The Heroes of D-Day - On the Road to Berlin

In this blog post I will be discussing the destruction to those involved in WWII and how they are considered heroes.

Below is a quote by Ernie Pyle, the Author of On the Road to Berlin.

“The awful waste and destruction of war, even aside from the loss of human life has always been one of its outstanding features to those who are in it.” - Ernie Pyle

This quote by Pyle, along with his short story, proves just how destructive war is and more specifically the cost is has on all involved. Read a short response below on my view of the short story and how the soldiers proved their heroism in battle.

The Heroes of D-Day

As a soldier involved in WWII and more specifically D-Day, Pyle describes the damage left on the beach of Normandy and uses descriptive writing which allows the reader to create an image of the destruction in their mind. When reading this short story, I was truly able to picture the destruction and death that had occurred on June 6, 1944. The image created in my mind allowed me to realize just how brave and heroic the soldiers are.

As a soldier fighting on D-Day, many were risking their lives to fight for their country. This horrific day resulted in the deaths of many soldiers who are viewed as heroes for their bravery and strength in such a difficult time. However, in this situation, many soldiers achieved heroism but it came at a massive cost to not only them, but also their families. Although those who fought may have lost their lives, their families also have to deal with the loss of fathers, sons and brothers. This cost is an extreme price to pray and proves exactly why we should always be thankful for what the soldeirs did for us.

Ernie Pyle's short story On a Road to Berlin accurately shows the destruction war causes to not only those involved, but also their families and the environment. This horrific day in history will always be remembered and should serve as a reminder for not only those who have died, but all that were impacted by the costs the war demanded.