A sergeant serving on D-Day answering questions on Reddit.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

I am Ernest Moore; I served in WW2 as Sergeant under 713 LCPL Mine Sweeping Flotilla and Corporal in the British SBS.

I am his grandson and he is willing to answer absolutely anything about his time in WW2. Please be patient as I answer as many questions as detailed as possible.

https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/15fd20/i_am_ernest_moore_i_served_in_ww2_as_sergeant/

Fantastic stuff to read.

This question gave me chills and something i always wondered myself:

Can you describe what you were thinking and feeling approaching the battle of D-Day? What was it like to be there and not knowing what would happen to you? It's cool to see vivid re-enactments like movies but nothing beats first hand experience.


SgtErnestMoore
Everything was silent. I was in a boat with fellow British Troops. The American's however, were shouting out threats in an attempt to boost morale. My thoughts were always back home with my family.

[El Barto]

Good read.  The British mentality towards sucking it up and just doing the shit that needs to be done has always intrigued me.

[MetalJunkie]

"Twice to my knowledge they've had to lower the standards for joining the forces because people of my caliber are simply not about anymore. "

Initially, I laughed, but it's actually kind of sad.

[TioJorge]

Way too true than it should be. It is pathetic. Anyway, good read; very interesting. My grandfather is a WWII vet and I talk with him about his time in the war every chance I get and it is truly harrowing, terrifying, bloodcurdling experiences every fucking time; what really gets me is that he's stone cold while telling the stories, as if he's trapped in that time and state of mind despite the fact that he's done a lot with his life since then. My sisters will be tearing up as he tells the stories and he's just  . It almost makes me want to laugh how badass he is, but then the reality sets in that it's with him even now. I'm sure this man lives it everyday. Many different emotions. 

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Wow TioJorge, awesome to hear about your grandfather. It's facinating and yet scary when you think about all the stories and memories all these vets have that most of us will never fully understand unless your been there.

[hefdaddy42]

My grandfather was also at Normandy.  He was in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  He never really talked about it much.

[lonestar]

Both of my grandfathers were WWII vets. One did clean up duty on the battlefields in Italy. I can't begin to imagine the horrors he saw. He was a quiet and loving man,but never mentioned the war at all. I know my dad talked with him about it a bit, and my dad wont talk much about what they shared either. He passedaway when I was in my early twenties and still didn't understand the importance of family lore.

My other grandfather was a Marine in the South Pacific. He passed away about seven years ago, and a few weeks before he died, I was able to sit with him and hear his stories of the war and more importanly of the lifelong bonds that were formed there. I will always be grateful for taking the time to hear that part of his story.