Life on the front lines : Extremely rare colour photos of U.S. troops before and after D-Day

[dipsydoodle]

Extremely rare and striking photos of the days leading up to and after the historic D-Day invasion have been put on display, nearly 70 years after World War II's dramatic turning point.

The full-colour images, taken by photographer Frank Scherschel, display anxious American soldiers as they prepared for Operation Overlord, the code name for the Battle of Normandy.

The photos also capture the celebratory tone upon the June 6 invasion’s success.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2100326/Stunning-rare-colour-images-World-War-II.html#ixzz1mGUlaqDe

[liberal N proud]

1. Awe inspiring

Incredible images.

Thanks

[raccoon]

2. Great pictures! thanks for the link. nt

[MADem]

3. The small details are wonderful--get a load of those mess kits! nt

[Alcibiades]

4. The one thing that stands out is the hair

On the GIs and certainly the German prisoners. Much longer than you usually see on soldiers in movies or posed photos from this era, probably because it would be harder to get regular haircuts in the field.

[uppityperson]

11. And they are so young. How many of these are over 20?

[oldironside]

5. The pictures are fascinating...

... but the comments underneath are both revealing and depressing. I can never quite understand why people born after the even feel a need to bitch about who's grandfather did what.

[hedgehog]

6. One thing to think about - if any of the soldiers

in those photos came home, they probably ended up being someone's grandpa! Imagine clicking on that link and seeing someone you know.

Years ago, NBC ran archival footage on the 50 year anniversary of the events and battles of WWII day by day. One featured film of marines getting ready to board landing craft to invade one of the Pacific islands. I caught a glimpse of one of my uncles. His landing craft hit the beach and dropped the ramp in front of a mortar. He was the sole survivor. He was a Navy corpsman, and he was dragged ashore and the wounded were brought to him until he passed out. He was declared dead, and several funeral Masses were held. Weeks later, he recovered enough to be able to identify himself. He carried the shrapnel, not to mention the mental wounds, to his dying day.

So, that glimpse is of a young man minutes before his life changed forever.

[MicaelS]

7. Awesome! Thanks n/t

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

8. I posted one of the photos in the Motorcycle & Scooter forum

nothing like a motorcycle ride in Paris. When there's no traffic.

Thanks for the link.

[Wilms]

9. ^

[Scurrilous]

10. Thanks.

[Sherman A1]

12. Thanks for Posting

Much appreciated!