The end is the beginning is the end* - Smashing Pumpkins

I guess you can call it the beginning of the end. I'm referring to D-Day - also known as the Normandy Landings. It was the start of the Western Allied operation to liberate Europe from Nazi Germany.

Me visiting the beaches at Normandy in Autumn 2006

Perhaps in the modern times, D-Day IMHO has been best and most vividly depicted in the dizzying and harrowing opening scene of Saving Private Ryan.

Today marks the 65th anniversary of that fateful day where the Allied casualty figure is at 10,000 (casualty means killed, wounded or MIA). About a quarter of that are those who died. Many young men ran into their deaths on that day after suffering many hours of seasickness.

How does that affect us in South East Asia? Imagine what would have happened if Nazi Germany had won WWII and not the Allied forces. What kind of world would we be living in? Let's not forget the many men who gave their lives - and the many women who lost their husband or son.

I had the privilege to visit the beaches at Normandy back in 2006. Here are some photos, mostly taken at Pointe du Hoc (you can read more about that place here).

*Taken from the soundtrack of Batman & Robin