Neptune Battle Tours

18/09/2024

Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial

16/09/2024

https://youtu.be/LIXJtegzWVs

Operation Market Garden (17–25 September 1944) was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. ...

16/09/2024

American World War II veterans and U.S. soldiers now serving joined the king and queen of the Netherlands to mark 80 years since the start of the country’s liberation from N**i occupation.

On Sept. 12, 1944, soldiers with the Army National Guard’s 30th Infantry Division crossed the Dutch-Belgian border into Mesch, making it the first Dutch village to be liberated by Allied forces.

Today, 80 years later, we not only reflect on the event of that time, but also on the fact that we have been living in a free and democratic country since Sept. 12, (1944).

Thousands of Americans died freeing the Netherlands, including about 4,000 in Operation Market Garden, a large-scale Allied operation aimed at securing key bridges to allow a rapid advance into Germany’s industrial heartland, the Ruhr. The operation ultimately failed in its objectives.

Every Day is Memorial Day.
The Greatest Generations Foundation.
Web: www.tggf.org

25/08/2024

New reading material....
Original Pictorial history of the 1st Infantry Division

14/08/2024

The Niland brothers were four American brothers from New York. Before the U.S. entered World War II, brothers Preston and Robert Niland enlisted in the service. Edward and Frederick, nicknamed "Fritz," volunteered in November, 1942.

Because of the War Department’s sole-survivor policy prohibiting siblings from serving together, the four brothers served in separate units. Edward served as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Force in the Pacific; Robert landed in the 82nd Airborne Division: Preston served with the 4th Infantry Division; and Frederick was a member of the 101st Airborne Division, 501st Regiment. The three brothers were stationed in England awaiting the invasion of Europe.

Tragedy came in waves for the boys’ parents, Michael and Augusta Niland. In May 1944, they received the news that their son Edward had been shot down over Burma and was missing. On June 6, 1944, Robert died on D-Day, and Preston succumbed the next day near Utah Beach. Frederick had parachuted into Normandy and was temporarily separated from his unit.

When the Army heard of the deaths of the three boys, it determined to spare the Niland family the loss of their last child. A chaplain on the 501st Regiment, Fr. Francis Sampson, found Fritz and put in the paperwork to send him home.

Fritz was shipped back to England and eventually the United States to serve as a MP for the rest of the war. Happily, the Niland family later learned that their son Edward had survived his capture in a Burmese POW camp and was sent home before the war ended.

Their story and Sole Survivor Policy inspired Steven Spielberg’s screenplay of Saving Private Ryan.

08/08/2024

In ocean waters no poppies blow,
No crosses stand in ordered row,
There young hearts sleep beneath the wave,
The spirited, the good, the brave,
But stars a constant vigil keep
For them who lie beneath the deep.
'Tis true you cannot kneel in prayer
On certain spot and think. "He's there."
But you can to the ocean go...
See whitecaps marching row on row;
Know one for him will always ride,
In and out with every tide.
And when your span of life is passed,
He'll meet you at the "Captain's Mast."
And they who mourn on distant shore
For sailors who'll come home no more,
Can dry their tears and pray for these
Who rest beneath the heaving seas...
For stars that shine and winds that blow
And whitecaps marching row on row.
And they can never lonely be
For when they lived... they chose the sea.
IN WATERS DEEP
by Eileen Mahoney

06/08/2024

(AUG 06, 2024) FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS — With great sadness, we share the news of the passing of Normandy D-Day veteran and patron to TGGF, Joseph Scida. He was 99.

Born in Johnsonburg on January 1, 1925, a son to the late Vincenzo “Jim” and Adeline Papa Scida. On August 7, 1946, in Holy Rosary Church, Johnsonburg, he married Kathleen M. “Kay” Hocking, and she survives.

A lifelong resident of Johnsonburg, Joe was a 1943 graduate of Johnsonburg High School, a member of Holy Rosary Church, VFW, American Legion post 501, and had been a past member of East End Hose Co. and the Prince of Piedmont Club. He loved spending time with his family and grandchildren, tending to his gardens, fishing, canning and enjoying his wine and Italian meats.

Joe was a WWII Navy Vet serving as a LCVP Coxswain Pilot delivering American troops to the Normandy Beachhead at Omaha Beach, from the 1st Infantry Division of the US Army, making 13 missions from the LST ship to shore before he was wounded aboard his boat. After he was wounded, healed, and rehabilitated, he remained in the Navy in the European Theater until his discharge in 1946.

Joe was the manager of Patsy’s store in Johnsonburg for over 30 years and had worked for the Elk County Housing Authority for 17 years until his retirement in 2003.

Over the last 12 years, Joe has served as a lead patron to The Greatest Generations Foundation participating in a global leadership series advocating for the World War II generation.

Please join us in celebrating the life of American hero Joseph Scida.

