215: D-Day, Part II: June 6, 1944

“The only men on this beach are the dead and those that are going to die––now let’s get the hell out of here!” This is the story of D-Day, June 6, 1944. In the early hours of the morning, airborne troops land behind enemy lines in Normandy, France, fighting to secure towns, bridges, and other major roadways. Sunrise brings H-Hour, 06:00, when the largest amphibious assault in military history begins. Allied troops land on beaches along the 50-mile stretch from Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. From an accidental arrival spot on Utah Beach to scaling cliffs at Pointe-du-Hoc to intense resistance at Omaha Beach, June 6 is a long, trying day for the courageous American GIs landing in France. By the end of the day, will they be able to link up with the airborne troops? The fate of the liberation of Western Europe lies alongside many of Uncle Sam’s brave boys on the sandy shores of Normandy. ____ Connect with us on HTDSpodcast.com http://HTDSpodcast.com and go deep into episode bibliographies https://www.htdspodcast.com/bibliography and book recommendations https://www.htdspodcast.com/book-recommendationsjoin discussions in our Facebook community https://www.facebook.com/groups/257926761619618/get news and discounts from The HTDS Gazette https://www.htdspodcast.com/newsletters-1 come see a live show https://www.htdspodcast.com/live-showsget HTDS merch https://htds-team-shop.fourthwall.com/or become an HTDS premium https://htds.supercast.com/ member for bonus episodes and other perks. HTDS is part ofAudacy media network. https://www.audacy.com/ Interested in advertising on the History That Doesn't Suck? Contacthttps://audacyinc.com/contactAudacyinc.com http://Audacyinc.com

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• 0:01Greg Jackson?

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• 0:45Greg Jackson?

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• 2:17Greg Jackson?

  It's about 2:00 a.m., June 6th, 1944. Over 800 Douglas C-47s, or Skytrains, as these military transport aircraft are known, are soaring through the air, over the English Channel and into that of northwestern France. Inside one of them sits Private John Steele, a handsome, dark-haired paratrooper in his early 30s from Metropolis, Illinois. John's no stranger to the challenges that lie before him on this dark and dangerous morning. He jumped in the invasion of Sicily last July, broke a leg in the process. Only just recovered, he jumped again amid the invasion of mainland Italy that September. Yeah, John knows all too well the risks and worries of a combat jump.

• 3:02Greg Jackson?

  Will the plane and capricious weather put you in the correct drop zone? Will the chute open? Will you hit the ground right? Will you hit the ground at all before German bullets hit you? But none of those worries will keep John from doing his duty today. As on all of these C-47s, the order goes out. Stand up, hook up. Laid in with guns, grenades, knives, water, heavy clothes, helmets, and parachutes, the plane's 15 or so paratroopers rise and hook their static lines to the anchor field. Then, a bell rings, and with that ominous sound, a red light turns green. The door opens, wind rushes, and soon enough, the jump master calls on John to throw himself

• 3:47Greg Jackson?

  into the black sky. In an instant, the static line rips away the Illinoisan's back and opens his parachute, sending him toward the village of Saint-Mélie-Gréves below. It isn't hard to spot. There's a house engulfed in flames. A bucket brigade of French villagers is doing everything possible to contain the blaze under German guards. Guards who, like the anti-aircraft gun crews on the village's outskirts, are now firing their rifles into the paratrooper-filled sky.

• 4:18Greg Jackson?

  And that's when a sharp pain zings through John's foot. Something's hit him all right. If only he had the luxury of worrying about his foot. The Illinoisan's situation only grows worse as the winds push him right toward that blazing inferno. John twists desperately in the harness, frantically trying to guide himself away from the flames and certain death. He succeeds. Two other paratroopers do not.

• 4:46Greg Jackson?

