The casualty lists for that one day are brutal. For the U.S. there were 1,465 dead and 1,928 missing (If you're missing, it's a safe bet you are dead). <\/p>\n
I am named for a cousin of my father's who was never found. About 19 years old. I believe he was in one of those amphibious tanks that turned out to be not so amphibious – most of them sank before reaching the beach.<\/p>\n
The total American death toll for the entire Normandy campaign (not the campaign in France; just the breakout from Normandy) was over 51,000 when you include the air force numbers. <\/p>\n
The toll of French civilians killed during the campaign was between 15,000 and 20,000.<\/p>\n
In the late 70's I visited the Normandy beaches, including the cemeterys above the beaches. An incredible, bittersweet experience. Rows of Crosses, with an occasional Star of David. All those young men.<\/p>\n
Some people, like the founder of the Catholic Worker movement, Dorothy Day (who is up for sainthood), would say it wasn't worth it.<\/p>\n