Remembering D-Day and its 50th Anniversary in 1994

I wasn't yet born on June 6, 1944, the date of the largest single-day amphibious invasion when 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of the Normandy coast to establish a toe-hold in France. But D-Day still resonates with me.

Although not a participant in that historic and heroic action, I will always feel a special connection with Normandy and what took place there.

The American 1st Infantry Division and 29th Infantry Division were tasked with landing at the high bluffs of Omaha Beach and assaulting the in-depth German defenses there. American casualties at Omaha on D-Day numbered around 5,000 out of 50,000 men. Most died in the first few hours.

One official record says that "within 10 minutes of the ramps being lowered, [the leading] company had become inert, leaderless and almost incapable of action. Every officer and sergeant had been killed or wounded." This is according to Stephen E. Ambrose's D-Day book.

Fifty years later, on June 6, 1994, as an Army lieutenant and aide-de-camp to a general officer, it was my privilege and honor to be a part of an official U.S. Army delegation that visited Normandy in observance of the 50th anniversary of D-Day. It was an experience that affected me profoundly and one that I shall never forget.

Among the memories are my recollections of the often tearful, always deeply sincere words of appreciation from the French who were there that day. Even after 50 years, they had not forgotten nor failed to appreciate the sacrifices made by American soldiers that day.

I'm reminded of an entry by a French citizen written in the visitor's book at St-Laurent-sur-Mer: "Les Americains avaient de courage et je les admire." (The Americans had courage and I admire them.)

Standing transfixed on the grounds of the American cemetery, in Colleville-sur-Mer, I was in awe. My eyes filled with tears as I beheld row upon row of identical white crosses and Stars of David, immaculately kept to commemorate the American dead.

It was a singularly moving experience to stand on that hallowed ground, consecrated by the blood of those Americans who so nobly advanced the cause of freedom by giving their last full measure of devotion. It was then that I truly came to understand what D-Day meant and continues to mean. We must never forget the sacrifices of Normandy, laid at the altar of freedom. I, for one, will not.

Sources: http://www.army.mil/d-day/; Ambrose, Stephen E. (1994). D-Day. New York: Simon & Schuster.