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African Americans, segregation protest, 310
Ainsworth, John, 48–51, 54, 56–57, 60
airborne operations. See gliders/glider operations; parachute jumps; pathfinder operations
aircraft
Allied fighter support, 70, 131, 225, 274
black-and-white “invasion” stripes, 11, 126
carpet bombing, 270
German defenses, 126
pre-invasion bombing/losses, 89–91, 329n29
aircraft, types
B-24 bombers, 125
B-26 bombers (“Widowmakers”), 131
B-26 Marauders, 90
C-47s, 11, 37–40, 42–43, 64, 97, 284, 286, 290
Halifax bombers, 30, 32–33, 34, 37, 45
Hamilcar glider, 291
Horsa gliders (“flying coffin”), 12–13, 30–33, 44–45, 45, 48, 54–56, 226, 280
“Jabos” (fighter-bombers), 274
Messerschmitts, 94
Spitfires, 126
Stirling bombers, 78
Alderney (island), 40
“amphibia” (type of illness), 30
amphibious tanks (“Donald Duck”), 105, 133, 351n22
Anisy (village), 181
anti-aircraft fire, 12, 47, 53, 78, 83–84, 86, 88, 107, 163, 285–286, 337n4
anti-landing craft defenses, 129, 185
anti-personnel mines/mine clearing, 7, 36, 87, 106–108, 111–112, 158–161, 172, 188, 330n37. See also mines/minefields
anti-ship mines/mine clearing, 18, 101, 119
anti-tank weapons/defenses, 126, 128, 132–133, 173–174, 202, 217, 333n16, 343n55, 344n70
Ardennes Counteroffensive (aka Battle of the Bulge), 283–288
awards and medals. See military medals and awards
bagpipes, British military tradition, 23, 187–189, 209–213, 311, 340n81
The Baltimore Sun, 207
“Band of Brothers,” connection/comradery, 115, 118, 207, 249, 251, 253–254, 283, 312
Barrett, Carlton, 345n82
Bastogne, seige of, 284–287
Battle for Caen
as D-Day objective, 195
German defenses, 79, 251–252, 347n40
lack of Allied progress, 254, 266–268
launch of Operation Goodwood, 270
liberation of the town, 271–272
Queen’s Own Rifles role, 255–257
Battle of Aachen, 282
Battle of Arnhem, 281–282
Battle of El Guettar, 126–127
Battle of Hürtgen Forest, 282–283
Battle of Irsch-Zerf, 289
Battle of Normandy. See also D-Day; Operation Overlord
August 1, activation of Patton’s 3rd Army, 273
August 7, Mortain counterattack, 273–275
August 25, liberation of Paris, 277
August 30, German retreat across the Seine, 277–278
June 8, holding onto Allied lines, 251–252
June 9–10, German counterattack, 252–254
June 11, continued operations, 257–261, 261–263
June 17, continued operations, 263–264
June (late), struggling through the bocage, 267–270
June 30, fall of Cherbourg, 268, 270
July 18–25, liberation of Caen, 270–272
July 25–30, Operation Cobra, 270, 272
fighting in the bocage (“schmutziger Buschkrieg”), 269–270
killed and wounded, 227, 233, 236, 241, 267, 277–278
Battle of the Bulge (aka Ardennes Counteroffensive), 283–288
Battle of the Falaise pocket, 273–277
Baugh, Gilbert, 154–155
Bayeux (town, D-Day objective), 9, 242
Beever, Colin, 122–123
Bénouville Bridge, 49, 168, 333n16
Bény-sur-Mer (village), 181
Bernières-sur-Mer, 177–179, 181, 184, 237–238
Bisco, Fred A., 345n71
Blades, Hubert W., 345n71
Boulogne (port), 195
Bowen, George, 146
Bradley, Omar
as commander of US ground forces, 3, 204, 242, 274
invasion headquarters on USS Augusta, 101, 199
launch of Operation Cobra, 272
planning the Normandy breakout, 270
relationship with DDE, 7
removal of gun battery at Pointe du Hoc, 71–73
Braun, Eva, 194
Bréville (town), 168, 253, 261–263
Brooke, Rupert, 35
Brooke, Sir Alan, 8
Brotheridge, Herbert Denham (“Den”), 35, 48, 56, 59, 62–63, 280
Brotheridge, Margaret, 63
Bryant, Carleton F., 198
Buck, Bruce S., 345n71
Caen (town, D-Day objective). See Battle for Caen
