Omaha Beach Memorial

By Liv Stecker

June 6, 1944

“...The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you.”

- Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s address to invading troops

160,000 allied troops descend upon a 50 mile stretch of coastline in Northern France. 13,000 aircraft and 5,000 sea-going vessels spread across Normandy like a swarm for Operation Overlord. It was the turning point of the war. It was do or die. It was D-Day.

Never before and never since has such a broadly coordinated attack taken place on the global theater of war. Within the day, the allies had the foothold they so desperately needed on the European Continent in order to take the Nazi Regime in hand. 9,000 men died on those beaches and cliffs. A high price to pay to gain the strategic upper-hand, but it was the first step the Allies needed to begin their slow sweep across Europe, routing Hitler’s army.

Interestingly, in one of the largest sea-to-land offensive strikes in history, the US Marines, who were created for just such attacks, were not deployed. Waiting in the wings to provide support, they watched as the US Army Infantry and AIrborne descended en masse along with British and Canadian forces.

Memorial to the Army Rangers at Pointe du Hoc

Six 155 MM German guns sat perched atop a cliff between beaches that had been dubbed Omaha and Utah by invading forces. The artillery posed a critical threat to troops as they landed on both beaches. Army Rangers from the 2nd and 5th Battalions, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James E. Rudder were assigned to capture the cliff at Pointe Du Hoc, considered by allied planners to be one of the most dangerous offensives of the operation. The Germans believed the point to be impenetrable by enemy forces. Even a US Intelligence Officer told strategists that “Three old women with brooms could keep the Rangers from climbing that cliff.” But Rudder and his Rangers were undaunted. Landing on the narrow beaches at low tide, the die-hard Rangers scaled the cliff with ropes and ladders, securing the German guns ultimately determining the outcome of the entire operation. The Rangers suffered a 70% casualty rate that day.

The initial phases of the largest airborne attack in history were characterized by disorganization and confusion that resulted in paratrooper scattered far beyond the targeted drop zones. In spite of the chaos, Allied troops pushed through with such determination that German forces were eventually pressed back and the objectives of Operation Overlord were achieved.