  In a cruel twist of fate, the flames devouring the two Americans finish them off by igniting their grenades and ammunition, blowing up the fire-engulfed servicemen in the process. But dodging the burning house doesn't mean John's cleared the village's buildings altogether. But the sudden jerk, his chute catches on the church steeple, leaving the dark-haired paratrooper dangling at the edge of the brilliantly blazed lit square in full view of the Germans. It's hard to imagine the sheer sensory overload of adrenaline and fear that must be hitting John in this moment. The sight of thousands of his countrymen floating down from the sky, some landing, some getting riddled by German rifles and machine guns before their feet could touch the ground.

• 5:30Greg Jackson?

  The screams of the wounded and the afraid, screams that belong to Americans, Germans, and French alike. Wafting smell and heat of a blazing house. The deeming of a warning-giving church bell, only a few feet above his head to say nothing of his shrapnel-sliced foot. What sound, pains, sights, are even registering in a hellacious moment like this? John snaps too. Though exposed, the Germans haven't gunned him down. Not yet. He reaches for his knife to cut himself loose. It slips out of his hands, falling on the ground far below. Oh, God. Realizing that all the squirming in the world won't save him, he decides he has exactly

• 6:15Greg Jackson?

  one hope: play dead. And so, staying as still as he can, John sits in his harness as his foot bleeds, as a bell tolls above him, and as bullets fly by, praying that the Germans don't decide to use him for target practice.

• 6:47Greg Jackson?

  Welcome to History That Doesn't Suck. I'm your professor, Greg Jackson, and I'd like to tell you a story.

• 7:08Greg Jackson?

  In the earliest dark hours of June 6th, 1944, some 13,000 paratroopers became the first Americans to put their boots on the northern soil of Nazi-occupied France. They were divided into two airborne divisions. Nearly 7,000 belonged to the 101st, or the Screaming Eagles. Charged with a mission codenamed Albany, it fell to this inexperienced but soon-to-be legendary division to take out German artillery, destroy or hold a few bridges and villages just beyond Utah Beach, and secure causeways that troops storming those shores would need to push inland. As for their more experienced and likewise legendary counterparts, the all-American

• 7:49Greg Jackson?

  82nd, these more than 6,000 paratroopers, Mission Boston, called for them to land in drop zones a few clicks farther out, in and around the village of Saint-Mélie-Gréves, and destroy or secure specific bridges, thus preparing the next movement deeper into France. And how does all of this go as thousands of men parachute into the wrong drop zones? As the gliders bringing the second airborne wave, Mission Chicago for the 101st and Mission Detroit for the 82nd, come down so hard and scattered, they'll lead to the highest ranking American death of the day, the 101st's assistant division commander, Brigadier General Don Pratt. And does John Steele pull through?

• 8:32Greg Jackson?

  We'll get to all of that as we attempt the near impossible, telling the story of D-Day in one episode.

• 8:40Greg Jackson?

  First, a few names and definitions. D-Day is day one of Operation Overlord, which we've been building to for oh so very long. But remember, Overlord includes a lot more than getting onto the beaches of Normandy. Overlord is the fight all the way into Paris, which won't happen until August. Thus, D-Day is simultaneously day one of Overlord's initial and amphibious operation, Operation Neptune, which will run through most of the month of June. All that to say, whether you hear "Overlord" or "Neptune" in this episode, both are right. The latter nests inside the former. But you're also going to hear a lot of code-named beaches.

• 9:24Greg Jackson?

  I'll remind you of their positions as we go, but let's start by getting our bearings straight. The Allies are striking France's Normandy coast at the English Channel along La Baie de la Seine, with Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower in overall command, and ground troops commanded by British General Sir Bernard Law Montgomery. Their attack divides into two sectors: a British sector, under the British Second Army's Lieutenant General Miles Dempsey, and an American sector, under the US First Army's Lieutenant General Omar Bradley. The more eastern British sector comprises three beaches. Moving east to west, these are Sword, Juno, and Gold, with Juno being British in that

• 10:08Greg Jackson?

