I can't tell you how many times I've seen this actual combat footage of American troops hitting the beach at Normandy during the D-Day Landing on June 6th, 1944, but it's a lot The dark grainy footage shows these brave Americans charging up the beach, when the soldier on the far left gets shot and drops like a stone.

The first time I saw it, and realized what I was seeing was shocking to say the least . Struggling up the beach, with his weapon and heavy pack, when he is cut down by German Machine gunners. The soldier to his far right gets hit and he goes down, but he gets back up firing his weapon. It's an amazing piece of history captured on 16mm movie film.



But the soldier on the left is down. Not moving. He's dead.

It has the same affect on me every single time I see it. I tried to Google this image to find out if he was ever identified. But every attempt came up blank. Others spoke of this footage as well. I wonder how many people see it and never really put it together as to what they are actually seeing.

And honestly? What we're seeing is the ultimate sacrifice this man made for his fellow soldiers, and more importantly, his country. WWII was a fight to the finish. The victors of this war would ultimately end up calling the shots for the future. Can you imagine if Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan had won?
What would the world be like today?

Well, over 400,000 Americans died in that war to make damn sure, that Hitler and Hirohito did not win.



Another image from the actual combat footage from D-Day shows the splashes of water from the rounds of machine bullets hitting in front of these guys as they wade through the water and withering fire.

The sacrifices of those young men on the beaches of Normandy and Iwo Jima
should never ever be forgotten. We owe it to that young soldier in those grainy images at the top of this column, who died on June 6th, 1944 to keep America Free.

Memorial day is the day we honor the fallen. From all the wars. Here are some friends of mine who were killed in Vietnam. I remember them every single year on Memorial day. I pray for their families, and hope they are at peace.












It's not uncommon for me to post a photo of my late best friend Joe Somogyi on this holiday. Joe was an ARMY Ranger who did some amazing acts of heroism in Vietnam. He didn't die in Vietnam per'se, but he died because of Vietnam. His exposure to Agent Orange caused his death.

This photo of Joe and Moira is special. They were lovers. And they were surfers. Joe died in 1978 and Moira died in a tragic car accident in 1982.
I miss them both very much.



This weekend we should do all we can to take the time and remember those who are no longer with us. Especially those who were killed in our nation's wars. For this day is set aside for them. Enjoy your Memorial Day.



I've watched Peter Stokes of Plum Island surf our breaks for decades now. And with each passing year he travels to Fiji to surf the amazing waves on Tavarua. Tavarua is not for the feint of heart. It takes a lot of courage, conviction, physical, and mental toughness to tackle the enormous waves at Cloud Break and Restaurants.



Peter turned 69 this year and was STILL able to paddle into some bombs.

He keeps bringing up his age to me, and kind of half joking, and half serious, questions his ability to keep going back there. I'm not quite sure if he's looking for my personal advice, or if he's just talking out loud to motivate himself to do it each year? Well, looking at the photos he sent me, my advice is to keep surfing. Because, it's obvious to me Peter, that you can not only surf those big waves, but surf them with confidence and style.

So yeah, next year when you turn 70, you can say you surfed Cloud-break and you killed it!

" Remembering The Fallen, and Surfing at 69 yrs of age Heals All Wounds."

This is a pic I'm sure I've run before. But, I only run these kinds of pics twice a year. Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Ed was an ARMY medic who flew on those UH1's HUEY slicks into Hot LZ's to pick up the wounded. That big red cross on the Chopper was an easy target for the enemy below. Ed saved a lot of young kids lives over there. But, he also lost a few.

Those were the ones that still bothered him late in his years. Ed was a hero. Especially to the Grunts on the ground. The fact that they would fly a helicopter into a raging battle to pick up the wounded spoke volumes of the character that was this man. There are old ARMY veterans who are still alive today because of Ed. I miss you big man. Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.


Now for Some Local, National and International News
My all time favorite teacher from the local schools Sheila Nudd is a retired music teacher from Hampton Academy. One of her former students Desiree Loy was killed in a plane crash where she was a boom operator in the USAF. Sheila was so saddened by her loss that she has started a campaign to get a street named after her. Desiree was from Hampton and joined the Air Force after high school and college. Sheila has worked tirelessly on making damn sure that the people of the seacoast remember Desiree Loy. Click on the image below to read the names of the AIR FORCE personnel that are helping Sheila with this project.



We should all be so lucky to have a friend like Sheila Nudd.



Last Friday was the annual local schools Memorial Day assemblies. The local kids, teachers, and principals put on a wonderful Memorial Day assembly. This is me in my driveway with my new RUBICON after the final assembly.



Oh do we (Celtics) ever need to stop the King from being King of the NBA tonight. It's Game 7 and so far the teams with the home court advantage seem to have the upper hand. Well, tonight we play at home. GO CELTICS!



I'm helping out with this cause (above). I hope you do too!

KSM Photoshop of the Week
I'm not sure how Al Qeada honors their fallen on memorial day. In fact, I'm not sure they honor their fallen on any day period. And honestly? I could give a Rats Ass. I would like to think that KSM is truly upset that our NAVY SEALS killed his tall bony ass of a comrade Osama Bin Laden . I wonder if OBL visits KSM in his dreams? And if he does, what pray tell do they talk about?



So my friends, please take advantage of this weekly photo shop of the mastermind who planned 9-11 and resulted in the deaths
of 3,000 innocent civilians by KSM (Khalid Sheik Mohammed).

*Note to self -must pick up a case of "Camel Rugs"
at Home Depot this week.

GO CELTICS BEAT THE CAVS in GAME 7!
HEAL WELL SOON Max Fatello!
HEAL WELL SOON Jon Gozzo!
HEAL WELL SOON Cliff Pappas!
GET WELL JoEllen Bunton!
REMEMBER THE FALLEN!

FYI Lenny Nichols is looking for someone or someones to take over the ESA-NNE District. Please contact Lenny Nichols by calling his cell (603) 944-2418



ESA-NNE FLATBREAD FUNDRAISER in Portsmouth, NH
Tuesday May 29th, 2018 Please HELP THE ESA-NNE.

THE GRANITE GIRLS movie is done. We're currently
looking at venues for the premiere showing!




Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 13 years.
** BUY a HIGH RES Photo from any of the weeks on RPOTW.

Remember my friends... Surfing Heals All Wounds.
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.

Ralph

*Click on the photo above to see a larger version

(Above) Hello? This is Cloud Break. There's only one Cloud Break
on this planet. Peter Stokes 69, pushing the age limits.
May, 2018. Photo by Scott Winer
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Peter has become a sort of a legend out there. Seriously. I'm not
sure how many trips he has made there, but it's pretty significant.
May, 2018. Photo by Scott Winer
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) This is the new norm at Cloud Break. The crowds have thickened but the waves still rule the sessions. *Note NOBODY is on this one.
May, 2018. Photo by Scott Winer
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) No takers. May, 2018. Photo by Scott Winer
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) This is a REAL FRICKEN wave! Whoa. May, 2018.
Photo by Scott Winer*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) This is pretty, as well as pretty intense.
May, 2018. Photo by Scott Winer
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) This is a young Dave Eon Sunday May 27th, 2018.
Photo courtesy of Dave Eon
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- LEFTOVERS April 26th, 2018 Photos by RALPH

(Above) Max Fatello pulling in at Parking Lots. April 26th, 2018.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Jared Veltsos snapping back at Parking Lots. April 26th, 2018.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) How long will this be this good? The sandbars are always changing. And so are the local vibes. April 26th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) James morse is making a living as a male model. Good for him.
April 2018. Photo courtesy of James Morse
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery