Experiences of Omaha Beach - Episode 1
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- Опубліковано 15 жов 2014
- Welcome to my first UA-cam video.
This is the first of a series of Episodes of the Experiences of Omaha beach. Episode 1 is of Pvt 1st Class Ray Tollefson of the 2nd Rangers Bn
*VETERAN INTERVIEWS ARE OWNED BY THE BBC. I DO NOT OWN THEM!*
Thanks for watching
For nearly 17 years, I've been doing a job that I hate. The money is decent and that's helped, but I've hated it. On the days when it has been the worst and I've been the most depressed, I think of guys like this and stories like this and I remember that no matter how bad my life as been, I've had no experiences as bad as this. I live my life and continue to strive because of guys like this and the sacrifices they made. I feel like I owe to them to continue to try and make the world a better place.
Those are wise words. You've gained a perspective on life that many never achieve.
Such a gentle man now, had to be a bad ass back in the day. My dad was hit and lost a leg in Normandy, died at 90 and I miss him. These guys were great and we should feel honored to have known them.
Randy German: i feel the same way. i visited my dad's grave today in honor of d-day. he was amongst 1st wave on omaha beach. he died 4-1-13. i miss him so much. we were lucky to have parents from the greatest generation.
midnight rider I'm only 27 but these guys are always in my thoughts. Heroes to a man w
Randy German: my dad fought on omaha beach amongst the 1st wave. He was with 147th combat engineers. We are lucky to have had parents from the greatest generation. My dad passed 4-1-13 at 90 yrs. I know he lived with the emotional scars from the war, but he was an honest, hard working man dedicated to his family.
Randy German i dont think i ever ran ot some1 from that time that was involved it that😔
My grandfather was in ww2 but I don’t know what he did since I never asked cause I don’t think my grandmother liked it. It’s sad that this generation is almost gone.
Jesus Christ..what a beautiful old guy. I'm choked up and my eyes full of tears. No empty bravado, no patriotic BS, just quiet dignity and respect. We will never see their like again.
My grandpa was shot on saipan and then again on okinawa. ol boy is still smoking cigars an drinking beer at 94
Tyler Johnson: excellent. My dad fought on omaha beach, 1st wave. He passed 4-1-13. Great man. His brother is still alive at 95, fought in the pacific theater, still loves shots & beers. Still loves the beatles. Cool guy.
midnight rider awsome Beatles forever
Benji Palomar: that same uncle took my 2 oldest sisters to see the beatles concert at the old cleveland municipal stadium back in about '66.
Tyler Johnson hard to believe but have to give you the benefit of the doubt😐
midnight rider sorry fore that tromendes lost 😔
Greatest generation the world will ever know
True.
True ! nowadays people put cat pictures on their internet profiles and don't even use their real names !
@@0tb16 - It gets lower than that! Some dregs are too lazy to use profile pics at all. They have to edit a short thought to get it right, and they don't even know how to place exclamation points properly!
Coming from someone who doesn't even use a common pounctuation such as points to end a sentence ...
You may be living amongst terrible and lazy people, but that doesn't mean that's the case everywhere.
And if the only people you consider worthy of respect are soldiers and those heroes, get your lazy ass in the military and get yourself some self respect. Cause you seem to hate your own species boy !
By the way, depending on the country, an exclamation point can't or must be used after a space.
"Greatest generation the world will ever know"
What a fucking stupid statement. The same generation that created nazis and numerous dictators all around the world.
You are not honoring the real heroes in this video by saying this.
Something none of us commenting here could ever imagine or fathom. The level of madness and and heroic events that took Place during this war are beyond comprehension.
"The Greatest Generation"
Thank you for what you did for us!!
I have been to Normandie for the annual D-Day ceremonies 23 times. I plan of course to be back next year for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. Remarkabley WW-2 Amercican and British WW-2 veterans are still going back and some for the very first time since 1944. Each time that I go it is still a very unique and life changing experience. God Bless all our soldiers who go in harms way. I am a 100% service connected disabled retired combat veteran and am now almost 73. However WW-2 was unique. A nation of 130 million people saw 14-16 Million men and women in our Armed Forces. All socioeconomic levels of our nation served. This is why I agree with Tom Brokaw, that they are truly "The Greatest Generation".
I hope to see you there! I was there for the first time 2 years ago and the 75th will likely be the last big anniversary.
@@pathealey277 Have some respect. That's just pure childishness princess.
