Wholesome History Reads Group discussion

Thanks, Ethan.

Hey everyone! Me and my family are gone for the day so I won't be around for a bit. I'll have to post a new picture to guess tomorrow. Hope that's okay with everyone. Have an awesome rest of your weekend!

No prob's Ethan, enjoy your break.

Hello everyone! Today is the 71st anniversary of D-Day. Let us remember those who suffered and perished for us on the blood-soaked beaches of Normandy. If you have a relative who bravely fought in the war, thank them for willingly putting their life in jeopardy to protect ours. If you have a relative who fought but is passed away, let us thank them in our hearts and in our remembrance on this day. Lest we forget, lest we forget.

My father-in-law was there! He will be 89 this August!

Thanks for the reminder, Ethan! Is it the 71st anniversary? Regardless, yes, we have many people to remember and thank for such sacrifice, courage, and determination!

Ethan wrote: "Hello everyone! Today is the 61st anniversary of D-Day. Let us remember those who suffered and perished for us on the blood-soaked beaches of Normandy. If you have a relative who bravely fought in ..."

Hear, Hear.

71st :)

@Everyone Oh yikes!!! I'm so sorry guys. It is the 71st you're right. Typo. It's corrected now!

@MomToKippy Really? Amazing!

Ok I was mixed up - he was on a ship out of Guam! But still. (-:

@MomToKippy Oh well it's still amazing none the less!

The WWII veterns are passing so quickly now.

@MomToKippy - thx to your FIL no matter where he served :)

I was in the Army for the 40th Anniversary, and we had some 101st Vets speak to us at a Division wide Officer Dining In ( Formal Dinner Party where you get to where your Dress Blues ), including LTG Harry Kinnard who was the division G-3 at Bastogne - some amazing stories where recounted, incuding the Nuts reply to the German Surrender demand.

As a nod to Geevee, at the time we had a company of British Paras on a swap with us. I thought their dress unifiorms put ours to shame, they were also very good soldiers and out performed us on all the tests and field problems :)

Have any of you ever toured Normandy? A trip there is on my bucket list ... if any of you have tips for such a trip, I'm keen for your advice.

Hi Cindy,

I went to parts of Normandy last year, I visited ony a few places and need to go back again. A few things I would suggest, research your trip and plan where you want to go, hire a car and set yourself up somewhere central and spend at few days to a week in the area, depending on what you want to see. I stayed in Caen and checked out some of the D-Day areas but also places like Honfleur and Bayeux.

Fortunately my FIL did visit the D-day beaches about 10 years ago or so. It was very moving to him (and his wife and daughter were there too.)

@happy Great story. I love hearing about people's life experiences.

@Cindy No I haven't. I'd love to one day though! It's on my bucket list as well.

@AussieRick Sounds good. Thanks for the tips!

@MomToKippy Yes, I'm sure it would be a very moving experience.

Cindy wrote: "Have any of you ever toured Normandy? A trip there is on my bucket list ... if any of you have tips for such a trip, I'm keen for your advice."

Here is one place that you should make time to visit:

http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowUse...

happy wrote: "As a nod to Geevee, at the time we had a company of British Paras on a swap with us. I thought their dress unifiorms put ours to shame, they were also very good soldiers and out performed us on all the tests and field problems :) ..."

Kind of you Happy. My unit spent some time with US 2nd Armored Div (Hell on Wheels) and 5th Infantry Div and they were good guys. Sadly we have few WWII veterans left now in our local legion or my regimental association. Seeing those frail old men walking the beaches one last time was nice but also sad that soon they will be gone just like the men of WWI.

Thank you for the tips @AussieRick! I'll definitely visit the intact batteries - I've read in one of the D-Day histories about the ridiculous amount of concrete the Germans used - it's incredible to think that any are still standing. And thanks to each of you who have served in the armed forces @Geevee, @happy, and @MomtoKippy's FIL!

When my brother and I went, we stayed at St. Mare Eglise(sp). It was a nice little inn, maybe 1/2 mile from the famous church the paratroops landed on. There was a decent little museum there also.

