I saw “Saving Private Ryan” as a teen. Once you have seen that film, you will never forget what the beaches of Normandy looked like. And if you are like me, you may try to avoid reading a lot more about the invasion because of how tragic it was. Bruce Bliven’s The Story of D-Day: June 6, 1944 helped me. There is nothing that can make this story less tragic, but there is much that can help us celebrate the heroes who made sure that the losses were not in vain. 

Very much like reading Wyatt Blassingame’s Combat Nurses of WWII or his Medical Corps Heroes of WWII, this book made me cry tears of pride for the men who stormed those beaches. The first half of the book sets the stage and focuses on the insane bravery of the First Wave (as it should). The last half of the book highlights individual heroes who refused to admit defeat even when everyone around him was stalled, pinned down, and about ready to give up. 

https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/the-story-of-d-day-june-6-1944/