70 years ago on Utah Beach at Nomandy, my father-in-law, then Seaman John M. Tolich was aboard the Destroyer USS Herndon, which served as the tip of the spear for the invasion. This ship was not expected to return, intended to receive the earliest & heaviest fire, it was in effect if not by name a sacrificial lamb in order to get troops on the beach. To hear his description of the sights, sounds, smells... five hours of of the most intense firefight the world has ever known before penetrating the beachead. The fight was not over, but comparitively a welcome relief to the intensity of those five hours. Then, a determined and somewhat futile attempt hundreds upon hundreds (thousands?) of bodies... knowing they would recover only a fraction of those lost to the sea. The beach waters were red with the blood of our men who gave their lives for something greater than themselves. Gods protecting hand was on the Herndon that day... perhaps because of her mission & Gods grace. Perhaps because of the prayers of the men aboard her. Only God knows for certain, defying conventional wisdom that she, along with my father-in-law should well be at the bottom of the ocean today. His words, not mine. Perhaps it is to tell the story. First-hand accounts are getting more and more rare with each passing day. In Gods economy, His great plan allows for the greatest mistakes of man to be turned into the greatest triumphs. I still dont understand it all, but having the privilege to listen over the years to men like Pops, like my Uncle Donnie now 91, my Uncle Ivan and Uncle John both who passed years ago, I see intimately the inexplicable ways and means of God, too wonderful and fearful for me to fathom this side of heaven. Thank you Veterans. Thank you.
Posted on: Fri, 06 Jun 2014 16:26:37 +0000