Normandy, France

When we decided to go to Paris I debated on whether we should take a day trip to Normandy.  It's about a two and a half hour train ride so it takes up every bit of a whole day.  I figured we would probably never be that close again and we needed to go while we had the chance.  I am SO glad we did!  We have been to some pretty amazing places, but this by far is one of, if not the most amazing to date.

Our day started really early with a train ride from Paris into Carentan.  Our guide, Dale Booth, met us at the train station and we began our tour.  If you ever go to Normandy, you must hire Dale!  He is absolutely worth every euro.  I can't imagine our day would have been as great as it was without him!

Right away you can tell that the town is deeply rooted in it's history in regards to the war.  You see flags everywhere of the different countries that participated in their liberation.

The Germans flooded the area prior to the invasion.  This made it impossible for vehicles to go through and also made it difficult for the infantry to cross.  It was a nightmare when the paratroopers were dropped on top of it.  They thought they were hitting solid ground when in fact they landed in a few feet of marsh.  Even though it was only a few feet of water, a lot of the troops drowned.  They were loaded down with equipment and tangled in their parachute gear.  Because of that and the terrain catching them off guard some panicked and ended up drowning.   

Our first stop was Sainte Mere Eglise.  Some of the first paratroopers landed in this town.  As the story goes, a house across from the church was on fire in the early morning hours of D-Day.  This meant bad news for the troops.  Many of them were sucked right into the burning building while others were shot as they came down or as they hung from trees or other structures.  The fire lit up the night sky so they were easily spotted by the Germans and were killed before they could cut themselves loose.  Even though the element of surprise was lost, the 505th took the town and Sainte Mere Eglise became the first town in France to be liberated.

John Steele's parachute got caught on the roof of the church and he stayed there limp for hours, pretending to be dead while he watched the fighting going on all around him.  He was eventually found to be alive and was taken prisoner, but he later escaped and rejoined his division.  The placement of the mannequin that hangs today is incorrect though.  Steele actually got stuck on the opposite corner of the church.  They decided to hang the trooper there for tourism - that side of the church faces the main road and can easily be seen.  

A picture of German soldiers standing in line for roll call on the side of the church.

This is where the burning house stood.

The town pump where the citizens gathered to form a bucket brigade in an attempt to extinguish the fire.  According to Dale, the German troops were standing back smoking cigarettes and watching the people trying to put out the fire when the paratroopers were dropped on top of them.

This is the side of the church where John Steele actually hung.

Ken Russell was another American paratrooper who got stuck on the church, below Steele.  As he was trying to cut himself loose, he noticed his buddy John Ray on the ground also trying to get free from his chute lines.  He watched as a German soldier shot Ray several times at point blank range.  That same soldier spotted Russell and made his way over to him.  Before he could fire a shot at Russell, Ray mustered up enough strength to get up on one knee, take his pistol out of the holster, and shoot the German in the head.  Ray then collapsed and died after saving Ken Russell's life.   

Two windows in the church are dedicated to the troops who liberated the town.  

This one shows the Virgin Mary holding a child above the burning town with paratroopers and planes around them.  It replaced a window that was destroyed during the invasion.

The other window was donated by the veterans of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment for the 25th anniversary of their jump.  It shows Saint Michael, the patron saint of paratroopers.  Other various insignia are also depicted.  At the bottom it says, "They Have Come Back."  

Inside of the church.

The trap door the Germans used to get up to the bell tower.

Driving down causeway #4 on our way to Utah Beach.

The first of many, many bunkers we saw.

This bunker is located right near the beach.  If you look closely, you can see the windows that were painted on the side of it.

Here is a picture of troops resting against that same bunker.

This is Dale on the beach explaining how the German Widerstandsnests were set up.  I won't even attempt to explain what it all entailed, but they were the reason why many Americans died on the beach.

Another example of how the town continues to remember the allied forces that liberated them so many years ago.

Pointe du Hoc is a cliff overlooking the coast.  It was the highest point between Utah and Omaha Beach and the location of a powerful German gun battery position.  The 2nd US Rangers Battalion scaled the 100 ft cliffs and captured the area, seizing the artillery that could have fired on the Americans landing on the beaches.

What a battered bunker looks like.  These things are serious!

Checking out the inside of one of the bunkers.

This land was flat before the bombing happened.  It was just surreal to stand there and look out at all the craters.

One of the turret bunkers that a gun battery sat in.

Monument honoring the Rangers.

Inside another bunker.  A missile was shot into the bunker and it went right through the opening of the window.

Marks left from the shrapnel. 

Another tribute to the Rangers.

The burned ceiling of the bunker.

Turret that the gun battery sat on.

"They did it so that the world could be free."  This is outside of the visitors center.

Dog Green sector of Omaha Beach.  Not much went as planned for the landing and the Americans had many obstacles to overcome.  The heaviest casualties of all the beach sectors occurred here.  In the end, the soldiers overcame and took the beach.

Dale told us a story of two brothers who sat on the same landing craft waiting to storm the beach.  One of them begged the other to hold his hand because he was so scared and had a feeling that he wasn't going to make it.  He asked several times but his brother refused, telling him that he would see him after they took the beach.  He did not survive the battle and his brother spent the rest of his life regretting that he didn't hold his hand during his last moments.    

One day he will know and appreciate the bravery shown and sacrifices made right where he sits.

Standing on the pier looking out at the beach you can't help but become a little emotional thinking about all that took place.  Some of those guys were basically kids, sitting in their landing craft, soaking wet and freezing, seasick and vomiting, preparing themselves for what was about to happen.  They had some serious courage!

Our last stop of the day was the American Cemetery where 9,387 servicemen and women from the Normandy campaign lay resting, overlooking Omaha Beach.  The significance of the place is palpable as you enter.  No word or picture can describe what it is like to be there. 

The grounds are meticulously kept. 

Time capsule to be opened June 4, 2044.

Simply amazing!

At a certain time every day the flags are taken down and folded.  These are pictures of the first flag coming down.  Taps play as the second flag comes down.  I thought I was recording as the second flag came down but I guess I didn't press the button good enough.  I was so disappointment when I realized I hadn't recorded it.  I'm still mad at myself.  

"This chapel has been erected by the United States of America in grateful memory of her sons who gave their lives in the landings on the Normandy beaches and in the liberation of Northern France."

"Their graves are the permanent and visible symbol of their heroic devotion and their sacrifice in the common cause of humanity."

Mosaic at the top of the chapel.

Noticed a few Louisianians.

It is just so peaceful and serene.

"To these we owe the high resolve that the cause for which they died will live."

Walls of the Missing - 1,557 names.

Spirit of the American Youth Rising from the Waves

Proud and grateful can't even begin to describe what it's like to stand there looking over the reflecting pool at the thousands and thousands of crosses and the few Stars of David.  Each reminding you that a life was given so that so many others could be free.