Unfortunately, we really only had 1 day so our time was limited

Of the places we saw (only the American beachs), I think I liked Utah beach the best - there is really nothing there, much like it was in 1944. IMO the must see is the cemetery at Colleville. In addition there is a German Military cemetery that is worth the time.

Also the Bayeux Tapestry is a must see - it is reletively inexpensive (in '08 it was 7.5 Euro) and wandering around Bayeux was fun.

Thanks @Happy - St Mere Eglise sounds like a perfect place to stay ... great tips! @Ethan - maybe we should start a Travel feed for Historic travels and books to read on those travels :)

That's pretty good idea Cindy.

happy wrote: "When my brother and I went, we stayed at St. Mare Eglise(sp). It was a nice little inn, maybe 1/2 mile from the famous church the paratroops landed on. There was a decent little museum there also...."

I agree with happy on Utah beach. If you do make the trip to see the Bayeux tapestry, and it is a lovely town itself with some fine restuarants, do go up the road which is only a 5 minutes walk to vist the British and Commonwealth cemetery. Also the Lion D'Or hotel is in the town where allied journalists stayed during the battle of Normandy.

I'd recommend the British and Candian beaches to see the Mulberry harbour, plus Ranville cemetery, Merville battery and Pegasus bridge plus Port en Bessin where PLUTO came ashore.

This is a useful book for the beaches and invasion area: Major and Mrs Holt's Pocket Guide to D-Day Normandy Landing Beaches by Major Holt

Geevee wrote: "This is a useful book for the beaches and invasion area: [book:Major and Mrs Holt's Pocket Guide to D-Day Nor..."
This is an excellent guide book for the D-day and the subsequent Normandy campaign.
I own a copy of this book which helped me plan my holiday in Normandy,france in 2009.

Geevee wrote: "happy wrote: "When my brother and I went, we stayed at St. Mare Eglise(sp). It was a nice little inn, maybe 1/2 mile from the famous church the paratroops landed on. There was a decent little muse..."

Geevee wrote: "happy wrote: "When my brother and I went, we stayed at St. Mare Eglise(sp). It was a nice little inn, maybe 1/2 mile from the famous church the paratroops landed on. There was a decent little muse..."
Don't forget the Dead Mans Corner museum at saint-come du mont.I found this museum to be one of the best I visited when I went to Normandy in 2009.

Dead Man's Corner

Dead Man’s Corner is a highly symbolic battle site. At this crossroads over the marsh, on the direct access road between Utah Beach and Carentan, a bourgeois villa is to be seen. It was used on 6 June 1944 as headquarters and aid post by the German paratroopers. It will then be used as command post by the American paratroopers..

You guys are a wealth of information ... I've started my itinerary :) Thanks so much!

Geevee wrote: "happy wrote: "When my brother and I went, we stayed at St. Mare Eglise(sp). It was a nice little inn, maybe 1/2 mile from the famous church the paratroops landed on. There was a decent little muse..."

Dang I wish I'd know about that cemetery. I need to go back and see the British/Canadian beaches. We were in Bayeux on Market Day and it was delightful.

I would think you would need at least 3 days to do WW II Normandy justice.

I agree with the time, Happy ... I'll probably spend a week in the area. I tried to tag on a trip there two years ago when I was in Paris, but I only had one day and knew I would regret the expense for the too short visit; so I skipped it altogether .... would much rather spend several days there with tips from folks like you!

Hey guys! I feel so bad I haven't been active much but this summer is super busy for me. I'll try to be as active as I can. Please forgive me if I've missed any posts or stuff like that. Thank you and I'll try my best to be active. ;-)

No probem Ethan and no apology needed :)

Cindy if you have time Cherbourg is good for the castle where the Germans were located and also the railway station/ocean liner terminus which was fought over in 1944. Mont St Michel is a great day out and if you have time (!!).

