Comments on: “…we all have tiers in our eyes and our hearts are in the pit of our stomacks”

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:01:31 +0000

Wow — thank you for contacting us! It is so exciting to hear that someone has made a personal connection to this story. Mr. Raymond’s diary is such a powerful and touching testimony of what he and so many others went through. I will be sure to pass your comment on to his widow. I know that she will be moved to know that Mr. Raymond’s family still thinks of him and honors his sacrifices, and his brother’s ultimate sacrifice. You definitely have reason to be proud! Thanks again for writing.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 22:16:12 +0000

I grew up listening to my mom tell me the story of her two brothers who served in WWII. She was 11 at the time. I never got to meet them for reasons I am not to clear on but my mom passed away in 1995 and I never had a chance to ask. All I knew were their names. A year ago I went on a quest to find out more. All I knew was only one made it home. My moms older brothers were Douglas and Russell Raymond…….you can imagine my reaction when I found this website!! Today is rememberance day in Canada, and as I have always honored the men and women who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom, today is a bitter sweet day for I found a piece of a puzzle of who I am. Thank you for sharing my uncles story and giving me a face to name I grew up hearing about as well as giving me more reason to be proud to be Canadian.

By: T. C. Pennypacker

T. C. Pennypacker — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 18:42:11 +0000

Thank you for the wonderfully written entry Jessica and bringing this gem of a diary to the world outside the LVA walls.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 13:12:07 +0000

Thanks for commenting! Mr. Raymond’s diary definitely illuminates the fact that this operation was incredibly dangerous, and no easy task. Their courage is humbling, and reading even one man’s account of the day is so powerful. We at the LVA are grateful to Mary Raymond for donating her husband’s very special diary, as we know stories like these are being lost every day. Again, thanks for taking the time to read and comment.

By: Craig Kilby

Craig Kilby — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:58:40 +0000

Wonderful material. Contemporary history does not tell us what resistance the Germans put up on the water and in the air. My impression has always been that D-Day took them by complete surprise and that Hitler was asleep and could not be awakened to be informed of it. This tells a completely different story, and just how much sacrifice was made in what could have well turned into a disaster. Thank you so much for sharing this diary.