June 06, 2009
NYC Letter: D-Day 2009
Day 137 of CHOPE
OMAHA BEACH, D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944
Soldiers Of Company E, 16th Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
[Photo source: Robert Capa*]
GENERAL EISENHOWER'S MESSAGE
Sent Just Prior To The Invasion
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened, he will fight savagely.
But this is the year 1944. Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940, 41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our home fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory!
I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!
Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.
NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL
Honored Glory, Known But To God
[Photo source: livinginprague.blogspot.com]
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* Robert Capa (1913-1954) was a renowned war photographer who was known to say, "If your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough." On D-Day he disembarked with Company E on Omaha Beach. He recounted the experience in his biography, Slightly Out Of Focus:
The flat bottom of our barge hit the earth of France. The boatswain lowered the steel-covered barge front, and there, between the grotesque designs of steel obstacles sticking out of the water, was a thin line of land covered with smoke — our Europe, the 'Easy Red' beach.... The water was cold, and the beach still more than a hundred yards away. The bullets tore holes in the water around me, and I made for the nearest steel obstacle. A soldier got there at the same time, and for a few minutes we shared its cover. He took the waterproofing off his rifle and began to shoot without much aiming at the smoke-hidden beach. The sound of his rifle gave him enough courage to move forward, and he left the obstacle to me. It was a foot larger now, and I felt safe enough to take pictures of the other guys hiding just like I was.
Mr. Capa turned from the killing zone and headed for an LCI (Landing Craft Infantry).
I did not think and I didn't decide it. I just stood up and ran toward the boat. I knew that I was running away. I tried to turn but couldn't face the beach and told myself, 'I am just going to dry my hands on that boat.'Posted by Damian at June 6, 2009 11:45 PM