  Commonwealth way, because this beach is Canadian. Yeah, our northern neighbors are pulling some serious weight there. Of course, our focus will be the more western American sector. On its eastern edge is Omaha Beach. Moving west, we then hit a cliff that we'll encounter later, called Point du Oise. Finally, at the western edge of this sector, and running up into the Cotentin, or Cherbourg Peninsula, is the most western beach of them all: Utah. We'll start our tale here, on Utah Beach, where we'll meet a rough riding and spirit general, Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Then it's off to Omaha, followed by Point du Oise, with one tale of sacrifice apiece.

• 10:52Greg Jackson?

  We'll then round out D-Day with a respectful nod to the British and Canadians, before swinging back west to hear a tale of medical mercy among the ranks of the 101st Airborne. Finally, we'll reflect on what D-Day means, both to us in the 21st century and to the world in 1944. It'll end with a fireside prayer, led by none other than President Franklin Roosevelt. So many stories from this day. I wish I could tell them all, but these will give us a good overview. So let's get to it by backing up to the start of the day one more time. Rewind.

• 11:31Greg Jackson?

  In the still-dark early hours of June 6, 1944, the combined Anglo-American forces move out, commencing the long-planned, long-anticipated, and high-stakes opening to Operation Overlord: the English Channel crossing amphibious attack known as Neptune. An armada of nearly 7,000 vessels launch from ports in southern England. They converge south of the Isle of Wight, at a rendezvous point within the Channel, officially known as Area Z, but more affectionately called Piccadilly Circus. The fleet follows mine sweepers through ten different lanes, two per beach, toward the northwestern coast of France, to Normandy.

• 12:16Greg Jackson?

  The journey is far from pleasant for those aboard the ships. Cooped up for days awaiting departure, nearly all the tense, exhausted men have thrown up their breakfast, from anxiety, seasickness, or both. With the wind at 15 knots and swelling waves of 3 to 6 feet, it's not quite the perfect weather Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower wished for. But it'll do. It has to do. American troops of the 4th Infantry Division of General J. Lawton Collins 7th Corps are set to land at H-hour, 6:30 a.m., roughly an hour before their British allies because of tide times. But that's still ahead.

• 12:57Greg Jackson?

  At 5:30 a.m., Allied warships, including a rebuilt Pearl Harbor survivor, the battleship USS Nevada, open fire on the Germans' coastal batteries, hoping to soften the shores up enough to give these soon-to-debarred troops a chance. Just minutes before the first assault infantry are set to step foot on the northwesternmost sector, at Utah Beach, Major David Dewhurst leads the final 17B-26s over the dunes of La Madeleine to bombard German defenses. This San Antonio-born pilot, a graduate from the University of Texas, enlisted in the US Army's Air Corps Turning Air Forces at age 22, just six months before the devastating attacks on Pearl Harbor.

• 13:42Greg Jackson?

  David and his 386 bombardment group soar through the barely-lit sky at just under 4,500 feet, their planes marked with black and white invasion stripes under the wings to avoid the friendly fire losses that plagued Sicily. At 6:24 a.m. and 30 seconds, Bombardier Albert E. Hill drops the last of the total 96 metric tons of bombs directly on Nazi stronghold WN5. And so, at 6:30 a.m., the first wave of troops are set to land at Utah, accompanied unorthodoxly by two senior leaders: Colonel Eugene Meade Caffey, who is relieved of command after being unfairly blamed for exorcised Tiger, then reinstated so his suspension

• 14:26Greg Jackson?

  wouldn't dishearten the men on D-Day, and Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Yes, this Theodore, who more often goes by Ted, or Teddy, is the son of the 26th President of the United States. Both men independently insist they be allowed to join the first wave. Landing at H-hour, 06:30 hours, Ted Roosevelt is in the thick of fighting, but he just so happens to be on the wrong part of the beach. It's about 6:45 a.m., and Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr., or the Soldiers' General, as he's also called, since nothing save the star on the front of his helmet distinguishes

• 15:10Greg Jackson?

  him from his men, is pacing up and down the sandbars of Utah Beach. Arthritic in his mid-50s, and dealing with a bum knee that's plagued him since the First World War, Teddy supports himself with a curved top cane, firmly gripped in one hand. He clutches a map in the other. Harry Brown of the 8th Infantry will later recall that Teddy was "walking around as if he was looking over some real estate." An odd look for a man on a beach with bullets flying. But Teddy has reason for his map obsession. It seems that his 8th Infantry, which was supposed to assault German stronghold STP-9, was led astray by ocean currents.

• 15:52Greg Jackson?

  They veered more than a mile south, and are now in front of stronghold WN5. Well, no matter. The men are here, aren't they? And this battery isn't anything they can handle. As the Soldiers' General walks to and fro, surveying the scene amidst the raging battle, some mortar shells land near his feet, sending sand spraying into the air. Ted doesn't appear afraid or phased, but rather annoyed. Meanwhile, a third wave of landing craft pushes toward the shore. The ramps hinge down, revealing the cramped, huddled men inside. Under German fire, they wade through the low-tide shallows to join the first and second waves farther up the beach.

• 16:35Greg Jackson?

  All of a sudden, a burst of German 88 fire hits a cluster of incoming troops, nearly a dozen men. A few seconds go by. Then, one soldier emerges, face blackened from the smoke. Neither his helmet nor his equipment remain. The unnamed man is in a daze, his eyes just blankly staring ahead. Teddy hustles over. He yells out for a medic before putting his arm around the soldier and gently saying, "Son, I think we'll get you back on a boat." By 0700, just 30 minutes after H-hour, many of the GIs managed to reach the dunes at the end of the beach, taking shelter behind an anti-tank wall just a few yards in front of the German stronghold WN5.

• 17:19Greg Jackson?

  The two senior officers, Teddy and Eugene, assess the situation. Do they continue to have troops arrive on this accidental location? Or should they divert back to the originally intended landing point? It's a tough decision, one that could make or break this Allied invasion. But finally, the son of the 26th President tells the Colonel, "I'm going ahead with the troops. You get word to the Navy to bring them in. We're going to start the war from here." And start the war, or, more aptly, start the invasion of Western Europe, they do. At 7:15, 23-year-old Vermont Lieutenant Arthur Yonka and his men of WN5 are captured

• 18:04Greg Jackson?

  and put in a barbed-wire enclosure to await their evacuation to England. Meanwhile, on Terre Green Beach, just north of WN5, soldiers of the 531st Engineer Shore Regiment of the 1st Engineer Special Brigade land with bulldozers to clear the beach of obstacles before incoming tide covers them, and makes it even more dangerous for future ships and landing craft. And in the hours and days ahead, the Navy's Seabees, the 81st Naval Construction Battalion, will turn Utah into a working port, running pontoon Rhino barges that haul 10 Sherman tanks at a time, and laying causeways nearly half a mile long, so many machines can pour ashore and inland.

• 18:46Greg Jackson?

  As this all goes on, the 4th Infantry Division begins to move inland amid continuous heavy fire. They push forward over flooded territory, as they seek to take control of all four causeways leading off the beach, and eventually link up with the paratroopers dropped behind German lines earlier in the morning. They must make contact before nightfall. But we can't go too far into the final outcome of Utah Beach, not just yet. This morning is far from done. Americans are facing another deadly beach, code-named Omaha, at the exact same time. Let's get there, early morning story.

• 19:25Greg Jackson?

  On paper, Omaha follows Utah's pattern: air and sea support followed by ground troops pouring out of landing craft. Here at Omaha, the whole beach runs roughly four miles long and is divided unevenly into four sectors. The 1st and 29th US Infantry Divisions will take three of these. Moving from east to west, these are Fox, which faces Colville, Easy, which faces Saint Laurent, and Dog, which faces Vielville. We then go one last click to the west to find a fourth sector, Charlie, which falls to sea company of the 2nd Ranger Battalion. Yes, Rangers.

• 20:06Greg Jackson?

