Getting ashore with enough troops, equipment and supplies to effectively continue the fight was a challenge that is still unparalleled in its scope. As in every war, mistakes were made that increased the loss of life. Both soldiers and civilians perished in the invasion. Yet the landings were successful, paving the way for Nazi Germany’s destruction and the rebuilding of war-ravaged Europe.
65 years later, there are few alive who remember the events of this day. Let us always remember and respect the sacrifice so many have made, and continue to make, for others’ freedom.
I had the privilege of visiting the beach areas in 2004. Here are some of my photos from that trip.
The top of the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc, still showing the effect of the aerial and naval bombardments. U.S. Rangers, under fire, scaled the beach cliffs, took this ground by frontal assault and held it against several counter-attacks over the next 2 days. They suffered heavy casualties. Out of 225 Rangers, 90 came out still able to fight.
The remains of a German bunker in a massive crater on Pointe du Hoc, near "Omaha" Beach. The rubble remains undisturbed since that time.
"Pegasus" Bridge, site of the first D-Day assault. British glider troops landed nearby and captured the bridge intact before the beach assaults. The bridge in this photo is a replacement, but the original sits nearby. The building on the other side was there in 1944, and was the first café to be liberated in occupied France.
"Utah" Beach, which was assaulted by U.S. troops from the 4th Infantry Division.
Bible, Archaeology, and Travel with Luke Chandler 
I have yet to visit this area, yet is a place all of us should make an effort to see – and the feeling must be surreal.
This video from June 6, 1984 is worth watching:
http://www.honorourveterans.com/hov-blogs/president-ronald-reagan-s-speech-at-normandy.html
And this one is particularly touching:
http://www.videopediaworld.com/video/17851/Travel-Into-The-Past-1963
I visited the site in 1984, and hold some fragments of a US navy heavy shell hitting the area.
There is a story about a discovery by the special service protecting the President prior D-day’s ceremony. It seems that they inspected the ground thoroughly and found entry to a bunker which had slided into a whole made by heavy shells from the USS TEXAS and was partly buried. Inside, the dead german crew was still there, locked by the slide, as well as some supplies like champagne and others. It is reported that REAGAN got some bottles, and that the 1943 crop was still in very good condition and..delicious !
Is there anything true about this ?
Martin
This is the first I’ve heard of it. Interesting story. If it’s true then someone, somewhere, has celebrated is going to celebrate something in a rather unique, historical way.
I believe its time for me to do another visit there.A look at your pictures of 2004 shows quite a different -more tourist minded-situation of the area. In 1984, it was still chaotic, with elementary walking paths. Born in january 1944, I was already a survivor at my first birthday. I escaped a V1 bomb, and the blast of window glas when a RAF lightning dropped his bombs in the river Ourthe at Esneux in front of my place. Mother found a dagger of 30 cm in my matress. The battle of the bulge was stopped at 1 km from home near Stoumont,and we had to run away.
No surprise if I am rather obsessed by WW2 ! With an international family, a german cousin was lost in 1942 with his sub, an english one was lost in Tobrouk. My father was severely wounded on 11th may 1940 and as a secret army officer, escaped arrestation by the Gestapo due his train was delayed by bombing alarm. Life can be funny !
Martin