Normandy 2011 - Part Two

The Americans at Utah and "The Band of Brothers"

Day 4

Utah Beach and Inland

Yes, at 7am the bell ringers did what they do and rang bells. 10 minutes worth of bells. Steve is always the first up and usually sets an alarm so he can prepared breakfast and get to the shower first. No need to set the alarm as the bell ringers did the job for him. So again, the NMBS were up at a reasonable time and the plan for today was Utah beach and the surrounding areas.

Sainte-Marie-du-Mont was the first stop, a quaint little village with a rather impressive church. Dotted around the village were information plaques with, to be honest over dramatic stories of what happened that night. Some of the stories could have come from the pages of the old “Warlord” and “Commando” comics from the 70s – they were accounts that did seem dramatised to make the casual battlefield tourist think “Wow” – but to be honest, the plausibility seemed a tad far fetched. Like a German being shot and staggering off to die in a ditch (“He was never seen again”) but the story was from the German’s view, so if he was a) dead and b) never seen again, how did they know? This is not to take away the heroics and savage battle that happened that night on the 6^th of June. Historical documented accounts are there to be seen.

On the night of 6 June 1944 more than four hundred planes dropped the American parachutists of the 101st Airborne Division in Normandy. The 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment landed on drop zone C near Sainte-Marie-du-Mont. The units were widely scattered. A group of about a hundred men gathered under General Taylor who commanded the division and Lieutenant-Colonel Ewell who commanded the 3rd battalion of the 506th Regiment. They moved toward Utah Beach to take control of the exit n°1. On the way they neutralized a German strong point near Sainte-Marie-du-Mont. Another group of parachutists destroyed a battery west of the town. Several paras hit the ground in the middle of the town, American and German troops killed each other in great confusion.

In the afternoon Sainte-Marie-du-Mont was liberated by a group of paras of the 501st and 506th Regiments. The Americans took by surprise the Germans who were pushed back by the Landing on Utah Beach. I prefer the first hand account from David “Buck” Rogers 1^st Sgt, HQ Co, 1^st Bat, 506 PIR, 101^st Airborne Div, that you can read on the website –

http://www.6juin1944.com/veterans/rogers.php

After trying to find the Memorial to the Danish men who served on D-Day, Which we found after much faff, we moved on.

Sainte-Marie-du-Mont Church

Sainte-Marie-du-Mont

A memorial and a private tribute

Next was a trip to a site, which was one of the reasons the NMBS got together. The TV series Band of Brothers rekindled the interest of battles for a few of the NMBS. And during the episode “Day of Days” an attack on Brecourt Manor was dramatised. Out of the series this was one of the stand out episodes and set up the men of “Easy”. So the new memorial to the men of Easy at Brecourt was a must see. For “Easy” D-Day started badly.

Company Commander Thomas Meehan was killed when the C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft he was a passenger in was hit by German anti-aircraft fire. The plane crashed near the village of Beuzeville-au-Plain (approximately 2 miles northeast of the town of Sainte-Mère-Église), killing the crew and the paratroopers aboard, including Company "E"'s entire company headquarters group. Meehan was 22 years old at the time of his death.Before takeoff, Meehan wrote a letter and handed it out the door of the C-47 to be sent to his wife: Dearest Anne:In a few hours I'm going to take the best company of men in the world into France. We'll give the bastards hell. Strangely, I'm not particularly scared. But in my heart is a terrific longing to hold you in my arms. I love you Sweetheart - forever. Your Tom.

As a result of the crash command devolved to the company executive officer, 1st Lt. Richard Winters After linking up with his parent unit at the hamlet of Le Grand Chemin on the morning of June 6, 1944, Winters was ordered up front away from his company. With minimal instructions of "There's fire along that hedgerow there. Take care of it,"and no briefing, Winters found himself tasked to destroy a German artillery battery The battery had initially been reported to be 88 mm guns firing onto causeway exit 2 leading off Utah Beach and disrupting landing forces of the U.S. 4th Infantry Division advancing inland on this route. Several other units had stumbled onto the German position earlier in the morning and had been repulsed.

After a reconnaissance by Winters at about 0830 hrs. he collected a team of thirteen men from his own and other companies. Beyond knowledge of the general location of the gun emplacements south of Le Grand Chemin and without information of the other side of the hedgerow, Winters' team attacked Brecourt Manor, located three miles southwest of Utah Beach and north of the village of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont There he discovered No. 6 Battery of the 90th Artillery Regiment,consisting of four 105 mm howitzers connected by trenches and defended by a platoon of soldiers.

Winters held that the unit was part of the 6th Fallschirmjägerregiment (6th Parachute Regiment) with emplaced MG42 machine guns The 1st Battalion of the 6th had been ordered to Sainte Marie-du-Mont from Carentan during the afternoon but arrived after dark. The 1st Company 919th Grenadier Regiment (709th Infantry Division) was posted at Sainte Marie-du-Mont and was responsible for the area. Elements of 1058th Grenadier Regiment (91st Luftlandedivision) were defending throughout the vicinity, and the artillery was part of this division also. The 795th Georgian Battalion, attached to the 709th ID, was to the northwest at Turqueville but is less likely to have been present because of terrain difficulties. Whichever unit defended the battery, the U.S. paratroopers were opposed by approximately sixty German soldiers.

