The events of D-Day are well entrenched into the minds of those who served and those who study modern military history. There were many circumstances of heroism and overcoming odds on that day, but one in particular stands out. That is the assault up the cliffs of Pointe-du-Hoc at Omaha Beach in the early morning hours of the Normady invasion.

This raid was performed by the army's specialist team of troops, the Rangers. Each individual in this outfit was a volunteer who went through specialized training to be able to perform the often arduous climbing required for this and other ventures. Though the Ranger concept was one that many in the US Army did not like (the higher ups principally did not like the idea of elite troops in general), it was here that they not only proved their worth, but also it was their finest hour of WWII.

Their mission was to climb the cliffs at Pointe-du-Hoc and take out the shore batteries that would threaten the ships and men in the area of Omaha Beach. It was known that the Germans had emplacements for six of these long range guns and the guns themselves at this promontory, as the French Underground and aerial reconnaissance had followed their construction. Prior to D-day, this and other coastal fortifications had been bombed by Allied aircraft. However, due to the camouflage used by the Germans, it was not possible to properly access the damage done to these positions. As a result, the assault on these weapons was planned. Little did the Allies know that the initial bombing had destroyed one emplacement and caused the Germans to move the guns a few miles away where they were unseen. This set the stage for decades of speculation that the raid itself was unwarranted as there were no guns were they were expected. However, planners did not know this and so it was in their best interest to order the assault.

In his book on this most famous of Ranger missions, author Steven J. Zaloga covers the initial construction of the site, the planning of the Allies and the assault itself. As usual, the mission did not go quite according to plan. The following chain of events is clearly depicted in the book, along with some excellent 3-D maps of the various areas of interest, excellent period photos and color photographs of many of the remaining relics that are part of Normandy today. It is a superb read as seen from both sides of the event with interviews of survivors that really add a lot of spice to things. A superb start to a new series and one I know you will enjoy reading.

October 2009

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