On this date, June 6th in 1944, troops of the Allied Expeditionary Force under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower invaded Europe landing on the Beaches of Normandy and also from the air. It came to be known as "The Longest Day."
It was the beginning of the end for the Nazi occupation of Europe. History shows what an extraordinary day (and the weeks and months to come) it was. When you read the multitude of books about June 6, 1944, it's a wonder they pulled it off. So much could have gone wrong, and often did. But the Allies won the day and ultimately the war. Troops fighting for freedom are always more motivated than those fighting to protect tyranny.
As a journalist, I learned the best way to tell such a momentous story is often through the eyes of just one person, in this case Carwood Lipton. He was a member of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, (Screaming Eagles) 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The "Band of Brothers." Actor Donnie Wahlberg played him in the acclaimed HBO Series.
I interviewed Carwood as part of the promotional campaign for Band of Brothers working with DISH Network and HBO. I'll never forget it. Too often in the movies, accounts of battles like D-Day and others, the actors have far too much swagger. But having met men like Carwood Lipton and even Paul Tibbets who led the attack on Hiroshima, there is no swagger. They're just regular guys, in fact they're uncomfortable being in the limelight at all. Like most veterans of most wars, they'd just as soon not talk about it all. I don't blame them. They did their job, survived and came home.
Carwood was about 5'8" when I interviewed him. He was well into his 80's but sharp as a tack. And such a very nice man. When he jumped out of his airplane the night of the attack he told me he weighed about 130 pounds. He jumped carrying about 160 pounds of equipment. As they boarded the aircraft, the guy behind in line had to push them up into the plane.
Carwood described the jump into pitch black darkness. Scared? You bet, but he made it. Many of his comrades didn't and he would lose even more friends until the Nazis were finally crushed. He lived to tell the tale and I hope you click on Carwood's link above to learn more. Like everyone who fought and survived, Carwood came home and helped build America.
Ultimately what I remember most after talking with Carwood is when I asked him that if America ever came under attack again like it did at Pearl Harbor, would today's generation like his in WWII step up and fight like his did.
He assured me that he had no doubt they would. No doubt at all.
My interview with Carwood Lipton was shot September 10, 2001. We woke up the next morning to a very different world. As did Carwood's generation after December 7, 1941. My two nephews both stepped up like Carwood knew they would, one of them also serving with the 101st Airborne in Afghanistan.
We lost Carwood in December of that year. Just about all of "The Greatest Generation" are gone now. But some are still around, still active and if you get the chance I hope you get to meet one. You'll never, ever forget it.
Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you!"
It was the beginning of the end for the Nazi occupation of Europe. History shows what an extraordinary day (and the weeks and months to come) it was. When you read the multitude of books about June 6, 1944, it's a wonder they pulled it off. So much could have gone wrong, and often did. But the Allies won the day and ultimately the war. Troops fighting for freedom are always more motivated than those fighting to protect tyranny.
As a journalist, I learned the best way to tell such a momentous story is often through the eyes of just one person, in this case Carwood Lipton. He was a member of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, (Screaming Eagles) 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The "Band of Brothers." Actor Donnie Wahlberg played him in the acclaimed HBO Series.
Carwood Lipton (Courtesy CarwoodLipton.com)
I interviewed Carwood as part of the promotional campaign for Band of Brothers working with DISH Network and HBO. I'll never forget it. Too often in the movies, accounts of battles like D-Day and others, the actors have far too much swagger. But having met men like Carwood Lipton and even Paul Tibbets who led the attack on Hiroshima, there is no swagger. They're just regular guys, in fact they're uncomfortable being in the limelight at all. Like most veterans of most wars, they'd just as soon not talk about it all. I don't blame them. They did their job, survived and came home.
Actor Donnie Walhberg with Carwood Lipton
(Courtesy CarwoodLipton.com)
Carwood was about 5'8" when I interviewed him. He was well into his 80's but sharp as a tack. And such a very nice man. When he jumped out of his airplane the night of the attack he told me he weighed about 130 pounds. He jumped carrying about 160 pounds of equipment. As they boarded the aircraft, the guy behind in line had to push them up into the plane.
Carwood described the jump into pitch black darkness. Scared? You bet, but he made it. Many of his comrades didn't and he would lose even more friends until the Nazis were finally crushed. He lived to tell the tale and I hope you click on Carwood's link above to learn more. Like everyone who fought and survived, Carwood came home and helped build America.
Ultimately what I remember most after talking with Carwood is when I asked him that if America ever came under attack again like it did at Pearl Harbor, would today's generation like his in WWII step up and fight like his did.
He assured me that he had no doubt they would. No doubt at all.
My interview with Carwood Lipton was shot September 10, 2001. We woke up the next morning to a very different world. As did Carwood's generation after December 7, 1941. My two nephews both stepped up like Carwood knew they would, one of them also serving with the 101st Airborne in Afghanistan.
We lost Carwood in December of that year. Just about all of "The Greatest Generation" are gone now. But some are still around, still active and if you get the chance I hope you get to meet one. You'll never, ever forget it.
Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you!"
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