A trip out from Caen to Hill 112 is worth it for the view back north to Caen and towards the beaches. The battle (Hill 112) was fought as part of operation Epsom: http://www.ww1cemeteries.com/ww2_ceme...

Thank you everyone for helping the group reach 50+ members! It's so awesome to feel that everyone loves and is enjoying this group. I literally couldn't have gotten to so many members without you all! Thank you again. Now for 100!

Great work Ethan!

Great job, Ethan.

Happy Canada Day, fellow Canadians! :D

Hi everyone!

Sorry for my inactivity in leading this group. I feel like I'm letting you guys down! Thank you all for sticking with me and having fun (I hope) nonetheless. I haven't been active in a while because my summer is super duper busy (and fun) and more excitingly... We're going to Florida for a holiday!!!!! We go early August so we're busy planning. I will definitely let you guys know just before I leave. Speaking of Florida, we're going to Orlando. We're thinking of going to Universal Studios and Universal's Island of Adventure. Have any of you guys been there and if so how was it?

I will try to be as active as I can so I don't let you all down. Thanks for being such enthusiastic members of WHRG!

Warm regards,

Ethan

Hi Ethan, don't fret over it, groups are up & down, enjoy your holiday and have fun.

Have a blast, Ethan .... even groups can use a holiday! :)

Thanks for all you do, Ethan! I've been using Guess the Photo with my tutoring students. Great way to motivate students about history! Enjoy your vacation...:)

@Everyone Thank you everyone! You make me feel great. Thank you also for the well-wishing for my holiday! I'm really looking forward to it. Like I said we don't leave just yet, but pretty soon. You guys are the best! :D

@Rosa Awwww thanks! You actually use my thread for your students? Woah! That is so cool. I hope they're enjoying it. Awesome!

Ethan no worries on input to the group - less is more ;)

On Florida we were there earlier in the year and both Universal parks were good. Lots to do and some great rides: new ones like the Harry Potter Express and newish ones like the Minion ride and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts; plus old favourites like the Hulk roller coaster, Dr Doom's Fearfall etc. The best tip I can give aside from getting there early to enjoy the park for as many hours as you can is to use their App as it helps with queue times.

@Geevee Thanks! That sounds like fun. I'm really looking forward to doing the rides esp. the Hulk Coaster and the 3D stuff. They look really cool. Thanks for the tip too! We were thinking of going for three days so we have time to enjoy both parks and also staying in an on-site hotel so we get free fast passes. Is that a good idea? We were thinking if we did three days then we don't have to rush especially with the fast passes. Thanks for the help!

We always stay in a villa or apartment out Kissimee/Davenport way but 3 days would be good - one day just for getting wet on Popeye and Dudley Do Right's Falls :) The early entry is good too (via hotels on site or some travel companies). And see if you can eat in Moe's diner too, especially the Lard Lad donuts...(cue Homer)mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Donut!

@Geevee Sounds good! Thanks for the tips! Yeah it's good it'll be super hot when we're there. Perfect for getting wet! Donuts...... Yummmmmmmmmmmmmm.... Will definitely have to try those restaurants. Thanks again?

Hey everyone! I'm leaving tomorrow to go on a trip. We probably won't be back for around a month but I'll try to be as active on the group as I can. Geevee and Rick can take over the group while I'm gone. And hey! No trying to break in and seal my books this time, Rick. Lol! Anyway, have fun guys and I'll see you all soon! ;-)

Have a good time Ethan. We'll mind the shop for you :)

Have a fun trip Ethan and enjoy :)

Ethan, have tons of fun!

Enjoy the Trip Ethan, I'm sure AR and GV will do an assume job

Hey everyone! I am finally back from my trip. It was awesome! We went to Belize, Central America, then to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, then on to different places in Florida, and then back home. It was a lot of fun. Anyway, I'm back now and will try to be as active as I can. There are a lot of projects we are working on which keep us very busy but I'll try my best to still be a good group leader. Glad to see the group is holding up well and getting new members! Happy reading everyone. I'll see you around. ;-)