ICYMI: Delaney Op-Ed on 70th Anniversary of D-Day in Hagerstown Herald-Mail

WASHINGTON – June 6 marks the 70th anniversary of D-Day.

Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) published an op-ed in the Hagerstown Herald-Mail on the importance of the anniversary and the contributions made by Marylanders at Normandy.

The op-ed can be read online or below:

The Anniversary of D-Day is a Reminder of Local Heroism and Sacrifice
By John K. Delaney (MD-6)
Hagerstown Herald-Mail

It was one of the defining days in world history and the operations were set to begin early, at 6:30 a.m. Hours before it began, General Eisenhower told the troops that they were embarking upon a “great crusade.” How right he was.

Seventy years ago, on June 6, 1944, Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of the Normandy coastline in France. Known as D-Day, the invasion led to the eventual liberation of Europe and the defeat of the Nazi regime. This anniversary is an important moment to once again thank and commemorate the soldiers who fought in World War II and recommit ourselves to supporting all of the men and women who serve our country.

As Marylanders, we should be extremely proud of the contribution our state made on that epochal day. The sons of Maryland played a disproportionate role in the victory at Normandy, particularly at Omaha Beach, where a Maryland-heavy division, the Army’s 29th Infantry Division, comprised half the troops that made landfall.

The 29th Infantry Division had long been comprised primarily of soldiers from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C., and according to Maryland historian Robert Brugger, nearly one-fifth of all Marylanders who served in the Army in WWII were members of the 29th. Many had crossed the Atlantic in the fall of 1943 and spent the intervening months training in Britain. By May of 1944, they had moved in secrecy to the southern coast of England.

For most members of the 29th Infantry Division, D-Day was their first combat experience, which began before their boats even reached the shore. Four hundred yards from landing, the Germans began firing. The German defenses at Omaha were unexpectedly strong and 500 men from the 29th alone died on the beach that morning.

Men from nearly every community in Washington County, large and small, fought to liberate Europe in the 29th: privates from Boonsboro, Cascade and Clear Spring; technicians from Williamsport, Smithsburg and Hancock; sergeants from Sharpsburg and Hagerstown and many more. They were joined by brothers in arms from across Maryland, including large numbers from Western Maryland.

Between D-Day and continuous fighting that led to the critical capture of St. Lo in mid-July, 7,000 men from the 29th were killed or wounded. But the 29th persevered, continuing through France and fighting across Germany until the end of the war.

Of course, Marylanders served with honor in all branches, in all stages, and in both theaters of the war. On this historic anniversary, the story of the 29th is a microcosm of the incredible bravery and heroism of Marylanders and their fellow Americans in World War II.

More broadly, the anniversary of D-Day is a powerful reminder of the service done by all of America’s veterans and our sacred obligation to support them. In recent weeks, profoundly troubling reports regarding wait times, bureaucratic malfeasance, and poor care at VA hospitals have shocked the nation. In Maryland, we’ve been dealing with these problems for some time, with the Baltimore VA having some of the worst wait times in the country.

I met with Secretary Shinseki last year to get the facts behind what was happening at Baltimore and to make clear that the level of service was unacceptable. Unfortunately, problems have persisted, culminating in his resignation, which I had called for and I believe is in the best interest of the country. Although such systematic problems were not his alone, as a former CEO of a large company, I believe that management must be held accountable when you have major failures. For that reason, I voted for a House bill in May to bring more accountability to the VA and make it easier for employees who aren’t performing to be transferred or fired. While many at our VA hospitals are doing an admirable job, the facts are clear that changes must be made. Due to our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the number of veterans with major and traumatic injuries has increased and we have to take comprehensive steps to ensure proper care.

I encourage any veteran who has had problems with the VA to contact my office immediately. We have a number of caseworkers on staff who can assist you and can be your advocate.

Reflecting upon D-Day, I cannot imagine how they felt, shortly before the boat doors opened 70 years ago. I cannot imagine how they struggled to reach the beach, crawled and staggered to find cover, or gathered the strength to continue fighting all the way to Germany. On D-Day, the eventual defeat of the evil Nazi regime began and with it the liberation of millions of the oppressed and the preservation of the ideals of our civilization.

This weekend, I’m planning to spend some time with my daughters telling them the story of D-Day. Thank you to all who served in World War II, and thank you to all who have served in our country in the years before or since. Our nation will be eternally grateful.

Congressman Delaney represents Washington County in the House of Representatives.

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