The American Beaches of Omaha and Utah suffered severe casualties in the first wave that approached the beaches. The British and Canadian beaches also suffered massive casualties during the first wave. By the end of the day, the Canadians were the only country to successfully fulfill all their objectives and capture a decent amount of land.
Respect to you Canadians from Philippines. Salute to these brave Canadian warriors and all other D-Day veterans. Our gratitude will always be everlasting for fighting against the malevolent tyranny. Happy 75th anniversary. We shall never forget.
Juno or Juno Beach was one of five beaches of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June, 1944 during the Second World War. Operation Neptune, the landing phase of Overlord, called for a five-division front spread across 50 mi (80 km) of coastline; three airborne divisions (two American, one British, which also included a Canadian battalion) would also land in the pre-dawn hours of D-Day. Eisenhower and General Bernard Montgomery hoped to have eight infantry divisions and fourteen tank regiments in the Normandy beachhead by nightfall on D-Day. The landing zone was divided into five landing areas, with the Americans attacking Utah (the westernmost) and Omaha, and the British attacking Gold and Sword. Juno, a 6 mi (9.7 km) stretch of shoreline between La Rivière to the west and Saint-Aubin to the east, was assigned to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division (3rd CID), commanded by Major-General Rod Keller.
A very lovely and well organized ceremony honoring Canadian Veterans. It would be interesting to have had the Warrior Blessing done by the Cree Elder from Alberta translated, as well as the drumming ceremony. By chance, would anyone know which unit a Canadian tanker, a proper gent who's name is Lt. Gordon Henry. Lt. Henry took out 5 Panther tanks from the 12th SS Panzer Division with a 17 pounder mounted atop the Sherman tank he was a crew member of. Five tanks in 5 min. In closing, to all of our Canadian Veterans well done lads, well done. Thank You.
I was a member of the guard on this ceremony. During the evenings the contingent got some historical briefings and tours. One of them was by Mike Bechtold who has done some writing on the 12th SS and how they were really a poor division. I'd recommend reading Oliver Haller's article "The Defeat of the 12th SS" which is available online, and looking for Bechtold's work, I understand he is completing a book on the 12th SS. During his briefing he mentioned Gordon Henry's feat and I believe mentioned he was in the 1st Hussars.
2:21:24 Very proud of my son who is the soldier standing sentry on the right of the memorial. Representing the Royal Regina Rifles and Canada. Celer et audax, lit. 'Swift and bold'