Caen Canal, seizure of the bridges (D-Day objective), 13, 210, 266. See also Orne River bridge; Pegasus Bridge
Café Gondrée, 60–62, 120, 211, 225, 333n18
Calais (port), 195
Camel cigarettes, 352n2
Canham, Charles, 247–248, 249–250, 347n11
Cantigny, First Division Museum, 315
Capa, Robert, 29–30
Captain Mason (alias, aka Harold Cole), 298–301
Carentan (town, D-Day objective), 9, 242, 254, 266
Cassidy, Patrick (“Hopalong”), 99–100
casualties, numbers of, 341n10. See also friendly fire incidents
1st Infantry Division, 204, 223, 292, 348n21
5th Rangers, 289
101st Division, 227
about the U.S. political impact, 287
aircraft/glider operations, 40, 281
battle for Aachen, 282
battle for Cristot, 260–261
battle for Orne River heights, 262
beach practice landings, 7
British at Pegasus Bridge, 244
Canadian, 232–233, 256, 339n63
civilian deaths, 241–242, 268, 278, 294
combat fatigue, 353n29
French commandos, 236
Germans at Merville Battery, 110
Germans at Normandy, 277
Germans during Battle of the Bulge, 288
Germans on the Eastern Front, 289
Gold Beach, 234
Green Howards, 234–235
Hürtgen Forest, 283
liberation of Cherbourg, 267
liberation of Europe, 278, 294
Omaha Beach, 199, 199–200, 204, 224, 242, 249–250, 342n24, 353n30
Sword Beach, 337n26
Utah Beach, 150
Château d’Amfreville, 194, 340n96
Cherbourg (port), 20, 267–268, 270
Cherbourg Peninsula, 329n29
Churchill, Winston
announcing news of the invasion, 119
announcing victory over Germany, 292–294
authority to launch Overlord, 5
awaiting news of invasion progress, 97
misgivings about invasion, 8
post-war political defeat, 355n16
civil rights movement, African American, 309–310
Cold War, 308
Cole, Harold (aka Captain Mason), 298–301
Cole, Robert G., 353n9
Colleville-sur-Mer, 27, 148, 176, 204, 219–222, 271, 307, 342n24, 344n70
Colleville-sur-Mer cemetery, 278
Colleville-sur-Orne, 168
Collier’s (magazine), 306
combat fatigue, 29, 288, 292, 296–298, 353n29
concentration camps, 121
Cota (General), 347n11
“cricket” (signaling device), 51–52, 98
Crouch, Joel, 38–40, 42–43, 46–47, 97–98, 284–286, 290–291
Curley, Raymond R., 345n71
Curlin, Curtis, 351n18
Curtis, Geraldine, 38
Dalton, Charles, 176–185, 238, 250, 257, 349n39
Dalton, Elliot, 177–185, 232–233, 238, 250, 255–257, 349n39
Dalton, Helen, 349n39
Dalton, Ian, 349n39
Dalton, Jane, 349n39
Dalton, Marie, 349n39
Dawson, Joseph (“Joe”), 147, 220, 304
Dawson, Robert W. P., 169, 171, 175, 192, 253, 337n26
D-Day. See also Battle of Normandy; individual Beaches; Operation Overlord
10th anniversary, 304–306
40th anniversary, 307–308
50th anniversary, 308–310
70th anniversary, 313
beach conditions described, 197, 200, 241, 250, 345n82
beach obstacles, 6, 7, 28, 125, 128–129, 134, 143, 185–186
bombing campaign, 70, 89–91, 125–126, 323n72, 327n13, 329n29, 331n5
departure of Airborne troops, 11, 15–17, 22
first American feet on the ground, 37–43, 46–48, 51–53, 97–98, 227
first British feet on the ground, 30–37, 44–45, 48–51, 54–57
first main drops of the 101st, 98
first to set foot ashore, 135, 178–180, 309
Medal of Honor awards, 224, 297–298, 345nn81–82
de Gaulle, Charles, 15, 97, 119, 167, 170
“Devil’s Garden” (aka Rommel’s asparagus), 36
DiGaetano, Vincent T., 345n71
Dog White sector (Omaha Beach), 230, 289, 328n28, 342n24, 347n11
DUKW amphibious truck (“Ducks”), 7, 74, 154
Dunkirk, evacuation/humiliation of, 4, 8, 92–94, 161
“Dutch courage” (whiskey), 83
Eastern Front, 58, 109, 132, 288–289
Easy Red sector (Omaha Beach), 27–28, 125, 128–129, 140, 147, 197, 200, 202, 307
Eikner, “Ike,” 166–167
Eisenhower, Dwight D.
