| The 50th Anniversary of D-Day 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.
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.
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.
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.
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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