My wife and I were on a British Isles cruise which also docked 1 day in Le Havre France. This was the opportunity we have waited for a very long time, to go and visit the D-Day Beaches in Normandy. Actually Normandy is 1 of 18 regions in France and Le Havre 1 of 3 major cities or towns within it. The moment we disembarked the ship we were in Normandy. The drive to the D-Day beaches was roughly 2 and 1/2 hours. We were going to see Gold and Omaha beaches, and also Pointe Du Hoc. We were also going to visit the American Cemetery located above part of Omaha beach. Our first stop was in the little town of Arromanches where the Mulberry Harbours were positioned. As early as 1942 the Allies knew they would need control of a port in order to bring in the supplies that would be necessary to sustain the war effort after the troops had landed in France. The many components necessary were constructed in Britain and towed across the English Channel to be assembled just off the Normandy coast. The Muberries consisted of pier heads and floating roadways that moved up and down with the tide. This effort was monumental but necessary for the invasion to be successful. Le Musee du Débarquement or the Landing Museum The beach in front of the museum with pieces of the Mulberry Harbours remaining A view of some of the town or Arromanches by the Museum The American M1 Carbine and 45 semi automatic pistol Related to the Mulberry Harbours An RAF pilots uniform showing the rank of Flight Lieutenant The uniform of a British soldier that would have landed on Sword or Juno beach The uniform of an American paratrooper from either the 82nd or 101st divisions The uniform of an American soldier that would have landed on Omaha or Utah beach An American Army jeep that would have been brought ashore on the Mulberry Harbour After a nice lunch at a local restaurant we moved on to the American Cemetery. I couldn't help feeling that we were on hallowed ground while walking through the many grave markers of the soldiers that died here. Not all actually died during the D-Day landing, some died before the landing and some after the landing. We saw the grave markers of President Theodore Roosevelt's two sons, one of which was part of the landing at Utah beach. Quentin the youngest son was an Army pilot that was killed towards the end of WWI and Teddy Jr led the 4th Infantry Divisions landing on Utah beach. Ironically he died of a heart attack about a month after D-Day. We learned that all costs of the cemetery are paid by the US government. I feel this is a very worthwhile expenditure. Teddy Roosevelt Jr's grave marker Quentin Roosevelt's grave marker The soldiers were not buried by ranks, both officers and enlisted were buried together The Memorial to the dead A map showing the military operations in Europe from D-Day to the end of the war We proceeded to Omaha Beach where the most casualties occurred during D-Day. Actually Omaha beach was about 5 miles wide and securing the beach was necessary to link with British troops that landed at Gold beach to the east and also the American's that landed to the west at Utah beach. Taking Omaha beach was the responsibility of the American Army troops. We stopped where the memorial to the landing is located and to my surprise, the area is actually used by tourists as a little resort town. It was a little strange to see people enjoying the beach at first but then I felt it was nice that people could enjoy themselves on a beach that 74 years ago ran red with the blood of the many soldiers killed and wounded during the landing. A memorial wall located just before the beach Created to honor the men that sacrificed themselves to free the French People People enjoying Omaha beach on both sides of the memorial From here we moved on to our final stop on the tour, Pointe du Hoc. It was roughly a 100 foot high cliff that came to a point as it stuck out into the English Channel. The Germans fortified it with concrete bunkers and heavy guns that could have been used against the Allied Navy. It's strategic location also made it a perfect spot for the Germans to use for observation. Pointe du Hoc was assaulted by 2 divisions of U.S. Army Rangers. After they successfully scaled the cliffs and captured the fortifications the Rangers found that the big guns had been moved to another location. Pointe du Hoc A close up of one of the bunkers Looking down into one of the bunkers entrances Looking out from inside one of the bunkers Inside one of the gun placements This was a truly an amazing day visiting the D-Day Normandy beaches. I believe that everyone should strive to see these historic landmarks. I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like to be part of the D-Day landings. Seeing the beaches and cemetery gives me so much more of an appreciation for the sacrifice they all made.
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