decision to launch Overlord, 3–8
departure of troops, 18–22
final message to troops, 69
invasion, awaiting progress reports, 96–98, 265–266
Summersby relationship, 18–19, 96–97
visit to battlefield, 277
visit to Colleville-sur-Mer cemetery, 307
Walter Cronkite interview, 321n7
Elizabeth (queen of England), 256–257
Escoville (village), 14, 168, 243–244
Eureka radar sets, 41, 53, 82, 96, 226, 284
Falaise pocket, 273–277
Farley, Dan, 311–312
Fellers, Taylor, 342n24
First Reich (Holy Roman Empire), 282
flooded fields, 50, 84, 96, 98–99, 137, 227
Fontaine-Henry (village), 181
France
armistice with the Nazis, 119
arrival of French forces on Sword, 169–176
British evacuation at Dunkirk, 4, 93–94
British raid at Dieppe, 26, 178
liberation of Paris, 277
trench warfare of WWI, 267
Fraser, Andrew, 311
Fraser, Rosamond, 311
Fraser, Simon J. (father). See Lovat (Lord, Simon J. Fraser)
Fraser, Simon (son), 311
Free French Army, 15
French commandos with British Army, 15. See also Gautier, Léon
French Resistance, 121, 175, 299, 301, 333n16
friendly fire incidents, 110, 126, 206, 220–222, 248, 272, 283
Gale, Sir Richard Nelson (“Windy”), 76
Gautier, Dorothy, 17, 170, 314
Gautier, Léon, 15, 17–18, 118–119, 167–176, 168, 192, 235–236, 314, 337n26, 338n33
Gavin, Jim, 98–99
George (king of England), 313
Gerow, Leonard, 7
gliders/glider operations
anniversaries/memories, 312
capture of bridges (Operation Deadstick), 12–14
flight/landing of Operation Deadstick, 30–37, 44–45, 48–51, 54–57, 242
holding of Pegasus Bridge, 225–226
killed/survivors at Pegasus Bridge, 279–280
Operation Varsity, 291–292
resupply operations, 226–227
support of Market Garden, 280–281
training/skills/losses of pilots, 36
Glover, Denis, 186
Gold Beach
June 6 map, assignment of first wave, 9
June 6 map, extent of Allied advance, 156
landing of first wave, 157–161
secured and movement inland, 234–235, 251
wounded and killed, 234
Gondrée, George, 57–58, 60, 120–121, 225, 333n16
Gondrée, Georgette and Arlette, 120, 333n18
Gow, Max Harper, 190
Grant, Douglas, 239
Gray, Bill, 34–35
Green Howard (pub), 313
Green Howards Regimental Museum, 315
Guernsey (island), 40
Ham and Jam (code words), 31, 61, 64
Hanft, Georg, 300–301
Hastings, Robin, 92, 94–95, 214, 235, 258–261, 268–269, 276
hedgerows
about the Normandy bocage, 20, 46, 50
battlefield obstacles, 159, 229–230, 246, 267, 272, 274
defensive cover, 164, 226, 231, 267
fighting positions, 52, 215, 263, 337n4
overcoming the obstacle, 351n18
Hérouvillette (village), 168, 244
Hickman, Heinz (German soldier), 59
Hiesville (village), 136, 226–227
Hitler, Adolf
awareness of invasion, 7, 194–195
blitzkrieg on Belgium and France, 93
captivating the German youth, 269–270
launch of Mortain counterattack, 273
launching Ardennes counteroffensive, 283–284
loss of Ardennes Counteroffensive, 287–289
HMS Ben Machree, 72
HMS Ramillies, 169
HMS Stork, 119–120
HMS Talybont, 124
HMS Warspite, 169
“Hobart’s Funnies” (flail tanks), 7, 160–161, 188, 234–235, 351n22
Hollis, Stanley, 91–96, 156, 157–161, 214–216, 235, 257–261, 268–269, 276, 313–314, 330n37, 343n55
Holy Roman Empire (First Reich), 282
Howard, John, 12–14, 30–37, 44–45, 48–51, 54–64, 78–81, 121–122, 175–176, 192, 208–211, 225–226, 243–244, 263, 279–280, 293, 322n16, 333n16
Howard, Joy, 35
Hubert (French Lieutenant), 174
Hudson, Havelock, 111–112
Huebner, Clarence, 72, 167, 199
Hutton, Bud, 89–90
J
Jahnke, Arthur (German Lieutenant), 130–134, 137, 149–150
Johnson, Lyndon B., 325n10
Juno Beach
assigned to Canadian 3rd Division, 177–180
June 6 map, assignment of first wave, 9
June 6 map, extent of Allied advance, 181
landing on the beach, 232, 339n63
wounded and killed, 232, 237–238
Kennedy, John F., 325n10
Kerchner, George, 69–70, 74, 103–106, 151–157, 162–165, 227–228, 230–232, 236–237, 242, 245–249, 279, 309–310, 327n13, 331n6, 331n11, 348nn21–22, 352n2
Kerchner, Violet, 70
Kieffer, Philippe, 169–171, 174–175, 192, 253, 338n33
Krug, Eugen, 299
Kunh, Jack, 73–75, 123–124, 154, 164–165, 327n20, 327n25, 331n11
la Bréche (village), 168, 337n26
la Fresne-Camilly (village), 181
La Riviére (village), 156, 181
Labas, Marcel, 174
Lacy, Joe (Fr.), 74–75
Le Havre, France (port), 20, 293–296
Le Mesnil (village), 168, 255, 350n56
Le Plein (village), 168, 192–193, 216–219, 233, 340n96, 350n56
leadership under fire, 1, 77, 126, 200, 341n13, 344n70, 348n22, 350n56, 351n12
Lefevre, Marcel, 175
Leigh-Mallory, Sir Trafford, 4, 6, 19, 60
Lillyman, Frank (father), 41–42
Lillyman, Frank (son), 10–12, 20, 40–43, 46–47, 51–54, 64–65, 96–100, 226–227, 265–266, 281–282, 284, 287, 298–303
Lion-sur-Mer (village), 168
Lofthouse, Ronnie, 95, 160, 214–215
Lomell, Len, 123–124, 154–155, 162–165, 247, 249, 331n11, 337n4
Lovat (Lord, Simon J. Fraser), 14–18, 23–26, 115, 117–120, 168, 185–192, 195, 207–2013, 216–219, 252–254, 261–262, 310–311, 355n16
Luc-sur-Mer (village), 168
Lytle, Cleveland, 71–72
Mabry, George, 103, 205–206, 342n29
MacNeely,Carlton, 67–68, 342n29
Mangoni (101st pathfinder), 43
Mann, Joe, 281
maps, June 6
beaches assigned to first wave, 9
Gold Beach, extent of advance, 156
Juno Beach, extent of advance, 181
Omaha Beach, extent of advance, 148
Sword Beach, landings/drop zones, 168
Utah Beach, extent of advance, 136
March Past (Fraser), 311
Masters, Peter, 190–191
McFarlen, John, 43
McNair, Lesley, 272
McNiece, Jake, 284–286
Medal of Honor
101st Airborne Division, 281
D-Day, 345nn81
Omaha Beach awards, 224, 297–298, 345n82
posthumous awards, 281, 351n12
medics/medicines/medical care, 11, 99, 113, 146, 155, 179, 183–184, 198–200, 207–208, 217–218, 224, 269, 283–284, 341n10
Mémorial de Caen, 315
Merryweather & Sons, 74
Merville Gun Battery, attack and neutralization
anniversaries/memories, 308–309
as D-Day objective, 332n43
flight/parachute drop to, 75–78, 82–84
loss of men and supporting troops, 84–89
seizure of the battery, 106–113, 350n56
survivors/injuries, 263–264
Metcalf (Lt.Col.), 347n11
Meyer, Kurt, 347n40
military medals and awards. See also Medal of Honor
Bronze Star, 283
Distinguished Flying Medal, 312
Distinguished Service Cross, 29, 146, 224, 249, 298, 302, 328n29, 341n13, 342n29, 344n70
Distinguished Service Order, 350n56
Knight’s Cross (German), 130, 149
Presidential Unit Citation, 249
Victoria Cross (British), 216
