It is 6:30 AM H-Hour June 6, 1944 and a desperate battel to wrestle this portion of the Normandy coast of France is in doubt. From heavily fortified pill boxes, machine gun nests, and well-placed artillery, the Americans are under a hellish ordeal. Having climbed down the ropes of the sides of troop ships by 5:40 AM and shoving off in Higgins Boats for the shore, a previous storm has washed away much of the ocean floor making it even more difficult for US troops loaded down with gear to struggle through the cold Atlantic waters as machine gun fire and mortar shells rain down upon them.

Designed by Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, the fortifications are damn near impenetrable as German machine gunners cut down advancing US soldiers bogged down with gear and soaked from the ocean waves! Naval crew look on in horror and frustration watching the coastal guns punish the landing. Historically we are led to believe that it was the US Army maneuvers themselves that acquired their objectives, but conditions are bloody and hampered by nothing but obstacles. Initially against orders, US naval destroyers begin moving in to get into firing position against the German positions. In some instances, the underside of their hulls of the ships are scraping sand bars beneath, but they must assist using their 5-inch guns to blast German emplacements!

Reports coming in from the Walkie Talkies is that the invasion on Omaha Beach might be driven back into the sea! Finally Naval command gives the order for more of the Destroyers to move up and get into better range, but there’s a problem, by doing that they bring themselves within range of Germany artillery. Something has to be done. At first US Naval gunner is having trouble locating targets through the heavy smoke and morning mist, but US troops on the beach begin signaling to the naval guns where to direct their fire. American shells begin landing and massive machine gun emplacements on the cliffs overlooking the blood-soaked beach collapse under the explosions. Concrete reinforced pill boxes are pierced with huge holes and the crews inside blown to bits!

As American rifle squads and their officers begin to get a foothold on the beach the use Bangalore Torpedoes that they push beneath barbed wire and against fortifications to blow holes in the defenses so that the soldiers can penetrate the German perimeter, the tables begin to turn! Finally, after being caught at anti-tank barriers out in the water US fighting men have pushed ashore aided by the bombardments of US destroyers! Now the troops can flood through the German lines and begin taking out trenches with grenades and rifle fire while using flame throwers to burn out bunkers! Soon the defender who wreaked so much havoc are paying the ultimate price! Some Nazi prisoners are taken while others even with their hands up will pay the price!

Well known American actors took part in that desperate battle such as James Doohan of Star Trek fame, Eddie Albert of Green Acres the Comedy show, and Charles Durning a veteran movie actor! Omaha Beach is only the tip of the iceberg in the battle for France as soon will come the bloody hedgerow fighting as Allies drive toward Berlin in the next year! Just another page written in blood by our courageous veterans and other western allies.

An era when Hollywood was a lot more patriotic than it is now!