Jack of Harts

Eighty years ago today, three German divisions faced off against the entire British invasion force, though the Allied air support and ground anti-tank guns put the worry to the defenders. The Americans focused on taking out artillery positions harassing the ongoing landing of troops, while the air support fought off Luftwaffe counter-attacks. Allied aircraft over Normandy flew with distinctive striping to keep the not-so-friendly-fire incidents in previous invasions from repeating themselves.

Eighty years ago today, Americans took Utah and Omaha Beaches, while our British allies took Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches in Normandy. Our Airborne paratroopers, many of whom landed the night before, held more positions, including the bridges over the Orne River. When German armored troops moved to counterattack, Allied aircraft destroyed many and forced the others to retreat until nightfall. And Allied forces landed behind German lines using long range gliders. Operation Overlord’s victory was tenuous, but they had secured the beaches and more troops breached Fortress Europe’s defenses on an hourly basis.

The Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution dictates that no civilian shall be charged with a capital crime unless a Grand Jury agrees to charge them, that no person can be charged with the same crime twice, that you don’t have to testify against yourself, that you will not lose your life, liberty, or property without due process, and that your private property will not be taken for public use without just compensation. The former Colonies had witnessed far too many public show trials courtesy of the British, and they did not intend to witness the like again in their lands.