D-Day vet Russell Pickett - the last survivor of "suicide wave" at Omaha Beach
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- Опубліковано 26 лип 2020
- Pfc. Russell Pickett (Company A, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division, Army National Guard) was in the first wave of attack against Omaha Beach during Operation Neptune - better known as D-Day - on June 6, 1944. A flamethrower whose landing craft was hit on approach, Pickett is the last-known survivor of that first-wave company, dubbed the "suicide wave."
After recovering from his D-Day injuries, Pickett went on to fight on the front lines of mainland Europe, including in the Battles of Saint-Lô, Vire, and Brest. At Saint-Lô, he was injured by a German grenade, and an artillery round at Brest put him in an English hospital for the remainder of the war.
Pickett was extremely generous in talking with me in June 2019 at his Tennessee home for a magazine article shortly after returning from France for the 75th anniversary of D-Day. There, President Trump recognized him at a ceremony, calling him a "tough guy."
August 2nd 2020 Russell died on Earth and started his Heavenly life, God bless him what a great contribution to our society
God Bless him. Makes me so Proud to be an American.
May you RIP for all eternity Russell. Thank you for being part of The Greatest Generation. You made us proud Sir. Thank you forever!
Thats too bad.
RIP sir. It was an honor to hear your words.
I'm so glad that technology has allowed the memories and lives of men like this to live on for future generations . godspeed sir...
I was one of the lucky few who stood at the top of Dog Green with Russell in June 2019 during his first time returning to his landing beach since June 6, 1944. It’s hard to express how I felt being there with him and seeing the emotion in his face and the tears in his eyes. It was powerful and unbelievable to be there with him.
Awesome memories,
Kan ik me zeker voorstellen.
@@GoldenEarring123. zeker een stormloop van emoties
Iam glad he got to go and make his peace
Iam glad he got to go and make his peace
I've met Mr. Pickett. He's one of the best men you'll ever meet.
He lived on my street i miss him last time i saw him i gave him a drawing r.i.p me pickett thats what we all called him
Ur just gonna have to take my word u dont have to tho :) have a great day
@@stead2889 when did he die? I met him last year
He died a month ago
They didn't call them the greatest generation for nothing.
What a difference between the greatest generation and today’s political leaders.......one gave all, and the other takes all.
The greatest generation saved the world and their children the "Boomers" ruined the world
@@robertweeks3430 the world's not ruined yet but its well on its way. By the time the "boomers" childrens kids get done with the whining and pampering.
@@chrisw5150 Well guess who raised the children of the Boomers?
@ you seem confused.
@ you're the one that said the leaders of the day were doing the same thing then....never mind man. You're right have a great day.
My Great Uncle, Pvt. John J McGarty died on that very beach. He was from 2nd Battalion, E Company. He never left; he's still there today. Plot I, Row 23, Grave 3 Colleville-sur-Mer, France. All those men who did battle there are among the bravest of all.
Your Great Uncle is a HERO
God bless your Great Uncle for providing the greatest sacrifice for our freedom.
I've been there. God Bless him. So grateful to him, and all those like him, who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
I walked thu that grave yard , moving experience
Sir, you definitely have the right genes. Make the best of your live and be very proud of your Great Uncle. We, who live in Europe will never forget their sacrifice, be sure of that.
I’m makes me have chills thinking how tuff this guy is. What a honor to sleep under the freedom he fought to provide.
The question is, do we have the courage to keep it in the face of an unelected communist "government". May we not allow the sacrifice of these great men to have been in vain.
The Marxist ideology that has infiltrated the country teaches kids to "HATE" These men for their "whiteness". What a bunch of scum they are, that's what infuriates me about pro athletes disrespecting our anthem is shitting all over these guys.
Those athletes are " Privileged", I will never watch any major League sport again.
stfu lol you inserting your political opinions here is wack as fuck and disrespectful. nobody gives a fuck about your opinion.
