Page 12

IV

[*Utah?
(Pointe
du Hoc?-
see
Wolf's
diagram)*]

Another thing that dumbfounded many
of us was the actual appearance of the
French coastline. All the pictures of
the beaches of France were long flat
sandy beaches, but not these. As daylight
gradually came that morning we were amazed
to be anchored adjacent to high, steep
cliffs climbing straight up from the water.
We wondered how in the name of GOD had
anyone ever been stupid enough to think they
could land an invasion force in landing barges
at a place like that. We thought the whole
fleet had been given the wrong orders. We
soon learned the main invasion force was
landing a little further to our left & only
the Army Rangers were going to attempt a
landing here. They did too, up & over with
no strain.

I feel now, 14 years later, that I
can recall practically every thought that ran
through my mind that first day. I thought
we would be able to complete the entire
operation & get far enough inland that we