@@aerlial360 Do you really think 75th was the last big anniversary :((( What about the 80th coming up?
Lucky you but I finally got there for just four days this July of 2022. Had the amazing good fortune of chatting with the daughter of Michel de Vallavieille right outside her door at Brecourt Manor, which was a highlight. One of my companions spoke fluent French so she chatted up the cousins/aunts and they went and got her (I am upset I never asked her first name). She spoke of the tragic “energy” still present in the area and manor to this day.
God Bless you, Ray Tollefson and your friends who never came home.
My Grandfather flew B-26's in North Africa and Italy and was shot down, only survivor. He was a great man. RIP 11/2003 (86 y.o)
God bless your father, I thank him with all my heart. He is the reason why my life in America is wonderful
No words can express my gratitude. God bless you sir.
@Rad Derry Their sacrifice to this nation.
Rad Derry yeah I agree with the racket and Gov lies. The guys that went to certain death and had no idea about the racket I think deserve credit. The Information Age didn’t exist for them to research. Thx for the info for me to look into. I appreciate it!
Whoever gave this a thumbs down should be removed from the gene pool.
underated comment
It’s just a dislike. Nothing serious.
PROBABLY A NAZI SHIT!
I like to think that every dislike is an accident
Germans....
i have the highest respect for every soldier that was on that beach that day so we can live our lives we all have today... thank you sir... and to the people who give these uploads a thumbs down... absolute shame on you.
How does this not bring tear to one's eye.... thank you for your service sir. Sorry for the loss of your friends. o7
Vlad 🏪🙏🏼
Exactly. Leaves me speechless. Phew, such courage and bravery.
Powerful account by a great person and soldier. My Grandfather landed at H-Hour on June 6th. He was lucky enough to make it off the beach. He fought all the way in to Germany with an infantry regiment until the war was over. He would never ever talk about it. Not even when asked by his close Family members.
I love the way these guys talk. “He got hit and that was the end of him.” Nothing better than being to the point. War is hell.
Amazing how he can remember something that happened so long ago in such detail. Very heartfelt and well spoken story.
If they could they would all forget
That's how PTSD works =/
maybe they remember it because people keep asking about the events? Ever thought of that before?
Greatest generation that ever lived
Men who all have a "someone's gotta do it" mentality
Today everyone says "let someone else do it"
And mubb around like cowards oblivious to what people have had to go through
Yep, what a waste so many good men died in that war
@@nico-zt9od I wouldn't call their sacrifice a waste you dipshit.
Very true!
nico 1 not a waste...they sacrificed so you have the freedoms to type such a dumb response
Nothing but major respect for these guys. I salute yous
What a hell of a man right there.
My Grandpa drove a Stewart tank in Africa and Italy, he would never talk about it it really damaged him spiritually. He did say a few things, one time a round came into the Commanders turret and bounced around through the commander several times, he died instantly and fell in the tank. He also had 3 of his tanks knocked out, managed to survive the war. He died in his 60's, I always believe the war took at least 20yrs from his life as he died in his 60's. God Bless these men and women who made such a sacrifice, you are our heroes.
There wasn't any women in WW2, today yes absolutely, but not then
Rui Serrazina I’m sure there were plenty of female nurses at camps. Perhaps even some camps that were overrun by the hostiles
My grandpa prolly trained your grandpa!! My grandpa was a furst sargeant at fort knox during WWII, they wouldn’t let him go fight because when he was a child he stepped in a fire so they said because of that he couldnt go overseas. Grandpa always said “that was bullshit” they just wanted to keep me around to keep training the men on tanks who were going over!!”
There were women WACs and WAVs
@@ruiserrazina7727 Funny how some of you go out of your way to let us know that women didn't make any sacrifices in WWII. Maybe they didn't die on Omaha Beach but they made plenty of sacrifices, let it go!
Who are the complete fools who could have given this a thumbs down? Thank God for these men!!!
Phillip Griffiths Germans maybe
The man who shot him
Nazis
Sjw's
Probably some liberal cunts who don't know a great man when they see one!
Deepest respect to you Sir, and thank you for giving of yourself for our country. God Bless you and all the other veterans alive and deceased.
it makes my head spin to think that the turn of events that this veteran speaks of, my dad was right there, fighting to stay alive too.
What a gentle soul of a man. I cry at nothing but these stories. He's so lucky that someone stopped to help him as the order of the day was to keep moving and even if your best friend was hit you leave him there and keep moving. God bless him and his fellow Rangers.