May we choose and Strafe for peace Unity and love and forgivness for ever IN his is name ❤️🦋🕊🌎🕊🦋❤️
Much respect for Russell Pickett. Clear thinking WW2 combat vet !!!!! Thanks for recording his story.
My cousin, William G Crawley, was in the same regiment and division as this gentleman. My cousin was from Sale Creek, TN. He was killed on June 6, 1944. Forty years ago, I visited his grave at the cemetery at Omaha Beach.
You might be interested in reading "Omaha Beach and Beyond" by John Robert Slaughter. He was in the 29th Division, 116th Regiment, same as this man. I think he was in Company D in the first wave. He writes all about their training and experiences, he might have even known your cousin.
God Bless you, William G Crawley, may you RIP. Thank you for your service, we will never forget. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸💪💪💪
@@frankm2588 my dad was in the same boat. I talked with Robert via email. Company D boat was hit off shore. Its was a heavy weapons company. Im not certain bit I think they were headed in a little later like 7 0r 8 am I have to recheck that
@ Thomas:
What a tragic waste!
I am so sorry for your loss.
My ex-husband's father was on Omaha Beach. He lost his brother and cousin right in front of him. He later became an alcoholic and often said that his career in the Army was his finest years. He committed suicide 35 years after Normandy after a lifetime of PTSD, nightmares, sweats, and depression.
So, war is Hell at the time, and sometimes for the rest of a person's life.
May He Forever Rest In Peace In The Arms of Our Lord. Thank You for Your Service 🙏🏻
If you haven't been there yourself it is impossible to even imagine the horrors they went through on a daily basis. No wonder most of them came out totally messed up. PTSD, alcoholics, so what. They all deserve and should get our respect.
Wow !!! True hero ! All our military services are full of true hero’s
“ The greatest generation “ there’s no denying that. God bless our veterans.
Thank you sir. Forever grateful. From Nottingham, England.
🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧
The service personnel of today are (for the most part) honourable and selfless, but compared to those who served between 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 THEY are the most honoured, selfless and brave people ever born, of course ANY service person who face or have faced combat deserve special respect from the inception of standing armies, navy’s and airforces we owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be paid, but we veterans, again for the most part, don’t want thanks or rewards, just respect and caring, especially when we might be down on our luck.
People like Mr Picket and all service personnel MUST be remembered, otherwise the mistakes of yesterday will become the wars of today, remembering the horrors and sacrifices that millions, maybe billions of honourable men and women endured and do endure is the only way we can avoid making the same mistakes again. RIP all honourable service personnel past, present and future. LEST WE FORGET.
😔🥲👍🇬🇧🏴
Sir, We will Never Forget!! Thank You!!
Thank you for documenting this hero's story. It is the 116th infantry regiment though.
"we didnt march through we fought through"
1:22:03
I find it hard to comprend that this hero was actually there, saw it all and survived the horrors of war. 👋 🙏
Thank you Mr. Pickett, endowed with common sense, intelligence and uncommon bravery, a man of faith you are a beacon for the rest of us.
The end part shows how much the veteran is respected and treated. Mans been blown up wounded in combat and a pencil pusher screws him out of an income earned for forty plus years. The greatest generation deserves so much more. Now most have past and these new generation bleeding hearts want them an history gone n forgotten.
It’s appalling. But not all of us. I quit my job, as a professor, in protest, I’ve spoken out, been banned, cancelled you name it. There are some of us left, who will die to protect these freedoms. I’m one, and I hope to God I’m not alone. I’m a woman too, so I can only do so much. I’m not physically of much use, but I’ll do whatever I can. I would rather die than live in my country under an authoritarian regime.
Great story. Many thanks for talking with these vets
God bless these amazingly brave men. Thank you for getting these stories. We won’t have these men to talk to very much longer. To the younger generation; freedom isn’t free. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
It's an honor to hear Russell Pickett's story. These men truly are from the greatest generation.
Thank you for your incredible service 🙏🏻
I am in awe of your bravery experiences and sacrifice.
RIP
This man was a dear friend of my Father and uncle. I met him once. My father had great respect for him. That is enough for me.
