| The 50th Anniversary of D-Day in London, Portsmouth and Normandy, France |
June 6, 1944 was one of the most ambitious and crucial
amphibious operations in military history, with the fate of
millions who had been living under Nazi rule or whose
countries were damaged in the wide ranging operations of
the German armed forces. Years of preparation rested on
the efforts of tested and untested soldiers from all over the
world.
My trip to the 50th Anniversary of D-Day began in London,
where I went to the Imperial War Museum to see the special
exhibit for the big commemoration. With no hotel in
Normandy, sold out for two years, and no pass to any
ceremony, my chances finding either were practically nil.
amphibious operations in military history, with the fate of
millions who had been living under Nazi rule or whose
countries were damaged in the wide ranging operations of
the German armed forces. Years of preparation rested on
the efforts of tested and untested soldiers from all over the
world.
My trip to the 50th Anniversary of D-Day began in London,
where I went to the Imperial War Museum to see the special
exhibit for the big commemoration. With no hotel in
Normandy, sold out for two years, and no pass to any
ceremony, my chances finding either were practically nil.
From ports all over Great Britain and in Ireland, the 150,000 soldiers departed for
the journey into the unknown. The Allies had for the most decimated the German
Luftwaffe, thus prompting Eisenhower to tell the departing troop, "If you see any
aircraft, don't worry, they will be ours." But storming the beaches of any enemy
held territory is the most dangerous operation possible, and this one held out the
prospect of Germany's final defeat.
The festivities in Portsmouth were moving and visually incredible, accompanied by
bright sunshine, a wind-swept shoreline and intermitint clouds stretching to shores
of France across the famous Channel that has protected England throughout
history. Following this ceremony, all concerned boarded their various transports,
in the case of President Clinton it was the just commissioned aircraft carrier the
U.S.S. George Washington, pictured below the Victory. For others it might have
been the QEII or just a standard ferry ride across the English Channel.
On the way out of port, our ferry boat passed Queen Elizabeth's Royal Yacht and
Admiral Nelson's H.M.S. Victory (picture above). In 1805, Admiral Nelson put
together of the most ingenious battle plans in history and conducted the Battle of
Trafalgar from this flagship before being killed by a sniper's bullet. Trafalgar
proved a major turning point in the eventual defeat of Napoleon in his bid for total
control Europe.
the journey into the unknown. The Allies had for the most decimated the German
Luftwaffe, thus prompting Eisenhower to tell the departing troop, "If you see any
aircraft, don't worry, they will be ours." But storming the beaches of any enemy
held territory is the most dangerous operation possible, and this one held out the
prospect of Germany's final defeat.
The festivities in Portsmouth were moving and visually incredible, accompanied by
bright sunshine, a wind-swept shoreline and intermitint clouds stretching to shores
of France across the famous Channel that has protected England throughout
history. Following this ceremony, all concerned boarded their various transports,
in the case of President Clinton it was the just commissioned aircraft carrier the
U.S.S. George Washington, pictured below the Victory. For others it might have
been the QEII or just a standard ferry ride across the English Channel.
On the way out of port, our ferry boat passed Queen Elizabeth's Royal Yacht and
Admiral Nelson's H.M.S. Victory (picture above). In 1805, Admiral Nelson put
together of the most ingenious battle plans in history and conducted the Battle of
Trafalgar from this flagship before being killed by a sniper's bullet. Trafalgar
proved a major turning point in the eventual defeat of Napoleon in his bid for total
control Europe.
| En route out of Portsmouth, we pass the U.S.S. George Washington, you can see the corner ofthe Isle of Wight on the left |
With no pass to a ceremony of a hotel room in
Normandy, sold out for two years, I was very
nervous as the ferry moved towards Cherbourg. The
rough seas in the middle of the Channel made me
think about those soldiers and sailors who sat on
the ships for days in heaving seas waiting for the
orders to invade. Eisenhower was forced to
postpone the attack for 24 hours when Stagg, the
Chief Meteorologist, forecast a break in the weather
for June 6, 1944. It was the miracle they needed, for
the Germans, unaware of impending break in
conditions, could not imagine the Allies would attack
in such horrible weather.
Normandy, sold out for two years, I was very
nervous as the ferry moved towards Cherbourg. The
rough seas in the middle of the Channel made me
think about those soldiers and sailors who sat on
the ships for days in heaving seas waiting for the
orders to invade. Eisenhower was forced to
postpone the attack for 24 hours when Stagg, the
Chief Meteorologist, forecast a break in the weather
for June 6, 1944. It was the miracle they needed, for
the Germans, unaware of impending break in
conditions, could not imagine the Allies would attack
in such horrible weather.
Security was extremely tight as Heads of State, political leaders, military
personnel, Veterans and other dignitaries went across to Normandy. Herbert
Johnson, the Veteran I met at the ferry terminal, had traveled the 50th
Anniversary alone and we decided to stick together as he knew of my search for a
pass to a ceremony and accomodations. In fact he had left an extra pass at home
in the States, which did not make me feel any better as I sure my trip was a big
mistake. On the ferry boat we met a British Veteran who had flown into
Normandy on a glider with Major Howard's troops to capture the Orne River
Bridge, a key operation.
personnel, Veterans and other dignitaries went across to Normandy. Herbert
Johnson, the Veteran I met at the ferry terminal, had traveled the 50th
Anniversary alone and we decided to stick together as he knew of my search for a
pass to a ceremony and accomodations. In fact he had left an extra pass at home
in the States, which did not make me feel any better as I sure my trip was a big
mistake. On the ferry boat we met a British Veteran who had flown into
Normandy on a glider with Major Howard's troops to capture the Orne River
Bridge, a key operation.
Pulling in to Cherbourg, our ferry boat pulled in right before the massive QEII, which
had Bob Hope and Dame Vera Lynn on board. Hope, who had entertained many
servicemen on shows around the world during World War II and other conflicts, had
traveled across the Atlantic with many Veterans on the beautiful cruise ship. An after
we arrived in France inquiries convinced I had been very wrong mount such an
expedition.
But events conspired to keep in France when a fluke incident brought me hotel room
the night of June 5, 1994. Then the following morning, before my anticipated trip
back to England in despair, Herbert and I ran into a Veteran fighter pilot, Pat Murphy,
who had an extra pass to the Omaha Beach ceremony. It was a true D-Day Miracle.
had Bob Hope and Dame Vera Lynn on board. Hope, who had entertained many
servicemen on shows around the world during World War II and other conflicts, had
traveled across the Atlantic with many Veterans on the beautiful cruise ship. An after
we arrived in France inquiries convinced I had been very wrong mount such an
expedition.
But events conspired to keep in France when a fluke incident brought me hotel room
the night of June 5, 1994. Then the following morning, before my anticipated trip
back to England in despair, Herbert and I ran into a Veteran fighter pilot, Pat Murphy,
who had an extra pass to the Omaha Beach ceremony. It was a true D-Day Miracle.
Before taking the ferry boat across the English Channel on June 5, from
the historic Navy town of Portsmouth, I attended the ceremony hosted
on the famous seaside town with the Isle of Wight visible across the
water. The Naval Review, flyovers and moving ceremony included a
moving prayer led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey.
the historic Navy town of Portsmouth, I attended the ceremony hosted
on the famous seaside town with the Isle of Wight visible across the
water. The Naval Review, flyovers and moving ceremony included a
moving prayer led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey.
| Cherbourg and Omaha Beach June 6, 1994 |
| At the harbor town of Cherbourg, a key D-Day objective, there is a statue of Napoleon giving the famous Roman salute on his favorite horse |
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