His story about John Bittle at 10:05 is very touching.
We owe everything we have to you sir. As an American immigrant, THANK YOU for your service and sacrifice.
Well said and thank you for honoring our heroes. Many immigrants today are entitled and feel they owe nothing to our heroes of past wars.
@@LostCause36 That's a blanket statement with no backing.
oh btw, we are all immigrants to the US, unless you are Native American, in that case you're from here originally. When people bash immigrants, they are bashing themselves. And no I'm not a liberal or a conservative, I'm an American.
@@mattchilds6848 shut up, we arent "all immigrants" and there were no "native Americans" they were miscellaneous tribes that didnt get along and massacred eachother often
My family dates back to the Mayflower and my other side went through the trail of tears
So my family has been here well before the inception of the USA Constitution
You have No Place to speak to what an American is and should shut up, seriously.
Your comments are entirely out of place and unnecessary
Your "we are all immigrants" is only an attempt to take away a birth right that white americans have
You only came here because of the prosperity white Americans have garnered.
People like you think you have some entitlement to the USA and its wealths
When in fact you are just more foreigners coming here taking up space. How do you think people like you make people like me feel? You come here then claim you have some entitlement to the land and its resources.
Hahaha! Yeah right!
As a veteran of 8 years, Infantry. Iraq veteran. We could only hope to have carried on a fraction of the legacy these guys laid before us.
Mr. Tollefson, thank you so much for sharing your memories with us!
What a man...much respect to you...thank you
It gets me when he is talking long about his story with his sergeant and the love letters and then he just says "he was hit hardly off the boat and he was done with". Crazy.
Thank you for your service. I will never forget what you have done for our country. You are all true Hero’s.
Awesome man, great that he could tell his story
a real hero does not need to brag and talk about and seek out praise... they do their job........ definitely the greatest generation......
It's so important to preserve the stories so we never forget. God bless all who died and lived thorough this.
To the hero. And the hero that saved his life. Thank God. Bless America. Rangers lead the way
Thank you for your service & the freedom I have today.
There isn't a writer anywhere in the world who can tell a ww2 war story any better than a veteran. This man is totally captivating from start to finish. These men are the bravest of the brave.
Yes, the mini-series "Band of Brothers" was outstanding, made even more so when some of the men still alive were featured before or after each episode.
A real gentle man. Thank you for your service from the Netherlands
My Dad was in the U.S. Army, 70th Division, Trailblazers. He was a Technical Corporal, RECON and fought at The Battle of the Bulge. He was a great guy. I wish my kids could have met him.
Thank you for your service. Thank you so much.
My father survived Omaha beach. Two weeks later he and 15 soldiers drove over a land mine. He was 1 of 2 men to survive. A true American hero along with many other who have served and survived and those who served and died,thank you for being so unselfish
Could listen to this man all day.
Thank you brave man I as a child remember it well.The greatest generation of all time..You will never be forgotten.
I salute you sir and thank you for the freedom you gave me which I would be born into some twenty years later. Bless you and all who serve and have served.
Sir, God bless you. I thank you so much for your service. I pray for the protection of my son daily in the service.
Thank you sir for all you did... God bless all of you...
These men were my father's generation. And it pains me to have to say. As my generation is about to pass it on. We're in trouble
Awesome video. Thank you for posting
Thank you sir for your service!!!
God bless this man, and all who passed away in service during WWII, battling the dark forces expressing through the Nazi treachery. May the light of love the world overcome darkness in this world.
I honor world two vets,thank you for saveing our country.,thank you for your stories,
Thank you sir for your service and sacrifice.
What a generation! My grand father was hit in Okinawa.
Bill picked you up with his Sherman. Bill was a tank commander. Out of 19 tanks, his was the only one to make it to shore. In the '80s, I watched film on PBS of his tank landing. My best friend and I used to play Bridge with Bill and his wife in 1975. This year, I watched videos of Germans talking about the one tank. He came around their left flank and machine-gunned them into oblivion with his crew. Bill hobbled, because the turret he was standing in was setting his boots on fire, and one of his crew turned the turret and mangled his foot. The live Germans on the other side of that sand dune threw down their rifles. That one tank led D-Day beach. The navy had pummeled the shore with the big guns, which created huge holes under water where most of our guys drowned with heavy packs and guns. Our aircraft dropped tons of bombs on the enemy, but they dropped them hundreds of yards inland, which had no effect. D-Day was won by GIs storming the beach and dieing in droves.
weird that for most of us this place is nothing but a beach with history behind it but for this man and all the vets that survived this placed its something completely else
Thank you so much for your service kind sir.❤️❤️❤️
For those who have served, are serving (my son 11+ yrs), will someday serve and especially those who gave it all; this country will never be the same and never fail due to the brave men and woman. Gods bless an Gods speed...thank you thank thank you.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DID FOR ME AND SO MANY OTHERS TO LIVE IN FREEDOM.
Must be so surreal for this fine gentleman, God bless him and all the others regardless of surviving or passing🙏
Thank you 🙏🏼 for your service
Incredible story from incredible man captured by an incredible cinematographer with Ole Glory waving in the background above Uncle Sam
God Bless this nice man.
he seems like a warm and decent man.
I cried watching this. Such great men. How people have forgotten all the sacrifices so that we have it so good.
Fuck that prick and you too.
Thank you Sir for your service
If you get the chance go there. Visit the museums. Take a tour with a good guide. What you learn will amaze you. I was there on June 6 2023. These soldiers had an unspeakable horror that cold, windy, raining morning. God bless their souls
It's sad that soon there will not be any of these brave men left. So when you get the chance shake a hand or listen to they story thank them. For if not for them we wouldn't be able to do what we can today.
Thank you all for your bravery and great sacrifice.
"my arm. It was going to fall off. that it was just about,... it was hardly there".
" the blood was pouring out of there, ...that it looked like, ...it wouldn't be long I wouldn't have no more blood."
This Veteran soldier, he staggered to an aid station, off the beach, inland.
With his arm dangling nearly severed from his body.
Stevan B k
Stupid Dumbass wtf
Stevan B and this is why they will be the greatest generation. These men and women deserve everything under the sun for what they've done for us. Instead they get these fucksticks online that wouldn't stub a toe for their country
There were on women on the battlefield back then.
Bull Frog I agree with you sir
Nice man...thank you for your story..and your sacrifice for freedom
I really appreciate the detailed backstories he gives of guys who didn't make it.
Thanks for ur services god bless you🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thx for the courage to tell us you story .. god bless thank you
Nothing More then respect ...
The greatest heroes of America your sacrifices will never be forgotten ever!!!!!
what a fine man ..many thanks my friend now you can rest easy...
Bless you
Ahh a real man and kind gentleman too! Sadly not many left in this world today.
Hooah, Ranger. You Lead The Way
These where tough men!!! God bless them!!
Heartbreaking testimony.
Thank you veterans! 🇺🇸
My grams brother was a bomber and was shot down and spent time in a concentration camp. He said they would take people to interrogate them, and they would never come back. I served in 2nd infantry. Thank you to this man and all ww2 vets. Such a time
thank you so much for your bravery
Bless these man
Best of The Best
wow true hero, ironically probably lucky he got wounded right off the boat, as the survival rate on the beach was horrendous. Amazing he lived a full life, with PTSD at a minimum. unreal story.
Great Generation! Never forgotten
Thank you for what you had to endure so I can have the freedoms I have. God Bless you
my Uncle Al was in the Korean War, he got hit, then got a grenade thrown at him, which costed two of his legs. i was out to eat with my grandma and we were talking about it, she said "the soldiers came up to him and Al said "Don't waste your bullet on me, I'm gonna die", but he did not die. he became a prisoner of war for a day, then being released and then taken into the aid. dont know what happened after that but he passed away a few years ago. didnt really know him that well, but still makes me emotional thinking i had family in wars who have experienced things like that.
Man is still live spoke to him on the phone
he passed in 2016 though, he’s my second great uncle
Sweet. Thanks. 😁
My Uncle Sylvester C. "Butch" Riese was wounded here also.
RIP dear Uncle Butch.
Heartbreaking to hear this old veteran talk about D Day. So many died.
God Bless em all!
Wow so much respect for this guy got damn
Who gives this a thumbs down? Awful people who don’t appreciate their freedom!
Oh Lord God, please bless these men.
It’s one thing to hear the statistics like “thousands of men died trying to cross this beach” but it hits me harder when a man like this gives you a backstory about writing love letters for a friend and describes his background, family, and personality, and at the end says “and he got hit just coming off the boat, and that was the end of him”. Makes you realize that each of those thousands had a real life and people who cared for him.
So sad thank you for your survice sir and your friends rip🇺🇸🙏