military units, British
1st Airborne Division, 281
1st Special Service Brigade, 14, 22, 168, 194, 216, 233, 338n33
6th Airborne Division, 14, 75–76, 78–80
6th Airborne, Pathfinder Group, 80
6th Airborne, 3rd Parachute Brigade, 78
6th Airborne, 5th Parachute Brigade, 78–80
9th Battalion, Parachute Regiment, 75
50th Northumbrian Infantry Division, 92, 156, 157–161
East Yorkshire Regiment, 171, 189–190
Glider Pilot Regiment, 281
Green Howards (regiment), 91–95, 156, 158–160, 214–216, 234–235, 257–259, 268–269, 276, 346n26, 350n46
Number 3 Commando, 344n60
Number 4 Commando, 15, 118–119, 167, 169–172, 192, 219, 236, 253, 337n26
Number 6 Commando, 192
Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (regiment), 12, 263, 279–280
Royal Munster Fusiliers, 19
military units, Canada
3rd Division, 9, 177–180, 232, 238, 250
Queen’s Own Rifles, 176, 176–177, 181, 184–185, 232, 237–238, 250, 255, 255–257, 257–258, 315
military units, German
6th Fallschirmjäger Regiment, 59
6th SS Mountain Division, 289
9th SS Panzer Division, 274, 275
10th SS Panzer Division, 275
12th SS Panzer Division, 258, 260–261, 283, 347n40, 350n46
21st Panzer Division, 79, 195, 213, 219, 243, 252, 254
325nd Artillery, 125
Infantry Regiment 736, 167
Werfer-Regiment 84, 152
military units, U.S.
U.S. V Corps, 7
U.S. VII Corps, 273
102nd Cavalry Reconnaissance, 351n18
743rd Tank Battalion, 347n11
military units, U.S., Airborne
17th Airborne Division, 290–292
82nd Airborne Division, 9, 96, 98, 325n15, 330n60
101st Airborne Division, 9, 11, 18, 22, 39, 41, 46, 64–65, 100, 226–227, 266, 284
101st Airborne, Pathfinders, 10–12, 20, 38–43, 46–48, 51–54, 64–65, 96–100, 226–227, 265–266, 284, 286, 291
101st Airborne, 501st Regiment, 206
101st Airborne, 502nd Regiment, 98, 99, 266, 287
101st Airborne, 506th Regiment, 227
military units, U.S., Army Air Corps
IX Troop Carrier Command, 38–39
Eighth Air Force, 272
323rd Bombardment Group, 89–90
military units, U.S., Infantry
1st Infantry Division, 28, 72, 126, 139–149, 199, 223–224, 270, 273–274
1st Infantry, 16th Regiment, 1, 28–29, 148, 200–201, 274, 344n70
4th Infantry Division, 7, 9, 90, 96, 100–103, 134, 136, 151, 277, 309
4th Infantry, 8th Regiment, 66–69
28th Infantry Division, 109th Regiment, 293
29th Infantry Division, 148, 166, 228
29th Infantry, 116th Regiment, 148, 247, 249–250, 342n24, 347n11
military units, U.S., Rangers
1st Ranger Battalion, 73
2nd Ranger Battalion, 69–71, 103, 122, 165, 249, 283, 307, 309, 327n25
5th Ranger Battalion, 166, 228, 230–231, 245, 289, 294–296, 307, 311–312, 347n11
Millin, Bill (bagpiper), 23, 186–190, 209–213, 216–217, 233–234, 253, 310–311, 340n81
“million dollar wound,” 145, 207, 279
Mills-Roberts, Derek, 192
mines/minefields, 16, 19, 28, 75–76, 83, 129, 142, 144–147, 164, 170, 179, 185, 191, 198, 202, 206, 224, 228, 274, 344n70. See also anti-personnel mines/mine clearing
Mission Albany, 96
Moltke, Helmuth von, 14
Monteith, Jimmie, 345n82
Montgomery, Bernard Law
command of 21st Army Group, 3–4
command of first wave troops, 92, 177
DDW relationship/management of, 5–6
final message to departing troops, 13–14
lack of progress in seizing Caen, 254, 266
