Kuster – D Day – June 6th 1944 – By Kevin Kuster
We’re delighted to publish Kevin Kuster’s latest article for his Kuster Column with us. This time Kevin discusses a very poignant moment in history and having visited these very beaches in France myself and the nearby graveyards too, I know only too well how important it is to remember this day and those that gave their lives. Although, at the moment, I don’t have the book that Kevin described below, I do have this one, and it’s very much cherished. Over to you Kevin… (foreword by Joanne Carter).
D Day. June 6th 1944. “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you are NOT close enough.” –Robert Capa.
‘On this day at this hour 69 years ago several thousand brave young men from The United States, Great Britain, and Canada began crossing the English Channel to storm the Beaches of Normandy. They would hit the beaches at 5:30 am.
The quiet coastline of Northern France would never be the same and thousands would loose their lives. Although we know the outcome today, victory was not certain and the gamble was huge!
This post is in honor of the ONLY photographer that stormed Omaha Beach with the front line troops that day, Robert Capa.
If you haven’t read the story of the Magnificent Eleven Photos take by Robert Capa that day you should! I have provide the link in my bio above and it is worth reading.
Imagine risking you life and having all but eleven images DESTROYED!
I can only image if Instagram and mobile photography were around 69 years ago. Robert would have been taking cover in a bombed-out, wet fox hole, ducking machine gun fire and cannon blasts while holding his mobile phone above cover to increase his signal strength to get more bars so he could post his image. #dday, #allies_landed #troops_on_the_beach, #brave #many_dead #outcome_unknown.
Thank you Robert for being the first war corespondent and risking your life so we would have a record of that day and your eleven amazing photographs.
The main force of troops were also supported by the Free French Forces, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Royal Norwegian Navy and the free Polish Army. Several hundred women were also present in supporting roles on ships. Thank you one and all.
We must always remember our past so we never repeat it again. @kevinkuster’
Kevin Kuster
When not performing my covert operations for the FBI, I spend my free time saving baby harp seals in the most populated area of the Arctic. On Holiday’s I travel to London to play Mac Beth at the Savoy Theatre. I frolic, I weave, I connect dots, I carve soap sculptors and I am a part time Lego artist. Although there is no know record of it, I once won the Nobel peace prize for my ground breaking and innovative designs with shelf-paper. I spotted, trapped and released Big Foot while camping on the Yukon River. I am the man behind the voice on Movie Phone. I never buckle my seat belt while on a plane. I saw the real Jim Morrison perform live last week in a small hotel bar in San Juan Puerto Rico. He sang, DON’T GET AROUND MUCH ANYMORE and hummed the theme song from STAR WARS. I am the player to be named later in any professional draft. Every other Tuesday morning I play dodge-ball with the Pope at the Vatican under St. Peter’s square. I always let His Excellency win! I refuse allow gravity to effect me. I have a map that shows the exact location of the fountain of youth. I fly a Pegasus to save on gas. And I was employed at Playboy Magazine for 18 years and served as the Senior Photography Editor and Managing Content Producer for Playboy Digital. Currently, I am a photographer, producer, Chief Editor at the #JJ community (@joshjohnson on Instagram) and a partner at Creator Gallery. Although I have had a relatively quiet life thus far, I see some really excitement times coming my way writing for www.theappwhisper.com
2 Comments
carlos
in their honor and courage….Thank you!
Geri
Fabulous article Kevin. My father served in WWII and although not on the beaches of Normandy he saw his share of devastation. He never really liked talking about it. I never knew that all of Capa’s images had been destroyed. I’m off to read the details.