The crew originally assigned to the four 105mm guns had apparently deserted during the night of the airborne landings. Oberstleutnant Frederich von der Heydte of the German 6th Parachute Regiment, upon discovering they had been abandoned while observing the landings at Utah Beach, travelled to Carentan where he ordered his 1st Battalion to find men and work on the artillery battery.

Upon arrival at the battery location, Winters made his plan. He positioned a pair of M1919 .30 calibre machine guns for covering fire and sent several soldiers (2nd Lt. Lynn D. Compton, Pvt. Donald Malarkey and Sgt. William J. Guarnere) to one flank to destroy a machine gun position with grenades and provide covering fire.

While the trenches connecting the artillery positions provided the Germans with an easy way to supply and reinforce the guns, they also proved to be their biggest weakness. After destroying the first gun position, Winters and the rest of his team used the trenches as covered approaches to attack the remaining guns in turn. Each gun was destroyed by placing a block of TNT down its barrel and using German stick grenades to set off the charges.

Reinforcements from Company D, led by 2nd Lt. Ronald C. Speirs, arrived to complete the assault on the fourth and last gun. Speirs had a reputation as an excellent and extremely aggressive officer and he led his men against the last gun position by running outside the trenches and exposing themselves to enemy fire.

After the four guns were disabled, Winters' team came under heavy machine-gun fire from Brecourt Manor and withdrew. He had discovered a German map in one gun position that was marked with the locations of all German artillery and machine gun positions throughout that area of the Cotentin Peninsula This was an invaluable piece of intelligence and was passed up the chain of command.Winters also directed the fire of two American tanks which arrived later from Utah Beach to eliminate remaining German resistance.

Winters lost one man, PFC John D. Halls from an 81mm mortar platoon, and Private Robert "Popeye" Wynn was wounded during the attack (Wynn was evacuated back to England, recovered from his wound and rejoined Easy Company just before Operation Market Garden). Another casualty was Warrant Officer Andrew Hill, who was killed when he came upon the battle while searching for the headquarters of the 506th PIR. "Rusty" Houch from F Company who was with Speirs was killed as well. One Soldier from D Company under Lt. Speirs' command were also killed as well as one wounded from D Company.

The Brécourt Manor Assault is often cited as a classic example of small-unit tactics and leadership in overcoming a larger enemy force.

The Names of those who died in the C47 Crash

Winter's Original Map and Brecourt in October 2011

The Map etched into the stone memorial (CLICK ON PIC FOR BIGGER SIZE)

In 2004, when the NMBS visited Utah beach, it was a very humbling and privileged experience. The place was awash with Veterans. Sadly in 2004 we could not see the museum or the other places of interest due to the fact that some many people, vets, film crews and the world media was there. This time is was quieter.

Utah Beach was the furthest west of the five beaches designated for the Normandy landings. Located at the base of the Cotentin Peninsula, it was added by Eisenhower to the original D-Day plan to ensure the early capture of the vital port of Cherbourg, at the north of the peninsula. Eisenhower realised that the Allied advance throughout Western Europe would require vast amounts of equipment and that the only major port that could handle this in the initial stages of the war was at Cherbourg.

The target 'Utah Beach' was about three miles wide. Much of it was made up of sandy dunes and the German fortifications here were weak when compared those of Omaha. The land behind the target beach was easily flooded by locks and it is assumed that the Germans believed that the area need not have too much defence as their main defence would be to flood the region when and if the Allies attacked there, although flooding the land did cause a large number of casualties as men who parachuted in drowned in the flooded fields.

There were only four main ways off the beach area and flooding would have severely restricted any form of movement, but especially that of vehicles. The nearest major town for the Allies was Carentan, to the south-west of the beach. Through Carentan ran a main road to the east to Bayeaux, which would link the Allies who landed at Utah to the Allies on the other beaches. This same road ran north-west from Carentan to Valognes. Cherbourg was only 13 miles from Valognes.

The landing at Utah was scheduled for 06.30 and the Allied force came from the US 4th Infantry Division. The plan for Utah included an airborne drop by the US 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions (made famous by the TV series “Band of Brothers” – more on this later) at various points two to five miles inland of the beach. Those landing on the beach were scheduled to link up with the paratroopers as soon as was possible. The paratroopers were dropped primarily to secure the main road from Valognes to Carentan and to cause general chaos as they dropped at night at 01.30. German commanders did not know if they were a decoy to a main attack elsewhere or the primary attack force in the area. For this reason, the Germans did not know what forces to deploy against the 82nd and 101st - such chaos and uncertainty was perfect for the Allies and precisely why the paratroopers were dropped.

