D-Day
By: Morgan Savage and Baylee Smith
Landing of the US Troops
More than 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline, to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which, “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end, the Allies gained more land in Europe. More than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded, but their sacrifice allowed more than 100,000 soldiers to begin the journey across Europe, to defeat Adolf Hitler and his troops.
Utah Beach- "We'll start the war from here!"
Utah Beach was added to the invasion plan later in the operation to surprise attack the city of Cherbourg. On June 6th, thousands of U.S. paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines. Many drowned due to the heavy equipment they were carrying on their backs. Those who landed who outside of their designated drop zones so they had to make due. The troops however succeeded in seizing the four causeways that served as the beach's only exit points. The landing at Utah was scheduled for 6:30 in the morning by the US 4th Infantry Division. The airborne drop worked well, but the sea borne landing did not due to the strong currents in the water. However they ended up landing 2000 meters away from landing target but it was less guarded and safer. A total of 20,000 mean had landed and 1,700 military vehicles were also landed and in St Mere-Eglise.
Omaha Beach
Surrounded by steep cliffs and heavily guarded and defended, Omaha was the bloodiest of the D-Day beaches. 2,400 troops were killed, wounded or missing. The troubles for American troops started off from the beginning due to underestimating Germany's number of troops and the failure of aerial bombardment which did little to no damage to strongly fortified German headquarters. Only 2 of 29 tanks launched at sea managed to reach the shore of Omaha. The U.S. infantrymen were attacked in waves by German machine-guns. The damage and number of casualties were so large, General Omar Bradley, the lieutenant in charge of the mission, almost abandoned the entire operation. However, his men slowly made it across the beach and assistance came from a group of Army Rangers who were trying to take out artillery pieces stashed in an orchard and from U.S. warships who planned to fire shells at the German fortifications.
Joseph Beryle
US entered the war his senior year of highschool and he had a scholarship to the University of Notre Dame but he signed up for the army instead. He was inducted September 17, 1942 at Fort Custer, Michigan. Went through regular tests and was given clothes. He was transported to England and then was taken to the Normandy Peninsula. He was a parashooter and jumped 400 ft out of a plan onto the church roof of Ste. Come Du Mont. He started running and throwing grenades towards groups of Germans. He was captured by the Germans and was interrogated. He was kept safe by the Germans during the major fighting and was eventually released and rejoined his company.
George “Jimmy” Green
Jimmy was the sailor responsible for delivering troops to Omaha Beach. He recalls being delayed by the heavy seas. He says when they finally arrived on the beach “you could not see nobody either side of you. Just you.” also “I just wanted to get the hell out of there.” Germans had located them and started to attack. Once the fighting was over Jimmy broke radio silence and reported “We’ve landed on time, against opposition.”
Edward Farley
Staff Sergeant Edward, apart of the 463rd Amphibious Truck Company spend D-Day in the English channel. After being off track and looking for the 116th regimental team his division realized they were only a mile away from the intended landing site. He recalls turning to his right and running through the enemy fire and around the casualties as fast as he could. He states “so many in the water, so many on the sand moaning, falling, creeping... Suffering and confusion everywhere.” “Every man did his job without hesitation or complaint.” Edward survived the fighting that day and lives to tell the experiences of it.