Thread: Who did you vote for? (anonymous poll)

Originally Posted by BobMcGee123

wasn't obama the name of the beach we stormed on d-day? yes, i'm just being cute, so you can all go to hell.

No, that one was named Osama. m-)

Actually, I've been to Omaha (and Dunkerque too), and the name is obviously made by someone with an irony sense of humour, as Omaha is about as far inland as you can get in North America (no, it's not quite at the geometric centre of the mainland North America) - but there's certainly a great lack of big oceans nearby.

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Mats

Are you saying that the Allies never stormed Omaha beach o.O?

Originally Posted by Akkernight

Are you saying that the Allies never stormed Omaha beach o.O?

No, I'm saying they stormed the beach "Codename Omaha", but the irony of that name is that there's nothing even closely resembling a beach in Omaha (ok, so the Missouri river runs pst, but it's hardly a huge river at that point either).

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Mats

They attacked Germany or something, why are you talking about Missouri?

I think matsp is trying to say that Omaha itself does not have any beaches, so it is ironic to use it as a codename for a beach.

Maybe not
Maybe they tried to confuse the Germans with the name of the operation too!? :O
There are somethings you'll never know... Like, if the Boogie man really is true, and Santa... Oh, and Elvis

Originally Posted by laserlight

I think matsp is trying to say that Omaha itself does not have any beaches, so it is ironic to use it as a codename for a beach.

Exactly. Go to your favourite map site (e.g. google maps) and type in Omaha, and check where it is.

And yes, I'm sure it was partly to confuse the Germans, because a beach in the middle of a large landmass is obviously somewhat confusing (as the discussion here shows).

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Mats

Originally Posted by matsp

Exactly. Go to your favourite map site (e.g. google maps) and type in Omaha, and check where it is.

I still don't get it.

... are you trying to say that we stormed the Missouri River? ... case the Normandy Landings were in France, Mat. Learn your history, geez...



On a side note, completely unrelated to Mat's ramblings (sheesh!), Wikipedia has this to say:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia - Omaha Beach

There is evidence to suggest that Omaha Beach was code named in honor of Gayle Eyler of Omaha, Nebraska. Gayle Eyler was a specialist who helped convert an apartment in London into a secret U.S. Army headquarters for the invasion and was reportedly recognized for "getting the place ready in a hurry".

... on another side note, it appears that a Third Party Candidate isn't going to win the election that was decided 6 days ago. I'm shocked by this turn of events.

Originally Posted by SlyMaelstrom

I still don't get it.

... are you trying to say that we stormed the Missouri River? ... case the Normandy Landings were in France, Mat. Learn your history, geez...

How should I know - I may be a bit older than the average forum member, but I'm not THAT old that I was actually there - the second world war was about 20 years over when I was born. But as far as I have been told, they stormed the atlantic/english channel coast of France across from England, around Dunkerque. And Omaha Beach may well be named after someone from Omaha that helped, but it'st still very ironic, as it is WAY from any coastline in north america, even if start counting the great lakes as "coast".

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Mats

I was there! :O
Infact I was the operation leader and all that! I mean it! I got it on cam! :P
All I know about Omaha beach, is the story from all the games, and some school history... Which I found quite nice for sleeping

Originally Posted by SlyMaelstrom

I still don't get it.

... are you trying to say that we stormed the Missouri River? ... case the Normandy Landings were in France, Mat. Learn your history, geez...

The connection seems obvious to me. matsp is not trying to say that the Allied forces stormed the city of Omaha, but that the code name of "Omaha" or "Omaha Beach" for an Allied landing site that is a beach is ironic because the city of Omaha lacks beaches.

Was it too harsh... the sarcasm?

I thought I was being over-the-top enough for it to be obvious.

Since all beachheads (and even landing sites) had codenames, I'm afraid I fail to see the irony
If it were today allies might as well take Enola beach and my (if I hadn't deserted already) platoon would land on Lone Ferry land site.

On a more serious note though, most codename reasons are unfortunately lost. The military always took these codenames with a grain of salt. They tended to originate from intelligence cabinets and almost always were simply (or so is said) "names that stuck". Curiously enough both American landing sites were names after American places and is thus conceivable one name may have lead to the other... probably places of birth of people involved in the planning or, more likely, intelligence.

English on the other hand were probably a little more dispassionate. Juno was a British ship that served in the 19th century. And one can only hopelessly guess at Sword and Gold.

Originally Posted by SlyMaelstrom

Was it too harsh... the sarcasm?

No, it was merely on the wrong medium

Originally Posted by Mario F.

Since all beachheads (and even landing sites) had codenames, I'm afraid I fail to see the irony
If it were today allies might as well take Enola beach and my (if I hadn't deserted already) platoon would land on Lone Ferry land site.

Indeed, and then I would also consider those names (at least the latter; I have no knowledge of Enola, wherever/whatever that is) ironic, or a case of strategic humour