Mobile Courant

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) honored the soldiers who risked their lives on the beaches of Normandy during a speech on the Senate floor today, marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Senator Tuberville reflected on his father, Charles Tuberville, who participated in the operation at Utah Beach at 18 years old.

"This week marks the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy—Operation Overlord. June 6, 1944, was one of the most significant events in human history," Tuberville stated. He detailed the scale of the operation: "In those early morning hours, more than 24,000 soldiers and 1,200 aircraft conducted a massive airborne assault behind enemy lines." He added that over time, Allied forces grew to two million on Normandy's beaches.

Tuberville highlighted the severe losses: "On June 6th alone, the Allies suffered more than 10,000 casualties. At Operation’s end, that number would swell to nearly a quarter of a million."

Reflecting on his father's experience and those of other young men involved in D-Day, he said: "Men with little or no combat experience and their whole lives in front of them landed on those beaches. Men like my father... I can’t imagine what it must have been like to carry such an incredible burden at such a young age."

Tuberville expressed concern for contemporary youth and criticized current educational trends: "We have seen young people protesting in support of terrorists—openly calling for the destruction of society and freedoms that my dad and all these men paid for on D-Day with their blood." He attributed this shift to failures within the education system.

"Our progressive education system... has made us ranked 26th in the world in math... and 6th in reading," he remarked. Tuberville also criticized what he termed as "Marxist Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" ideology within schools.

He concluded by urging Americans to honor D-Day heroes: "Please join me... in honoring the brave heroes who risked [their lives], and in many cases gave their lives for freedom."

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of several committees including Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs.