1944: “Operation Overlord“, the Allied invasion of occupied France at Normandy Beach.

Caption: US Landing, Omaha Beach, D-Day, June 6th 1944.

• US medical planners estimated of the approximately 75,000 United States troops involved in the landings at the Omaha and Utah beaches 13% would drown, 25% would die, get wounded, or go missing while securing the beaches, and 3% per week thereafter until a beachhead was established — a total of 30,750 US Troops during the first week.

• The US Army’s saturation bombing of the beach to “soften up” the defenses failed, with bombs either falling too far inland or unable to breach the reinforced concrete defenses.

• The US Navy’s saturation artillery designed to destroy the coastal guns fell short into the beach or sea, leaving the German defenses essentially intact.

• The German guns were set up to fire diagonally across the beaches in a crossing  pattern, which mowed down US Troops like wheat being harvested.

• The US troop landing craft – Higgins “Eureka” Boats – had ramps which opened from the front, creating an instant kill zone for the Germans (the landing craft used in the Pacific – the LVT-4 “Water Buffalo” – had a stern ramp).

• At Utah beach, many of the US Paratroopers dropped behind the German lines drowned after they landed in marsh fields, overloaded by their backpacks.

• The average age of a US Soldier involved in the Normandy Invasion  was 20 years old.

• Actual US Casualties: Approximately 6,603. Total Allied casualties approx. 10,000.

Let’s not forget these “kids” who fought for not just for the United States but to free the World from those seeking to destroy Liberty and Freedom in their quest for world domination: Especially those who gave their “last full measure of devotion” during that day.

Caption: US Troops shipping to Normandy Beach, June 6th 1944

Thanks for Reading! (and, thanks to all who serve or have served!)