha Beach. The Longest Day.

Yes, that's right, Saving Private Ryan.. Very good... now wipe that fucking smirk off your face before I slap you 'cause if it wasn't for that event we'd all be speaking German, wearing lederhosen, goose-stepping, listening to bad techno music, and watching soccer instead of the NFL!! Think about THAT!

[Note: Umlaut must apologize to his old friends Ginger and Todd for using Deutsch stereotypes in the heat of typing this...]

What's my point here? Dude, Iron Maiden used the front page headlines from June 1944 announcing D-Day as their stage backdrop during a song about D-Day! If you can't appreciate that then I believe Nickelback tickets just went on sale. Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to listen to crap music.

No other band flies the flag for literacy like Iron Maiden, except for maybe BlöödHag. Maiden should be the house band for the History Channel. BTW, Maiden's latest album A Matter Of Life And Death is their best since 1985 IMO.

Ironically, Miatomic gave me a replica of The Clicker used by the 101st Airborne on D-Day for my birthday:

"This Clicker played an important part in the liberation of France in June 1944. It was issued to the 101st Airborne Div. for communication without arousing the Germans."

The history lesson? You DO NOT want to arouse Germans during combat!

Read Books. Listen to Iron Maiden.

06/06/06

Once every one hundred years.


"666.. The one for you and me!"

Oh yeah, it's also the 62nd Anniversary of the "Day Of Days".


"Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely."

I'm a Metal Geek.. I'm a History Geek... Some people call me Maurice.. 'cause I speak of the pompitous of love.