The airborne drop worked well. The sea borne landing did not go to plan – though ironically, a battle against Nature was to be of great value to the Allies. Strong currents meant that the landing craft were taken off of their intended targets on the beach. They landed on the beach, but 2000 meters away from their main landing target. Ironically, this was one of the lesser-defended areas along the entire beach front and the casualties as the Americans came ashore were minimal when compared to Omaha. The most senior American commander on the beach, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt told his men that, “We’ll start the war from here!” and ordered an advance. By midday, the men of the US 4th Infantry had met up with the men from the 101st airborne unit. German opposition was swiftly dealt with. By the end of the day, the Americans had advanced about four miles inland and they were about one mile from the 82nd at St. Mère-Eglise, some six miles north of Carentan.On the first full day of the landing at Utah, 20,000 men had been landed and 1,700 military vehicles. Casualties were less than 300 men. Though the war in the Cotentin Peninsula was not yet over, the achievements at Utah were immense, even if Nature had given a helping hand.

There are a few things at Utah of interest, obviously there is the museum (a very good museum – even Steve was impressed – must be the lack of dummies) and some wonderful memorials.

There is also as you get there a little café called “Le Roosevelt” The Café’s tables are signed by Vets, many made famous from the TV series Band of Brothers – including “Shifty” Powers and “Wild Bill” William Guarnere. So a piece of memrobillia which is unique to that café. Sadly Steve and Stuart saw the down side of the café. Both losing 5 Euros in different ways. Stuart was looking at a stand full of fridge magnets. In BIG writing at the top was a sign saying “YOU TOUCH, YOU BREAK, YOU PAY” – Stuart did touch, break and pay. Stuart claims that the wing of a butterfly would knock one of the magnets off the stand did seem true, as although Stuart would be the first to say that he is at times heavy handed, it seemed that it was set up to have “Accidents” – I mean why have a bloody big sign if you wasn’t aware that the magents were loose? So Stuart paid 5 Euros for a magnet, that was broke. Later Steve ordered a coffee, and was charged 5 Euros for a coffee that clearly resembled Private Baldricks coffee from “Blackadder Goes Forth” Thank god Steve didn’t ask for an cappicino !

Utah Beach

October 2011

Utah beach memorial

After Utah we headed along the coast seeing the Utah beach bunkers that were part of the “Atlantic Wall” before we drove into St. Mere Eglise. We had all been here before, so it was a whistle stop drop in to have a beer and some food. We found a café and rustled up a few beers before looking at the menu. A Croque Monsuier all around, Steve, was going to have a coffee with his beer, seeing that his coffee earlier in the day was poor, but as the NMBS walked in the café the NMBS were pounced upon by a snotty nosed boxer dog. The dog was cute enough and after sniffing a few crotches (brave and stupid, dog) he lummoxed around the bar, where Steve saw the owner get a tea towel and wipe the dog’s snotty nose and then with the same towel start cleaning the coffee cups. Beer, seemed a safer bet than a coffee with sprinkles of dog mucus. The Baldrick version seemed a nicer choice.

A quick stop at Carentan (If the NMBS ever open a beauty franchise an idea would be Care’n’tan) – again a town famous for Band of Brothers (Episode 3) for a beer and a Supermarket for supplies which included Boules (the French Crown Green bowling thing) and Leffe Ruby, and a few bits and bobs (tonight was Fish Pie, the promised pie from the previous night had been elbowed for a hearthy Italian Chicken soup) and the boys headed back to the gite. The Pie was prepared and in the oven, Steve and Kevin were walking in the grounds of the gite, trying the new flavour of Café Crème Cigars they had found that day. Stuart joined the two and Steve, who is a bit of an astronomer pointed at parts of the sky and shown the others the Moons of Jupiter and the Andromeda Galaxy.

To balance the bell ringers, in the distance from the gite was a duck farm. From the sound of it there must have been thousands of them waiting for the day where they are coated in an orange sauce. The farm also had (for it sounded like) 5 dogs or so and throughout the night there was a healthy compition between them of who could bark the loudest and longest. Luckily when inside you couldn’t hear the Dogs and Ducks (a good pub name) maybe that was due to the amount of Gin, Calvados, Whisky, Cidre, Beer and pastis being comsumed. The legendary NMBS bottle mountain was beginning to look like a new record breaker.

Bed beckoned, Steve and Kevin wishing that they had a pair of M1919 .30 calibre machine guns, akin to Dick Winters and the Band of brothers, as both had a perfect view from their respective bedroom windows of the church bell towers. Bellringers in Cross-hairs, itchy trigger finger and a bang, crows scatter from the trees surrounding the countryside and peace.....

BUT in reality -

06:59 Slumber, Tranquilty, calm, harmonious, irenic, level, mellow, pacifistic, peaceable, placatory, placid, quiet, restful, still, undisturbed, unruffled, untroubled.

07:00 DONG ! DONG ! DONG ! (repeat for 15 minutes)