Every Day is Memorial Day
The Greatest Generations Foundation
Web: www.TGGF.org

27/07/2024

Yesterday July 26 2024

The Greatest Generations Foundation

21/07/2024

It’s a tough week.
Saying goodbye to another of my heroes .
100 year old Greg Melikian .
Eisenhower’s radio operator who send the coded message on May 7th 1945 to all the headquarters in Europe that the war was over . May 8 VE-Day .
It was an honor to have met you Greg .
I will keep your memory alive and tell your story .
Rest in Peace 🙏♥️

15/07/2024

It was only last month that we saw each other again when you were here as part of the return of veterans for the 80th anniversary of D-Day with
I’m glad you crossed my path and it was an honor to have known you . I’m glad you knew I had your book The Lady with a Shamrock about your time on board the destroyer USS MURPHY
This is our last picture together taken on Omaha Beach.
The very beach you saw from your ship 80 years ago on D-Day during the invasion of Normandy.
You will not be forgotten and I will tell your story.
Rest in Peace Donald Cobb.
Lest we Forget 😢🙏

05/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/M5yJSMBxNyGgyoP5/?mibextid=V0ec5v

12/06/2024

Today 95 years ago Anne Frank was born .

10/06/2024

It’s not every day that you befriend a Medal of Honor recipient .Get a handshake with a challenge coin.
In this case Col. H.C. ‘’Barney’’ Barnum
USMC (RET) Veteran of the Vietnam War.
We had a lot of fun driving up and down to Cherbourg a couple of times😂 What great guy !
Look up his story !
One of the many Veterans that I had the honor with to es**rt and drive around during the ceremonies and celebrations of the 80th anniversary of D-Day .
The Greatest Generations Foundation

09/06/2024

D-Day veteran Steve Melnikoff standing on Omaha Beach where he landed as part of the 175th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Division and saw the horrors of the D-Day landings on June 6th 1944
God only knows what’s going through his mind.
Emotions running high .
It was such an honor to be in the present of these veterans this past week celebrating and remembering the 80th anniversary of D-Day
Lest we Forget !
The Greatest Generations Foundation

27/05/2024

One of the stories I tell on my tour.
Always remember and never forget !
The Greatest Generations

After the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and America’s declaration of war in 1941, Frank DeVita, like so many others, badly wanted to serve his country. On...

26/05/2024

Memorial Day ceremony.

25/05/2024

Just got my signed copy . Mémorial Charles SHAY
Thank you and Lest we Forget !
The Greatest Generations Foundation

14/05/2024

Today bringing next of kin of Thor A Youngberg to his gravesite at the Normandy American Cemetery .
Thor A Youngberg was part of the 401 GIR 101st Airborne and got killed on June 11th 1944 during the battle of Carentan, Normandy.
Lest We Forget 🙏🇫🇷🇺🇸

12/05/2024

11/05/2024

https://youtu.be/oB6x9r-oO3k?si=QObyQScTijpNK9G-

Uncover the history of the women who went undercover in World War Two, their mission to set Europe ablaze and their extraordinary personal stories.In this in...

10/05/2024

https://youtu.be/X9kICMQ6DEM?si=nLQtSb4oruF8A4es

Hit join to become a member and get exclusive perks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-f2WBfSCZiu0bOBydjot3w/joinCheck out our exclusive merch https://yarnhu...

10/05/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/eFYDQkNaA7LeoQk1/

07/05/2024

06/05/2024

A visit to the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-mer

06/05/2024

We are just ONE MONTH away from the 80th Anniversary of . On June 6th, join us as we honor the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought in the Allied invasion in Normandy, France.

Save the link to view the ABMC commemoration ceremony livestream here: https://www.abmc.gov/d-day80?utm_campaign=Website

20/03/2024

https://youtu.be/O8cdJtk23P0

Saint Laurent sur mer, en secteur Omaha Beach, accueillera la cérémonie internationale marquant le 80e anniversaire du Débarquement et de la Bataille de Norm...

05/03/2024

A must have in your WWII library

17/01/2024

𝟖𝟎𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐮 𝐃-𝐃𝐚𝐲 : 𝐥'𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐮𝐱 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐦 𝐝𝐞́𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐥 !

En guise de vœux, l'office de tourisme de Bayeux Intercom dévoile ce lundi après-midi le visuel officiel de la destination pour le 80e anniversaire du Débarquement.
L'office de tourisme a fait le choix de "𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞́𝐦𝐨𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐚̀ 𝐥'𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐞́𝐥𝐞́𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐝𝐮 𝐃-𝐃𝐚𝐲".
Les acteurs locaux pourront reprendre ce visuel sur leurs propres outils de communication.

31/12/2023

Cheers !

31/12/2023

A HAPPY ENDING OF 2023 🙏❤️

A year that had its ups and downs .

2024 is around the corner.

New chances , New opportunities.

Embrace life and live it to the fullest .

Peace and Love ❤️ to you all .

Lest we forget !