D-Day and a nation united

Patriotism was a given after the Empire of Japan’s naval/air surprise attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor and other targets on the Hawaiian island of Oahu in December of 1941. The entire country was then galvanized for action.

We weren’t alone on D-Day. Canadians, Brits and others, including some from nations already occupied by the Germans, were in it to win it with us on the beaches of Normandy.

The assembled invasion forces were impressive by any definition, like nothing else in the history of combined land-sea-air operations.

Courtesy of old, yellowing special edition newspapers kept by Burlingame’s Mike Traynor, the scope and scale of the June 6 invasion can be appreciated: 4,000 ships; 11,000 planes; tens of thousands of troops; vast amounts of ammunition, tanks, trucks, artillery, fuel, food and other supplies almost beyond measure.

Combined with dogged, massively costly Russian advances on the Eastern Front and the Allies’ persistent efforts in Italy, the liberation of Western Europe was underway in earnest and would culminate with Germany’s unconditional surrender 11 months later.

Japan’s capitulation would follow in August of 1945 after some of the most brutal, horrendous and savage fighting experienced by Allied forces.

It has been estimated that at least 75 million people worldwide perished during the conflict. Entire major cities were essentially razed to the ground.

The total cost of the most devastating war in history for the United States has been projected to be $4 trillion in today’s dollars, or 40% of the nation’s gross domestic product at the end of 1945, a staggering figure by any measure.  

SO MUCH FOR A FIRM RESOLVE: Ethan Kassel, an industrious South San Francisco sports journalist, doubles as an on-call driver to supplement his income.

He got a tiny taste of the tepid commitment of at least one protesting denizen of a San Francisco State University anti-Israel tent camp last month.

Via social media, the wry Kassel explained that the sleepy fellow needed a lift to a comfy apartment because, the guy offered, the outdoor sleeping arrangements at his makeshift tent site were less than adequate.

A Motel 6 it wasn’t. He was pooped. He needed some solid sack time. So much for dedicated staying power and a firm devotion to a cause, no matter its validity — or lack of same.

SINATRA REDUX ON FRIDAY: Frank Sinatra has been gone from the entertainment scene for more than a quarter-century. That has left an opening for any number of talented singers to keep The Master’s work alive.

Robert Meade of San Carlos is one of them. He will reprise some of Old Blue Eyes’ most memorable numbers during a Happy Hour presentation Friday, beginning at 4:30 p.m., at the Auto Vino restaurant/winery on Industrial Road in San Carlos.

“Simply Sinatra” is the title of the show. Food, wine and classic cars are also on the menu.

CHECK OUT THIS ART WORK: There’s still time to view a power point display of more than 75 original posters designed to tout the San Francisco music scene back in the tumultuous 1960s.

The showing of the dazzling, multicolored art work, with a discussion led by San Carlos’ Russ Bertetta, is being held Wednesday, beginning at 1 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center in Foster City.

The presentation is an homage to the stunning promos for the likes of Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother and the Holding Company, the Grateful Dead and other hippie-era performers of note. Admission is free.     

John Horgan, who began chronicling San Mateo County doings in 1963 at the old Burlingame Advance Star, can be contacted by email at johnhorganmedia@gmail.com or via instant messaging via Facebook and Instagram. His book, “Cradle of Champions — A Selected History of San Mateo County Sports,” is available at the county’s History Museum in Redwood City and online via historysmc.org/online-store. All proceeds from sales benefit the work of the San Mateo County Historical Association.