Heninel Croisilles Road Cemetery, France.

These are photographs of the Commonwealth Cemetery at the Heninel Croiselles Road Cemetery.

The Commonwealth and German soldiers are buried in this Commonwealth Cemetery.

 

Lex Anteinternet: Blog Mirror: Today In Wyoming's History: June 6, 1944. Operation Overlord

Lex Anteinternet: Blog Mirror: Today In Wyoming's History: June 6, ...:

Blog Mirror: Today In Wyoming's History: June 6, 1944. Operation Overlord

Today In Wyoming's History: June 6:



While the rest of the history minded world has been focusing on 1944 this week, we as usual have been focusing on 1919.



But the focus on 1944 is well placed. Today is the 75th Anniversary of Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy.  Or "D-Day" as its sometimes commonly referred to.



We noted it on our companion blog Today In Wyoming's History quite awhile back, even though its not really a Wyoming historical item.  We've posted that item below.



Operation Overlord is truly remarkable.  It was the largest seaborne landing ever attempted and is likely to remain so for all time.  The number of ships involved was so large its not really known and never will be.  It also featured a massive airborne phase.



Contrary to the way its sometimes slightly portrayed, it wasn't a "return" of the Western Allies to Europe.  The Western Allies had done that when they'd landed in Sicily on July 10, 1943.The fact that the Germans had been unable to push the Allies off Sicily made it clear how the rest of the war would go to some degree, even if a lot of hard fighting lay ahead. That was further emphasized that following September when the Allies landed on the Italian mainland.



But those operations didn't compare in scope or size to the landings in France on this day seventy five years ago.   Landing in France, in a war that was as mobile as World War Two was, was a game changer.  A straight path lay ahead towards Germany and the end of the war with the only question being how long it would take.  Germany could not push the Allies out of Italy, but invading the German homeland from Italy was basically impossible.  Things were completely different in regard to France.  Following this day a relentless Allied advance from two sides, with occasional set backs, defined the character of the war against Germany.



This blog has of course tended to focus on an earlier era, although it strays occasionally. Given that, it's hard not for us to comment that with lots of posts on the course of World War One and the progress in Paris towards a treaty, June 6, 1944 seems remarkably close in time to June 6, 1919.  And it is. Only twenty five years separate the two.  World War Two was truly close the World War One.



Technology had certainly advanced between the two and even though there many World War One weapons in use in World War Two, the mobile character of the war, brought about by mechanization, was remarkably different. World War Two remains a war of our own era in a way that World War One doesn't quite.  It's still with us.



Less with us are the veterans who fought the war. With it being seventy five years in the past, no wonder.  Here too we pause.  When we first posted this item on Today In Wyoming's History there were quite a few World War Two veterans left alive.  There still are by that's changing daily.  When we started posting on this blog, there were living World War One veterans.  Now there are none.

June 6

1944 Allied forces land in Normandy, in an event remembered as "D-Day", although that term actually refers to the day on which any major operation commences.  This is not, of course, a Wyoming event, but at least in my youth I knew more than one Wyoming native who had participated in it.  Later, I had a junior high teacher whose first husband had died in it.  A law school colleague of mine had a father who was a paratrooper in it.  And at least one well known Wyoming political figure, Teno Roncolio, participated in it.  From the prospective of the Western Allies, it might be the single most significant single day of the campaign in Europe.

All the photos above are courtesy of the United States Army.

Painted Bricks: The Black Fourteen, Laramie Wyoming Mural

Painted Bricks: The Black Fourteen, Laramie Wyoming Mural: The Black Fourteen were fourteen University of Wyoming football players who lost their positions on the football team in 1969 when they ...

Village Memorial to its World War One Dead, France

A La Memoire Des Enfants De Grivesnes Morts Pour La Patrie, France.

A memorial in Grivesnes to its World War One dead.  This is an unusual memorial as the figure is painted, which is quite uncommon.

Today In Wyoming's History: Blog Mirror. NPR: White Lies

Today In Wyoming's History: Blog Mirror. NPR: White Lies:

Blog Mirror. NPR: White Lies

Given the Casper connection, something of interest:

On the night of March 9, 1965, a white Unitarian minister named James Reeb was attacked on the streets of Selma by a gang of men who resented his support of black civil rights activists. Reeb died shortly after. Three men were charged with murder, but were acquitted by an all-white jury. For over fifty years, the murder remained unsolved. By investigating this Civil Rights-era cold case, hosts Chip Brantley and Andrew Beck Grace uncover the truth about the murder of James Reeb. In the process, they confront the systems of oppression and violence that allowed the murder to happen and kept it from being solved for so long. The investigation into Reeb’s death is as much a personal meditation on our relationship to the past as it is a search for justice that’s been long delayed.

Subscribe to White Lies

Machinist Mate First Class George Hanson to be returned to Laramie.

From the Casper Star Tribune:

The remains of a Laramie sailor who was killed aboard the USS Oklahoma during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor have been identified and will be reburied in Wyoming later this year.


The sailor is Machinist Mate First Class George Hanson, who was serving on board the USS Oklahoma.  He was 32 years old at the time of his death on board his ship.

Franco Prussian War Memorials, France

Hamel-Bouzencourt, A Ses Enfants Morts Pour La France

A memorial in the towns of Hamel and Bouzencourt for the French dead of World War One and World War Two.

Hamel was the scene of a famous 1918 Australian effort which was supported by the French and which included American troops.

Thelus, A ses Enfants Morts pour la France.

The Town of Theulus' monument to its war dead from World War One, later amended to include World War Two.

Heninel, a ses Enfants.

Memorial in Heninel, France to the men of the town who died in World War One.  This monument is placed next to the village church.

Fallon County, Montana Veterans Memorial. Baker Montana.

This is the memorial to the veterans of all U.S. wars located in Baker Montana, the county seat of Fallon County, Montana.

Baker today is a fairly small town, so the number of names is impressive.  Of course, this may also mean that the agricultural and oil producing county had a substantially higher population at one time, but its impressive nonetheless. 

Today In Wyoming's History: Richard's (Reshaw's) Bridge, Evansville Wyoming.

Today In Wyoming's History: Richard's (Reshaw's) Bridge, Evansville Wyoming.: Reshaw's Bridge, or more correctly Richard's Bridge, was a frontier North Platte River crossing only a few miles downstream from ...

Courthouses of the West: Fallon County Courthouse, Baker Montana

Courthouses of the West: Fallon County Courthouse, Baker Montana:

Fallon County Courthouse, Baker Montana

This is the Fallon County Courthouse, which also houses the county and city offices and the county library, in Fallon County Montana. The building is located in the county seat of Baker.

I was obviously there in the middle of winter, and on a cold day at that.

An American Legion dedicated flag pole is in front of the courthouse, dedicated to the veterans of all wars.

Lex Anteinternet: More bills becoming law. 2019 Wyoming Legislature. Medal of Honor Cities.

Lex Anteinternet: More bills becoming law. 2019 Wyoming Legislature....:

More bills becoming law. 2019 Wyoming Legislature.

Another selection of bills have been signed into law by Governor Gordon.

A formal bill signing has been requested for the following bills:
Bill No.	Enrolled Act #	Bill Title
SF0109	SEA No. 0061	Educational attainment executive council.
SF0115	SEA No. 0064	Order of protection-tolling during imprisonment.
SF0040	SEA No. 0065	Operation of motorboat while intoxicated.
HB0130	HEA No. 0095	Wyoming Cowboy and Cowgirl Legacy Week.
HB0204	HEA No. 0096	Common college transcript-implementation.
HB0297	HEA No. 0098	K-3 reading assessment and intervention program.
HB0082	HEA No. 0104	Veterans' skilled nursing facility.
HB0180	HEA No. 0106	Mixed martial arts regulation.
HB0212	HEA No. 0107	Alcoholic beverages-business flexibility.
HJ0010	HEJR No. 0003	Medal of Honor cities.
The governor will act upon these bills:
Bill No.	Enrolled Act #	Bill Title
SF0099	SEA No. 0057	Voting systems and ballots.
SF0067	SEA No. 0058	Hospital cost study.
SF0088	SEA No. 0059	Firemen's retirement fund plan b-contribution.
SF0107	SEA No. 0060	Pari-mutuel fee distribution-state fair account.
SF0120	SEA No. 0062	Student expulsion hearing requirements.
SF0142	SEA No. 0063	County regulation of livestock grazing.
SF0047	SEA No. 0066	Controlled substances education and administration.
SF0046	SEA No. 0068	Opioid prescription limits.
HB0143	HEA No. 0097	Presentence investigation reports-judicial discretion.
HB0020	HEA No. 0099	Program evaluation standards.
HB0062	HEA No. 0100	Wyoming Utility Token Act-property amendments.
HB0029	HEA No. 0101	Unclaimed life insurance benefits.
HB0113	HEA No. 0102	Special electric utility agreements.
HB0125	HEA No. 0103	District court filing fees.
HB0243	HEA No. 0108	Driver's licenses.

