Operation Overlord-The WWII Sites in Normandy

Day 4 was a full day with a private guide (Matt) on a tour of many World War II sites. Matt designed our tour to start with some 82nd and 101st Airborne sites, as they dropped in during the dark of night, before the landings of the troops on the beaches. We met at the Church in St. Mere-Eglise (where one of our paratroopers landed and got hung up on the church steeple - zoom in on the church steeple in the picture!) and a Regiment of the Dutch Airborne were visiting that morning. It was quite stirring seeing them at the site.

Inside the church, there were bullet holes from a battle that occurred during that first night. Also, the church has honored the importance of the Airborne part of the invasion on several stained glass windows (quite unusual in a very traditional Catholic Church).

After more stops at Airborne sites, we went to Utah Beach. Added late in the planning stage by General Eisenhower (the Allied Supreme Commander), Utah Beach was one of the most successful landing sites, suffering only 197 of the days casualties and securing control of that sector by 7:15 am. We toured the museum here, which was excellent! Everywhere we went today really showed how much the French honor the US and other Allies who came to their aid after Hitler’s occupation. It made us feel proud and humble.

On the way to other sites that were especially meaningful to Americans, we made a stop at the German cemetery, where over 20,000 German soldiers are buried. Notably, many of the headstones showed very young or very old Germans, or people from other countries who were conscripted, or taken out of concentration camps and ordered to fight for Germany. These, too, were victims of a ruthless dictator. There was certainly a different emotion for us there, but we were glad we made the stop.

Pointe-du-Hoc, where, due to complications in landing in the bad weather, resulted in a small contingent of 235 men (only 90 of which survived) having to capture a critical heavy artillery site high on the cliffs overlooking the beaches. Their courage and sacrifice was palpable as we walked through a landscape filled with huge holes from the Naval and Air Force bombs that pummeled this site in advance of the landings. (Note the barbed wire in the 2nd photo…it was part of the German defense structure). In the first picture, Dan and Lori are in front of a bunker that held one of the large German guns. That gun could shoot 11 miles, so it was critical to take it out.

Then, on to Omaha Beach, where American casualties were staggering (many of our 24,000 casualties were suffered here). Today, the beach is open to the public, and on summer days is filled with beach umbrellas and happy families. When asked how people feel about such a happy use of such a somber site, the response is that the veterans and others feel that this is exactly what they fought for. The beaches were for public enjoyment before Hitler, and now they are again. Poignant.

In the photo below, tour guide Matt is showing us a picture of Omaha Beach on June 7th, the day after the initial invasion. What a show of force!

Our final stop of the day was the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach. Every aspect of this place is powerful and emotional. We were fortunate to be there for the lowering of the flag and the playing of Taps at the end of the day. Additionally, we had the honor of witnessing 98-year old United States World War II veteran Chester “Buck” Sloan, 2nd Division, 38th Infantry Regiment, Co B, receive the flag that was lowered. There was not a dry eye in the cemetery. After the ceremony, Buck played two songs he had written about the war on his guitar. What a special thing to witness!

See our Instagram Reel from today by clinking this link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiMuakuDlL8/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Tours: Full-Day, Private Guide (Matt), through Gold Beach Company

Step Count: 10,368 steps, or 5.2 miles