As a retired United States Army Ranger, Special Forces Green Beret, and Tier 1 Assault Sergeant Major, John “Shrek” McPhee has seen the world and war like few have.
In this documentary short, John travels through Ireland and France to learn about the sacrifices of the allied forces during world
War II and the history of the United States Army Rangers and Paratroopers.
The film follows him and fellow veterans to the 75th Anniversary of D-day, where The Liberty Jump team hosted demonstration jumps as part of a ceremony for the last large group gathering of WWII veterans.
You can watch more stories and footage from the Normandy trip by visiting watch.sobtactical.com/normandy
To learn more about the jumps visit www.libertyjumpteam.com/
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About the film:
This film was sponsored in part by generous donations from a GoFundMe campaign. The purpose is to preserve history and bring awareness to young audiences who may not have the opportunity to ever learn about or meet WWII veterans.
About John "Shrek" McPhee
Sergeant Major (ret) John McPhee AKA “The Sheriff of Baghdad” served a distinguished career in U.S. Army Special Operations for over 20 years, retiring in 2011. Better known for his call sign “SHREK”, John has spent his adult life in Special Operations and Special Mission Units. His career path was as follows: 1st Ranger Battalion, Special Forces (green beret), and Delta Force, and retired at the highest enlisted rank of Sergeant Major.
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D-Day was the codename for the Allied invasion of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944 during World War II. This massive operation was the largest amphibious invasion in history, involving over 150,000 troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
The invasion of Normandy was a crucial turning point in the war. It was the first major Allied victory on the Western Front and opened a new front in the war against Germany. By establishing a foothold in Normandy, the Allies were able to launch a sustained campaign to liberate Western Europe from German occupation.
The planning and execution of D-Day was a massive undertaking. The Allies spent months carefully planning every aspect of the operation, from the selection of the invasion beaches to the coordination of the naval, air, and ground forces involved.
The invasion of Normandy began on the night of June 5, 1944 with the successful landing of over 24,000 American, British, and Canadian paratroopers behind enemy lines. The paratroopers were tasked with securing key bridges and roads to prevent the Germans from reinforcing the beaches.
The main assault on the beaches of Normandy began the following morning. American forces landed on Utah and Omaha beaches, while British and Canadian forces landed on Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches. The landing operations were met with fierce resistance from the German defenders, but the Allies managed to establish a foothold on the beaches and begin pushing inland.
In the days and weeks following D-Day, the Allies continued to build up their forces in Normandy and push further into German-occupied France. They faced stiff resistance from the Germans, but the superior numbers and resources of the Allies eventually began to turn the tide of the battle.
By the end of June 1944, the Allies had secured a lodgment in Normandy and were well on their way to liberating Western Europe from German occupation. The successful invasion of Normandy was a crucial victory for the Allies and paved the way for the eventual Allied victory in World War II.
Today, the events of D-Day are remembered and celebrated as a major milestone in the history of World War II. The bravery and sacrifice of the Allied troops who took part in the invasion of Normandy are honored and remembered every year on the anniversary of D-Day. The success of D-Day was a crucial turning point in the war and remains an important moment in the history of the world.