A really interesting one in this set is the one that designates certain towns and cities as Medal of Honor cities.  It's set out below:

ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED

JOINT RESOLUTION. HJ0010

ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING

2019 GENERAL SESSION

A JOINT RESOLUTION to designate cities and communities in the state of Wyoming as Medal of Honor cities or communities to honor the Medal of Honor recipients connected with the cities or communities.

WHEREAS, the Medal of Honor is our nation's highest award for valor presented to veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States for acting with conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty at the risk of one's life during combat with an enemy of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the Medal of Honor medal is widely respected by the military and public alike; and

WHEREAS, Wyoming has been home to seventeen (17) Medal of Honor recipients from the United States Army, Unites States Navy and United States Marine Corps who served in five (5) wars, from the Civil War to the Vietnam War, over a period of one hundred seven (107) years; and

WHEREAS, seventeen (17) recipients who earned Medals of Honor, were born in, or laid to rest in six (6) cities and three (3) unincorporated areas in the state of Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, Wyoming's Medal of Honor recipients are not presently honored by Medal of Honor markers in their cities or other communities with which they were associated; and

WHEREAS, "Medal of Honor City or Community" markers in public places across Wyoming will preserve the legacy of service and sacrifices of Wyoming's recipients; and

WHEREAS, Wyoming deeply appreciates the service and sacrifice of its Medal of Honor recipients and the positive roles they have played in their communities for more than one hundred (100) years.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:

Section 1.  The Wyoming legislature hereby designates Casper, Greybull, Cheyenne, Laramie, Powder River, Rock Springs and three (3) unincorporated areas, Platte River, Elkhorn Creek and Bluff Station as "Medal of Honor" cities and communities and encourages the creation of Medal of Honor markers in public places in the designated cities and communities.

Section 2.  That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution to the governing body of each Medal of Honor city or community, the Governor of the State of Wyoming, the Wyoming Veteran's Commission, the Wyoming Association of Municipalities, the Wyoming County Commissioners Association and state organizations of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

(END)

Speaker of the House			President of the Senate

	Governor
	TIME APPROVED: _________
	DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

It's a neat idea, but it contains an error.  Little Powder River isn't an incorporated municipality.  It used to be, but ceased to be quite some time ago.

I'm amazed that there's seventeen Wyomingites associated with the Medal of Honor, but then this notes that it does go back to the Civil War.  At one time the Medal of Honor was the only medal issued by the United States military, and even civilians were eligible early on in some military circumstances.  Peace time awards were in fact common early on, and were particular common in the Navy, where more than one sailor lost his life trying to save drowning individuals.

Well, it's a neat idea.

Lex Anteinternet: Those other North American soldiers in the Great W...

Lex Anteinternet: Those other North American soldiers in the Great W...: World War One era Canadian poster urging the purchase of Victory Bonds. "Now" Canada? Yes. Perhaps we should start there...

Pro Patria, French War Memorial

As with many French memorials, this war memorial was originally for the dead of World War One but was later added to so that those of World War Two could be additionally included.

MKTH photo.

British Expeditionary Force Memorial, France

Henri Guillaumet, Pilot from Ligne

A memorial in Ligne, France, to Henri Guillaumet, a pilot who lost his life in World War Two.

The memorial was placed on the 50th anniversary of his death.

MKTH photograph.