Men stormed a beach in France against impossible odds, facing gun-fire from well-fortified and dug-in positions. The first men to set foot on Normandy would most likely meet a quick bullet, and most of them did. Some of them, barely alive, thought only of their families and the brothers-in-arms who would be following them; some of them used themselves as shields.

Rivers of blood, bodies littering the beach...on any other day, this would be a vacation destination. But on this day 65 years ago, this picturesque location was the location of an allied invasion into axis territory. You could say it turned the tide of the war (and the pun is not at all intended.

I wasn't there, but I've seen the pictures (documented photographs), I've seen images of the terrain, I can imagine how horrible it was, not only for allied troops, but also those of Germany. The vast freedoms we enjoy as Americans (and of those in allied countries) were greatly defended that day.

Thank you, troops, who stormed the beaches.

Read more about the invasion here. Be sure to follow some of the links at the bottom of the article for more information, if you're interested.