Operation Market Garden, 280–281
planning the Normandy breakout, 270
Moorehead, Alan, 23–24, 268, 270
Mortain counterattack, German, 273–275
Mount Fleury gun battery, 159–160, 343n55
Mountbatten, Lord Louis, 25
Nan White sector (Juno Beach), 176–177, 181
Nazis/Nazism
Allied victory, importance of, 6–7, 69
amorality and nihilism, 269–270
French armistice, 119
Gestapo and intelligence services, 299
invasion of Poland, 92
liberation of Paris, 277
New York Times, 303
No. 4 Commando Museum, 314
North Africa, 14, 19, 28, 92–93, 94, 126–127, 145, 223–224, 283, 290
North Witham (RAF airfield), 10, 37, 324n99
Norway, 8
Office of Strategic Services (OSS), 298
Omaha Beach. See also Dog White sector; Easy Red sector
arrival of 1st Division, 126–129
German defenses, 129
June 6 map, assignment of first wave, 9
June 6 map, extent of Allied advance, 148
killed and wounded, 198–199, 223–224
landing of the 1st Division, 139–149
leading troops off the beach, 197
medals and awards, 224
secured and movement inland, 219–223
taking of E-1 draw, 28, 149, 197, 200–204
Widerstandsnest 62 (WN62), 125–129, 140, 144, 336n10
Widerstandsnest 65 (WN65), 203
Operation Cobra, 270–272
Operation Deadstick, seizure of Caen Canal bridges
anniversaries/memories, 310, 312
as D-Day objective, 12–14
capturing the bridges, 57–64, 78–80, 120–122
flight/landing of gliders, 48–51, 54–57
German defenses, 36–37
holding/securing the area, 175–176, 191–194, 209–214, 225–226, 243–244
map location, 168
wounded and killed, 244
Operation Fortitude, 6
Operation Goodwood, 270–271
Operation Keokuk, 226
Operation Lüttich (aka Mortain offensive), 273–275
Operation Market Gardcen, 280–281
Operation Overlord, 330n60. See also Battle of Normandy; D-Day; individual Beaches
about weather postponement, 3–5, 172
DDE decision to launch, 3–8
DDE final message to troops, 18–22, 69
waiting for news of progress, 96–98, 265–266
Operation Titanic IV, 325n15
Operation Varsity, 290–292
Orne River, 212–213, 216, 233, 235, 242, 252–254, 261–262, 264
Orne River bridge (D-Day objective). See Operation Deadstick
Otway, Terence, 75–78, 82–89, 106–113, 168, 192–195, 213, 262–263, 308–309, 332n43, 340n96, 350n56
Ouistreham (Orne River port), 15, 107, 118, 167, 172–175, 314
parachute jumps
82nd Airborne Division, 325n15
101st D-Day preparations, 20–21
101st departure, 38–40
101st main drops, 64–65
Merville Battery, capture of, 75–78, 82–89
Merville Battery, 6th Airborne arrival, 80–81
North Africa, 290
Operation Titanic IV, 325n15
Operation Varsity, 290–292
pathfinders/marking the drop zone, 40–43, 46–48, 64
pilot training/skills, 38
Parker, Charles (“Ace”), 228–231, 289, 293–296, 353n30
Parr, Irene, 33
Parr, Wally, 33–34, 60–63, 333n18
Parry, Allen, 107, 113, 332n18
Parry, George, 332n18
pathfinder operations
aircraft, 12
as first troops to fight on D-Day, 11–12, 38–39
difficulties of achieving success, 98
Eureka radar sets, 41, 53, 82, 96, 226, 284
marking Drop Zones, 20, 39–41, 82–83
marking glider landing zones, 226
personnel selection, 321n12
pilot training/skills, 38–40, 291
support of Bastogne rescue, 284–286
Pedone, Stephen, 325n10
