Someone You Should Know This man never set foot on the ground on D-Day or for some time thereafter. Yet, he is someone any Ranger will not only thank, but buy a round for because he was a crucial part of securing Pointe du Hoc. Pointe du Hoc 7 June 2013 Jonn has a good write-up at TAH, and there is little I can add. This morning, I had gone out to the Pointe early to shoot more photographs, and ended up having the honor of spending time with some D-Day survivors as they visited. Battleships and bombs leave large divots With them, I heard about the mistake that caused the Rangers to be landed at the wrong spot initially, and the 40 minutes it took them to get to the right location. Critical time that allowed the Germans to recover from the bombardment. I heard about how fast they made it up, despite fierce resistance. The memorial on top of the observation bunker, as seen from one of the big gun bunkers If you have studied D-Day, then odds are you have heard about the captain of DD-626, the Satterlee, who said that if beaching his destroyer was what was needed to help the Rangers he would. He ordered his ship into dangerous waters, filled with rock and sand, and provided point-blank fire support to the Rangers. That man above is the person who carried out those orders: John T. Siewert, helmsman of the Satterlee. The captain ordered, and he took her in. He ended up doing so many times over the next few days to so that precise fire could be laid where needed. One of the large gun bunkers seen through the ruins of another bunker He's promised me some information that I will share with you when it arrives. It was done by a crewmate and is, from what he and his son told me, an amazing chronological account and description of everything they did. He also said that at the end of D-Day, though they were never hit, that the deck was covered with flack from where shells exploded near them. Having seen the cliffs in person, and walked the terrain, my admiration for those Rangers has grown yet larger. One of the survivors of Utah Beach told me today that in looking at Pointe du Hoc and Omaha, that he now felt that his unit had it pretty easy by comparison. There were no easy beaches that day. The courage and determination of the Rangers against fierce and continuing opposition is impressive. Not just to me, but to others who were there that day. LW This trip and other embeds sponsored by MilitaryLuggage.Com and B.N. Shape Clothing. Normandy coverage also made possible by Enterprise Rent A Car Caen Railway Office. My thanks to them and to everyone who has contributed to make this and other trips possible. A variety of advertising sponsorships are available, and you can contribute to this trip and other embeds at GoFundMe.
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Posted
Jun 07 2013, 02:43 AM
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BLACKFIVE