Tweet
Got up bright and early and headed out to see the north coast of France, and visit all of the small villages the D-Day invasion took place at.
I'm only posting up a handful of photos since I'm unable to edit any of my photos, and the internet is very slow here.
Here is Omaha Beach - I was surprised to see just how large the beach is - our boys didn't have to run 100 yards, or 200 yards - it's more like 700-1000 yard sprint to cover. I can only imagine how terrifying it was. It is a miracle that anyone made it out alive, and no surprise that 80% of the men were casualties.
This is Vierville - the name might not right a bell. It was the small city adjacent to Omaha Beach. You may remember it from Saving Private Ryan - the scene where Vin Diesel gets shot by the sniper holding the little French girl. This particular stable still has the visible damage from machinegun fire and grenades. It's a gorgeous place, hard to believe men died right in this very spot.
Here is the entrance to the Normandy National Cemetery.
I can confirm for all the Texans at home that my thorough inspection of the grounds yielded an exceptional rating. You can rest assured this is the most beautiful piece of land I've ever seen in my life.
These are the brothers Saving Private Ryan is based on. One died on D-Day +1, the other D-Day +5.
I found the Cemetery to be a very somber place.
And a very heroic one. Medal of Honor recipient who had no family to receive the medal. It sits on display at the Museum.
I have some great pictures of the small villages, and also Pointe Du Hoc, where the Rangers scaled the Cliffs. I will post these up when I get back shortly. Tomorrow the Louvre, and I hop on a train to South Germany. To visit Munich, get hammered on fine bier, and then off to the Dachau concentration camp and the Eagles Nest in Austria.
I'm only posting up a handful of photos since I'm unable to edit any of my photos, and the internet is very slow here.
Here is Omaha Beach - I was surprised to see just how large the beach is - our boys didn't have to run 100 yards, or 200 yards - it's more like 700-1000 yard sprint to cover. I can only imagine how terrifying it was. It is a miracle that anyone made it out alive, and no surprise that 80% of the men were casualties.
This is Vierville - the name might not right a bell. It was the small city adjacent to Omaha Beach. You may remember it from Saving Private Ryan - the scene where Vin Diesel gets shot by the sniper holding the little French girl. This particular stable still has the visible damage from machinegun fire and grenades. It's a gorgeous place, hard to believe men died right in this very spot.
Here is the entrance to the Normandy National Cemetery.
I can confirm for all the Texans at home that my thorough inspection of the grounds yielded an exceptional rating. You can rest assured this is the most beautiful piece of land I've ever seen in my life.
These are the brothers Saving Private Ryan is based on. One died on D-Day +1, the other D-Day +5.
I found the Cemetery to be a very somber place.
And a very heroic one. Medal of Honor recipient who had no family to receive the medal. It sits on display at the Museum.
I have some great pictures of the small villages, and also Pointe Du Hoc, where the Rangers scaled the Cliffs. I will post these up when I get back shortly. Tomorrow the Louvre, and I hop on a train to South Germany. To visit Munich, get hammered on fine bier, and then off to the Dachau concentration camp and the Eagles Nest in Austria.
Comment