I only hope that Americans today, have a shred of this kind of courage, enough to stop us from self destructing. It is so shameful to their sacrifice. It is such an insult to every man who fought, and risked everything, to protect our freedoms. I’m heartbroken by the state of our country. This man is such a class act.
Thank you for your service, Sir! RIP.
Great interview.
He is from my home town, I used to mow his grass, he was a wonderful man
He lived on our street in Soddy Daisy
Thank you Sir for your service.R.I.P. The world owes you guys a great respect & thanks.
What an absolute honor to listen to his interview. I don't really have words for how humbled and respectful this makes me feel. What a fine, fine, fine human being.
Thank you 🙏
Thank you sir
I solute you sir, thank you for your service!
watching and hearing this man makes me feel a tremendous amount of gratitude and a deep respect for his brave efforts to make it possible for total strangers to live in freedom.
“ I had to be hooked up to my flamethrower suit”… I can’t even imagine being in that situation. The things these men/boys went through is astonishing to say the least.Thank you all for your service
God bless you, Sir
You Sir,are now a superstar.thankyou .
such an amazing story, i wish these were stories but its simply amazing that these heros survived and it truly shows their determination!
My great grandfather was a swimmer and he said the biggest mistake people made was to eat heavy food before getting into the boat. He ate light stuff and he took off his equipment in the boat no rifle no gear and he took his boots off and tied the laces together and put it on his neck so that he could swim without all that stuff weighing him down
Many got sea sick...many drown..
Poorly trained...actually sacrificed by Eisenhower.
@@johnrogan571 they weren't poorly trained, the bombing run missed completely due to weather. the entire strategy counted on bombs creating holes for cover and destroying 88s and machine guns
Survivalist. ...those that are heavy breakfasts including ice cream got sea sick and drown...the entire landing of the first and second waves were human sacrifices that would make the Mayans blush with shame!...99 and 95 percent murdered by the Heer...only protection at low tide was the German tank traps....one German Corporal Eric Sokolow killed 2500 Omaha Beach invaders over a 9 hour period from a self dug but strategically placed position...Ike had a practice run in April 1945 that used live ammo and killed more servicemen than on D Day...LSTs were hunted by German u boots...Ike...Hitler's greatest General!...the Patton tank command in Tunisia was a disaster for American forces...german tanks destroyed...zero....american tanks destroyed by 88 artillery and Panzers...60...600 dead Americans...so they make a movie about this mindless cowboy's charge into oblivion tactics...Ike is elected President of the USA from 1952 to 1960...beware the mindless American Commanders...all to free cowardly "frogs"...sad😪
John Rogan you know what BS is.
@@peterengel7885 I do I just read it pit a ful
They got the flamethrower off of him so they could use it. Rest In Peace, brother. Godspeed!!
We owe so many so much!
My husband's granduncle died on Omaha he was in the 1st ID.
It was cold here yesterday.
Why would 38 people dislike this interview ? That’s beyond troubling to think 38 people decided to thumbs down this. This man is a true hero, soldiers are given their orders, they must follow them & this man charged into death raining on him & his company to work towards defeating a pure evil empire. The mold was broken when it comes to the heroes that took the Beaches of Normandy on D-Day.
it is probably 'woke' idiots who hate america and anything mainstream in this great country. They look at life and at history with lenses of hatred. meanwhile they should be focused on self improvement and educating themselves. it's too easy to ignore learning complex knowledge, and instead to be a screeching, angry activist.
Ahhh yes, pre censorship days. The thumbs down people are likely the pro censorship people as well. I pray this man has moved on to the next life so he doesn’t have to watch what is happening to our country. We are a disgrace to these heroes, a shameful, disgusting disgrace. It’s appalling. I hate it. I just don’t get it. The devaluation of human beings, has led to the devaluation of the sacrifice of all of the men who were willing to die, to protect our freedom. It is so despicable. I quit my job as a professor at GWU in DC, in protest of corruption (wokeness), I’m doing everything I can to do justice to these kinds of Americans, and their incomprehensible sacrifice, in my small sphere. People have become so selfish.
