9.+D-Day

Jenna Newborn October 20, 2008 Name: Tom Smith Birthdate: January 21, 1917 Date of Incident: Summer of 1944 Interests: Protecting my country, my family, and sports

My wife Allison Smith, As you can probably guess, I am safe and well. I am sure you have already heard the rumors about D-day, but you need not to worry any more. I will try to my best ability to explain what happened starting on June 6, 1944.

< http://www.cbc.ca/news/dday/gfx/map_dday.gif > The British, Canadians, and us, Americans, were under Eisenhower’s control. He planed to attack Normandy in northern France on June 5, 1944 (Danzer 574). Due to bad weather, Operation Overlord was moved to the next day. My self and seventeen other men boarded a plane so we could get to our jump spot (Isserman 1). On the flight over, I was very nervous because I knew what lay ahead of me. All I could think about was you and baby Jack and how much I wanted to see you two. But I was ready and well trained and equipped for the fight (D-Day 1). We experienced some trouble as we neared the drop site and somehow we ended up a few miles from where our spot was. The man next to me, John, did not survive the jump because he landed in a river valley that the Germans had flooded (Isserman 1). The confused Germans were slow to act on our invasion (D-Day 2). “This was the largest land-sea-air operation in army history” (Danzer 574). < http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/ww2-pix/d-day03.jpg > After seven days of fighting we had gained an eighty-mile strip of France (Danzer 574). We took the town without much difficulty (Isserman 2). Later on July 25, 1944 “…General Omar Bradley unleashed massive air and land bombardment against the enemy at St. Lô, providing a gap in the German line of defense through which General George Patton and Third Army could advance” (Danzer 574). This was all very exciting and by September we had freed France, Belgium, and Luxemburg. I knew that D-Day would be a major turning point in the war! I am now waiting to come home to see you and Jack. I am so excited and can not wait to wrap you in my arms. A soldier can get very lonely during war, though I will never forget my brothers that fought right next to me during D-Day. I miss you and love you. And will see you soon! With all my Love, Tom Smith Work Cited Danzer, Gerald A., et al. __The Americans Reconstruction to the 21st Century__. Boston: McDougal Littell, 2003. 574. “D-Day.” __World War II History Info__. 20 Oct. 2008. 2007 . Isserman, Maurice. “D-Day’.” Bowman, John S., gene d. __World War II, Updated Edition, America at War__. New York: Facts On File, Inc. Hunterdon Central Regional High School. 20 Oct. 2008.