Pedone, Vito, 37–39, 97–98, 284–286, 325n10, 330n53
Pegasus Bridge (D-Day objective). See Operation Deadstick
Pegasus Bridge museum, 312
Phelps, Grant, 345n71
Pinder, John, 345n82
Poett, Nigel, 80
Pointe de la Percée, 123–124
Pointe du Hoc, 2nd Ranger scaling/capture
anniversaries/reflections/memories, 283, 289, 293, 304–310
assignment/planning/command, 70–74, 327n20
boarding the landing craft, 103–106
bombing campaign, 327n13
finding the landing beach, 122–125
reaching the beach, 151–154
reaching the cliff top, 154–157
reaching the gun battery, 162–167
resisting counterattack, 227–232, 236–237, 242–243
resupply and relief, 243–248, 347n11
wounded/killed/unit award, 248–249, 279
Poole, Norman, 325n15
Pouppeville, 136–138
prisoners of war (POWs)
Americans missing or captured, 227, 237, 246
Canadians, 339n63
German, 111, 149–151, 160, 229, 242, 269, 277–278, 281, 343n55
Russian/Polish conscripts, 109, 137, 146, 190–191, 268
treatment/interrogation, 118, 190, 298–302
“puke pills,” 11
Queen Red sector (Sword Beach), 186–187, 337n26
Queen’s Own Rifles Regimental Museum, 315
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, 352n2
Raaen, John, 347n11
Raff, Edson (“Little Caesar”), 290–291
Raimundo, Lewis J., 345n71
Ramsay, Sir Bertram, 4
Reagan, Ronald, 307–308
Red Cross girls, 11
Red Queen Beach, 337n26
Reviera (village), 181
“Rhino” (modified tank), 351n18
Ridgeway, Matthew, 330n60
Riva-Bella (village), 168
Rocca, Frank (“the Rock”), 43
Romer, Helmut (German soldier), 49, 58–59
Rommel, Erwin
command of Afrika Korps, 94
command of forces in Normandy, 6, 195–196, 199
creating Normandy defenses, 7, 36, 84, 167, 170, 333n16
inspecting Normandy defenses, 130
planning the counterattack, 242
stalling the Normandy breakout, 251–252, 258, 335n49, 350n46
“Rommel’s asparagus” (aka Devil’s Garden), 36
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 68
Roosevelt, Franklin D., 5
Roosevelt, Quentin, II (nephew), 270–271
Roosevelt, Quentin (uncle), 271
Roosevelt, Theodore, Jr.
aboard ship enroute to Normandy, 66–68
aboard the landing craft, 101–103
arriving with the first wave, 131–132, 134–137, 331n5
directing actions on the beach, 150–151
fighting inland on D-Day, 227
heart attack, death and burial, 271
installed military governor of Cherbourg, 270
posthumous Medal of Honor, 351n12
Roper, William C., 345n71
Rudder, Bud, 304–306
Rudder, James, 72–74, 122–124, 155, 165–166, 228, 230, 242–249, 293, 304–307, 327n20
“Rupert” (dummy parachutists), 325n15
Russia. See Eastern Front
Russian/Polish conscripts, 109, 120, 190–191, 268
Saint-Aubin-d’Arquenay, 168, 208
Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, 181
Sainte Marie du Mont, 135, 136, 206, 227
Sainte-Mère-Église, 46, 136, 271
Saint-Germain-de-Varreville, 47, 51–53, 64, 96, 99, 136
Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, 128, 148, 149
Saint-Martin-de-Varreville, 46, 136
Sallenelles (battery), 168, 350n56
Saving Private Ryan (movie), 311–312
“schmutziger Buschkrieg” (dirty bush war), 269–270
Schroeder, Leonard (“Moose”), 66–69, 91, 102–103, 132, 134–138, 205–207, 277, 309
Schroeder, Margaret, 69
“Sharpener” (DDW command post), 96–97
Sherman tanks. See tanks
Sicily, invasion of, 28, 36, 38, 92, 94, 127, 145, 223–224, 283, 291
Sink, Robert, 227
Slater, Duke, 105–106, 155, 331n11
Slaydon, Joseph, 345n71
Smith, George, 87
Smith, Richard, 59–60
The Soldier (Brooke), 35
Spalding, John, 25–30, 126–129, 139–149, 197–200, 202–204, 219–224, 273–274, 282–283, 288, 292, 296–297, 307, 323n72, 336n10, 342n24, 344n70
SS Maid of Orleans, 337n26
SS Monowai, 338n37
St. Pierre du Mont, 347n11
Ste-Croix-sur-Mer, 181
Steiner, Raimund (German officer), 108–109
Stivison, William, 154
Streczyk, Philip, 126–127, 141–146, 197–198, 202–203, 221, 224, 283, 297, 351n22
Sullivan (Major), 347n11
Summersby, Kay, 18–20, 22, 96–97, 265
Sword Beach
about the landing plan, 14–18
anniversaries/memories, 313–314
June 6 map, assignment of first wave, 9
June 6 map, extent of Allied advance, 168
landing the Lovat commandos, 117–120, 167–176, 185–192
movement inland, 251
neutralizing the Merville Battery, 45, 75–78, 106–113, 263–264, 308–309, 332n43, 350n56
Tailleville (village), 181
tanks
amphibious tanks (“Donald Duck”), 68, 105, 127–128, 130, 133, 351n22
battlefield losses, 195, 256, 271, 274–275
D-Day landings, 28, 128, 133, 175, 184, 189
escape from flaming vehicles, 255
“Hobart’s Funnies” (flail tanks), 7, 160–161, 188, 234–235, 351n22
Operation Goodwood, 270–271
“Rhino” (modified tank), 351n18
survival against German tanks, 287
Tarrant Rushton (RAF air base), 12, 30
Taylor (Colonel), 201–202, 341n13
Taylor, Maxwell, 10, 22, 98, 206, 266
Tilley, Virgil, 345n71
Turkey, 8
USS Ancon, 72
USS Doyle, 203–204
USS Monrovia, 178
USS Nevada, 101
Utah Beach
added to broaden the front, 5
bombing campaign, 131–132
German defenses, 130
June 6 map, assignment of first wave, 9
June 6 map, extent of Allied advance, 136
landing of 4th Division, 68–69, 90, 102–106, 131–134
pathfinders actions ahead of first wave, 96
preparatory bombing, 70, 90–91
secured and movement inland, 205–214
Widerstandsnest 1 & 2 (WN1, WN2), 137
Widerstandsnest 5 (WN5), 130, 132, 134–135, 135, 137, 149–150
Valognes, 9
Vaux (village), 181
Vierville-sur-Mer, 136, 148, 231, 245, 342n24, 347n11
Wallwork, Jim (“Handsome Jim”), 31–34, 36–37, 44–45, 48–51, 54–57, 60, 79, 280–281, 291–292, 312
Werft, Waldo, 341n10
Wesel, Germany, 291
Widerstandsnest 1 (WN1), 137
Widerstandsnest 2 (WN2), 137
Widerstandsnest 5 (WN5), 130, 132, 134–135, 137, 149–150
Widerstandsnest 62 (WN62), 125–129, 140, 144, 336n10
Widerstandsnest 65 (WN65), 203
Wilhelm (101st pathfinder scout), 43
Williams (101st pathfinder scout), 43
women
admission to Texas A&M, 306–307
dealing with the trauma of war, 121, 159, 297, 313, 333n18
fraternization with soldiers, 17, 49, 139
rape and sexual abuse, 270, 288, 289
Red Cross girls, 11
welcoming soldiers to Paris, 277
wives and girl friends left behind, 29, 33, 35, 38, 41, 45, 63, 68–70, 102, 233, 238, 280, 293, 302, 349n39
Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAFs), 12
Wood, Wilson, 90–91
World War I, service in/veterans of, 12, 23, 36, 175, 267, 269, 271
Wozenski, Edward, 27–29, 147, 200, 204, 223, 336n10, 351n22
“Zamanakes the Greek” (101st pathfinder), 43