After a 1:00 a.m. bedtime, Brian and
I were out the door by 6, walking to the Metro and heading south to pick up a rental
car. In short order, we picked up the
girls and baggage and headed across town, up the Champs-Ḗlysées, around the Arc de
Triomphe and out of Paris. By 11 we had
arrived at the coast of Normandy. The
time passed by quickly on the drive; in fact, I don’t recall much after we
passed the Arc. Some of the less
considerate passengers claimed my snoring on the road disturbed them.
Omaha
Beach in more peaceful times
When you think of Normandy, the
first thing that comes to mind is that great conqueror, William, who was born
in this northwestern region of
France. Or perhaps you think of the
Hundred Years War, or Monet’s garden at Giverny, or the Bayeux Tapestry, or the
magnificent Mont St-Michel. No? These are what my German friends always want
to talk about; they never bring up the beautiful beaches or the summer of
1944—and after all, why drag up the past?
Tricia
and weapon
Well, what the heck. Let’s drag it up, anyway. For on the beaches of Normandy there occurred
the largest military operation in history, when more than 6,000 watercraft and
ships brought 135,000 troops from Great Britain to begin the destruction of the
Third Reich. In addition to the troops, more than 195,000 navy and merchant marine personnel were required
in this massive amphibious assault. The
landings along 50 miles of beaches were the beginning of the Battle of Normandy,
which lasted 76 unbelievably horrible days, when 37,000 Allied troops were
killed and another170,000 wounded.
14,000 French civilians were also killed, while Germany suffered 200,000
casualties and 200,000 soldiers captured.
It is difficult to imagine the suffering--or the bravery-- of those
gallant men who faced the dangers of an assault on these cliffs, where millions
of rounds of bullets filled the air on D-Day, Tuesday, June 6, 1944.
Charlie
and German long gun
Before
the 6:30 a.m. assault on the beaches began, the Allies flew in 24,000
paratroopers, shortly after midnight.
The rough seas and bad weather, together with diversionary assaults and
the breaking of German coded messages, confused the enemy. But the heavily fortified German positions
made it a nightmare for our troops.
Crossing 200 yards of beach with 80 pounds of gear, these young men
(most under the age of 21) saw 4,000 of their brothers killed that first
day. Some never even
made it to the beach; jumping off the landing craft in water over their heads;
they drowned before ever firing a shot.
After going
through the museum and marveling at the incredible bravery and resourcefulness
of the American troops and their leaders, we drove on the the largest American
cemetery in Europe (there are 14 of them scattered about). It was a somber journey, and there we
witnessed a wreath-laying ceremony followed by the playing of the Star Spangled
Banner. The crowd stood at attention,
and there were few dry eyes as taps were then played.
On this bluff
overlooking Omaha Beach (one of five code named by the Allies), 9,387 Americans
lie at rest with others who did not make it that day, and in various other
military operations. Among them are
three Medal of Honor recipients, including Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. He is buried beside Quentin Roosevelt, who
was killed in World War I and brought here to be with his brother. We also came across the graves of the two brothers
whose story was loosely told in the movie Saving Private Ryan.
The brothers Niland,
real names of the Ryans.
The many appreciative American flags still flying in front of homes near here brightened our spirits a bit. But the emotions
stirred this day cannot be adequately expressed. These memories will be long preserved. It was somber day.
Charlie and Tricia
©2014
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