Thank you
My uncle spent 2 days on Omaha shot in the leg before he could be evacuated. Somehow they saved his leg. He did have a finger shot off
Ouch! (Looks at left hand and the missing finger tip)
RIP its a shame his last days were during a lockdown.
No shame
Thank you!
🍻
My father went in on Omaha Beach, Sector Easy Red. He ran a landing craft from AP-76 USS Anne Arundel. His landing craft took a direct hit, he swam in with survivors past dead men and remained on beach till extracted hours later.
great interview, good old boy, was listening keenly to his saving private ryan take but it was cut short which is a shame but fantastic interview none the less good work.
thank you
ive got tears running down my face
i feel like shouting
Thank you Russell for your service to our great Nation not enough could be said about your sacrifice to protect our freedoms Rest in Peace
God Bless
What an amazing man.
Being on Omaha beach was bad enough, imagine being the first landings? That’s horrifying to even comprehend.
These guys were a different breed of man. Remarkable!
Simply beautiful. Take no prisoners.
I live in Soddy Daisy, and it is crazy to see the history of my town and surrounding towns. RIP Russel Pickett
Posthumous big thanks to Russell and all the men and women who saved the planet from the horror that could have been.
It’s our turn now.
The prisoners of war in Vietnam used magots in the same way by letting flies lay eggs in their wounds, and credit the magots for saving them from gangrene and in the long run saving their lives.
Hero!!!!
They really were the greatest generation!…thank you mr Pickett !
All the veteran's are wonderful people love the stories of the exploits.
Mr. Pickett is now a quiet unassuming humble man, and a Walking Casualty of that war that ended so long ago. I am sorry for his passing, but maybe he has finally found a peace that seemed to elude him on this earth. He said "I wasn't fit to be around" speaking of when he was recently home from the War. I've been around Vets from WWII, Korea, Vietnam and The Sand Box and I consider most to be "Serious Individuals" Like Mr. Pickett and I'd bet my last dollar that Back In The Day Russell Picket was Hell On Wheels....Not in a bad way. This Ladies And Gentleman was A Man, and not one to be taken lightly.
He came back one of the Walking Wounded and managed to rebuild his life and in his way become successful with his own business, a Wife and a large Family.
He never Whined, Begged or Quit. "I did what I thought I was supposed to do" he said
RIP Mr. Pickett with our Thanks and gratitude for your sacrifice.
I read this and realize what a Poor effort it is to pay homage to a Real Hero of many more battles than just those he fought in WWII.
I grew up in the town neighboring Soddy Daisy & went to Falling Water Elementary. I hate that I never got to meet him. It’s such a small world.
One of the many thousands of heros who landed on France on the 6th June. God bless them all.
I Don't imagine There is probably only a Small handful of these Heros left. I'm honored to have heard his story. Let him live forever in History Thanks to Documentaries like this. I wish there were more People like this left Our Country is getting bad, This is what should be taught in schools.
My dad was in that regiment weapons company D. They were headed for Omaha around 7:45 -8am but hit a mine off shore or a shell hit them, and a few survived and were picked up by a British boat.
Wow. This guy has seen it all. I hate for him to have to see 2020-2022. He deserves better.
Final straw for many
I dont know this man nor have I met him but when he stated where he was from I realized that I live very close to there. Soddy-Daisy is in Southeast Tennessee just outside the city of Chattanooga(Chattanooga is the 4th largest city in TN behind Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville and Soddy-Daisy is way out in the country with the good ol' mountain folk
I wish they would do these interviews with all countries servicemen whom took part in the fighting ww2. But these are excellent this is really great stuff. These men are still living history but not for so much longer. Ww1 has now passed from living history. These interviews are so important for future generations. BRAVO 👏
He lived on our street sadly he has been gone for over a year. 🙏 RIP
The 116th regiment was almost wiped out on D-Day
eisenhower...great battle plan Ike!
The entire world owes a debt of gratitude to these men who sacrificed everything to defeat tyranny. We must cherish the gift of freedom and vigorously defend it.
R.I.P.
My grandfather was in that wave two its amazing thay made off that beach
50 % disability , discharged " Did you have any lasting effects from the war after you were discharged? They don't give people 50% diability unless you are seriously injured in the war. I was wondering what they did, or why he couldn't remember much after he was injured, what happened to his records? Was any explanation given ? Thanks for your service Sir, America's greatest generation.
That’s false. I know plenty of people with 50% or more with no combat experience. I’m disabled by VA standards and none of my injuries came from deployments. Mostly stateside.
My father was discharged with a 100 percent discharge. He went repeatedly to the veterans office to explain that he could work but he still received it until his death. His was a closed head wound as a result of a hit on his truck by an artillery shell. He told me the only thing left of the truck was the tires and him. He was pinned down during the battle of the bulge for days and that caused his head to mess up again. He landed on Omaha beach on d day and would never talk about it.
What a treasure.
It’s really sad the way the VA tried to escape their responsibility to this veteran he fought in a war only to have to fight again for his benefits , this should never happen .
My uncle was in the Royal Navy and part of the D-Day invasion fleet. He only spoke directly of it once to me, when he said in awe "to SEE it!". His daughter tells me he was part of a motor launch crew, ferrying troops, search and rescue etc and at other times dropping off and picking up covert operatives on the French coast. He told me the Germans put young Hitler Youth lads into motor boats loaded with explosives and told them to drive them at Allied ships and jump out at the last minute. They gave them a whistle and told them, "blow this and the British will come and pick you up". "And we DID" he said.
2020 ALOT OF HEROS DIED ON THIS TERRIBLE YEAR....GOD BLESS THEM ALL...
I think some of that could be blamed on what the teachers are teaching these kids today teach them all of the bad and none of the good then they started to water down the word hero making cops and firemen anybody else with a uniform a hero which is not true they're just guys doing a job these guys that you're watching a big different
Please visit National DDay memorial in Bedford Va., and National WW2 Museum in New Orleans.
Also Hal Baumgartner's bio where he mentions Russell from Soddy Daisy Tenn.
I believe this gentleman was also mentioned in "The Bedford Boys".
🎇🇺🇲"God Bless Our,
Veterans and Active Warrior's!!!"🇺🇲🎇
🫡
I'm an Infantry vet. The ones who had played HS Football had the hardest time making it through training.
It's not about brute strength. it's about indurance and heart.
29th Division COMMAND POSTS
(Headquarters) before 6th June 1944:
11 Oct 1942 - Firth of Clyde, Scotland
18 Oct 1942 - Tidworth Barracks, Wiltshire, England
27 May 1943 - Tavistock, Devon, England
20 May 1944 - Bodmin Barracks, Cornwall, England
22 May 1944 - Fort Tregantle, Cornwall, England
2 Jun 1944 - Aboard LST #414, 511
My father signalled all troops go ashore...12 miles out...Edward john Rogan..."an hour later the Army men floated by the LST...dead"...told us kids that 1000s of time...think he felt responsible somewhat....
Eisenhower speech...what a monster!...way underestimated the German defenses...luckily the Panzer Divisions were never deployed.
Fine Europeans sacrificed!
Wonderful interview. Just wondering why these guys aren’t offered some water. They are usually nervous and have a dry mouth...just wondering.
Russell Pickett's obituary is in the Chattanoogan (February, 2020). He lived to the age of 95. Is Russell Pickett related to Confederate General George Pickett, who served in Robert Lee's Army of Northern Virginia? George Pickett, the general memorialized in history for Pickett's Charge, at Gettysburg (July, 1863).
If so then be should be canceled!!
@@ripscrewzu Bullshit ! ! The people fighting for States Rights had REASONS ! ! The civil war was about federal taxes of the prosperous South ! To this very damned day we pay tax to DC & they use it the way they want in DC . THAT is what that war was about ! ! Had NOTHING to do with the .05% of southerners that owned slaves !
@@ripscrewzu 🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😆😆🖕🏼🖕🏼🖕🏼💄👶🏼👨🏻🎤🧚🏼🧚🏼🤦🏼🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼👨❤️💋👨👗👜🐷🐷🪱🪱🐡🐖🐖🦨🦨🦨❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️☃️☃️☃️❄️❄️❄️🍌🍆🌽🥗🥗☕️🥢🎮🎮🎮🛴🚅🧲🔫🔫💊💊💊🎀🛒🚫🚫🚼🚼🚼⚧🟧⬛️🏳️🇨🇳🇨🇳
@@stevendeitrich6933 seems like almost all wars are about money:(
@@pappy017 Yes . Money & Power . Control over other area's usually . The history books are continually being changed to suit certane groups .
There any interviews with vets who openly talked about making kills?
The thumbnail picture of him when he was young looks close to Zack from saved by the bell🤣
This guy had a flamethrower 🔥 on d day Fuck’N legend
He lived on my street, amazing man, I drew a picture for him on the day he came back from meeting trump a legend, rip. We all called him Mr Pickett he was an amazing man. When he came back from meeting and hugging trump we threw a homecoming party for him
@@stead2889 imagine a draft dodger like trump having the nerve to shake a D-Day survivors hand, that’s wild
They were trying to get the flamethrower off him to use it and thought he was dead
Any chance of hiring an intern to put subtitles in ?
I would have been terrified of the flamethrower
Man we have fallen unbelievably short of this generation. My fellow self aware millennials can attest I’m sure.
My daddy is going to buy me a 1927 Chevrolet...my dad remembered saying that from when he was 5 years old...he had lots of good stories before he died in the year 2,000...
If I was on Omaha beach that day, I would probably shit myself.😬
subscribed
Sounds to me like the British landing craft was a lot safer disembarking than ours, where the ramp drops and 5 MG42's fire directly into it , killing just about everyone onboard. Just asinine they took off the MG, PROBABLY A 50 CAL, off the landing craft, especially when every boat would of supposedly have had one, when any suppressing fire would have saved a lot of lives, giving them all a better chance, Unbelievable to me they'd do that.
yeah its pathetic how they just sent them to the slaughter like that without giving them a fighting chance.
Heard that British LCs, or at least Royal Navy crewed LCS, landed some of the American forces on Omaha.
Flame throwers...most hated GIs.
Chattanooga strong
How could some one like a compensation reviewer ask a three time wounded veteran who was sent into Omaha on D-day with a flame thrower if he was sleeping with someone when he was wounded in vicious combat. That is down right insulting and desrespectful, then our government gives money for frevilous and totally rediculous study's such as the breeding habits of quail while on cocaine.
Can somebody (whi has the power) please send all the likes (
Beach was heavily mined..
Air force failed miserably on Omaha beach, to chickenshit to bomb length wise on Omaha beach which would have created shell holes to hide in.
They missed their targets due to the bad weather that day
German anti tank steel stakes were the only cover the US servicemen had on Omaha Beach.
Bombing along the length of the beach (East/west) would have caused conflict with other aircraft coming into the beachhead, it was extremely tight control, and crowded airspace. The strategic bombers you are calling cowards had a specific time, altitude, and heading they were ordered to fly, so as not to cause conflict with other tactical aircraft in the same airspace, flying different missions. Before you start slandering good aviators, doing a tough job themselves, you might wanna do a little research before showing your ignorance.
Missing their exact pickle point, even by a second or two, pushed those bombs, through storm winds and scattered cloud miles from the beach. Considering the bomber train was miles long, and all dropped on the command of a lead bombardier, it’s unfortunate that their bombs landed beyond the beach. But it has nothing to do with anyone being chickenshit or not.
The bombing wasn’t intended to create cover. It was intended to weaken the target by destroying beach obstacles and gun emplacements. When assaulting an objective the best cover is found AFTER clearing the target. Don’t get bogged down in shell holes during an assault, it allows the target time to reenforce and adjust fires.