  Think of them as cousins to Merrill's Marauders, whom we met in episode 210. The infantry face terrain fortified with German anti-tank ditches, walls at the entrances to valleys of each, and concrete bunkers. This all sounds familiar enough, but just past the main beach, which rises gently to meet marshy grassland, the troops will encounter steep bluffs towering some 150 feet. Ah, and that is quite different from the sandy dunes of Utah. At 5:20 a.m., the first landing craft of the 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Division and the 16th Infantry of the 1st Division set off from their parent ships for the long run into H-hour.

• 20:49Greg Jackson?

  I trust to recall meeting Major Logan Scott Bowden and Sergeant Bruce Ogden Smith from last January's reconnaissance missions in the previous episode. Well, these two men are back in an assault pilotage role, and they watch in horror as the landing craft carrying the 741st Tank Battalion come to a stop still 5,000 yards from shore and proceed to launch their amphibious tanks. As the Major will later remember, it was "far too rough. They should go right in." He goes on to call it an "absolutely insane" decision, one that leads to tanks sinking and men drowning long before they ever reach the beach. The next group will drive straight to shore.

• 21:34Greg Jackson?

  As the boats close in, Allied bomber formations fly over to attempt to destroy German strong points, as they did successfully at Utah. But because they want to hide from anti-aircraft fire, the planes approach from the sea. It's a good idea until you realize that taking this approach leads the bombers to ever so slightly delay the release of their bombs in order to avoid hitting landing craft. And that's all it takes for the bombings to fail to destroy the barbed wire, minefields, and other entanglements as anticipated. An officer in the 1st Division bitterly writes, "The Air Corps might just as well have stayed home in bed for all the good that their bombing concentration did."

• 22:17Greg Jackson?

  In short, this means that before H-hour begins, the Americans are arriving at Omaha without the element of surprise, without destroying German defenses, and already having lost men to watery graves. The 1st Infantry Division, aka the Big Red One, and the 29th Infantry Division of Major General Leonard T. Guero's 5th Corps hit the beach at 6:30. The initial absence of fire makes it seem to the infantry that the bombardments did their job, but each man can only really see the helmets in front of him, or perhaps the landing ramp. So, as the Higgins boats' ramps drop and these men step into the shallow waters of

• 23:01Greg Jackson?

  the English Channel, they are deeply unprepared for the incoming fire. Worse yet, the unexpectedly well-targeted fire. See, Allied intelligence placed a weak German division, a somewhat desperate unit filled with physically unfit and elderly recruits, the 716th, on this beach. And they are here, but they're not alone. The far younger, fitter, and veteran-heavy 352nd is right beside them. It's their steady hands raining bullets down on the brave, scared Americans. American GIs are given roughly 45 pounds of equipment, both personal effects, grenades, life vests, and raincoats, some carry nearly 70 to 80 pounds.

• 23:46Greg Jackson?

  It's so much to bear, especially as soldiers disembark the landing craft into utter chaos. Some immediately sink into the bullet-torn water, weighed down by their own gear. I cannot overstate this. The scene at Omaha is disastrous. As the machine gun fire hitting the sand makes a sip-sip sound, like someone sucking on their teeth, an unnamed soldier of the 116th on the western side of the beach struggles forward. He'll later recall, "As the ramp went down, we were getting direct fire right into our craft. My three squad leaders in front and others were hit. Some men climbed over the side. Two sailors got hit. I got off in water only ankle-deep.

• 24:28Greg Jackson?

  I tried to run, but the water suddenly was up to my hips. I crawled to hide behind the steel beach obstacle. Bullets hit off it and threw my pack, missing me. Others hit more of my men. If you slipped under the metal ramp, you would be killed as it crashed down." Many were hit in the water, good swimmers or not. Screams for help came from men hit and drowning under ponderous loads. There were dead men floating in the water, and there were live men acting dead, letting the tide take them in. Navy Combat Demolition Units struggle to lay plastic explosive bags on various obstacles, telling GIs sheltering behind to move or they'd be blown up along with them.

• 25:10Greg Jackson?

  As the tide rises on the beach, about a 100-foot gap is cleared for landing craft to pull in. They can't, though, and are forced out of the water by that very tide. Officers in non-comms are hit almost immediately as the men realize they must move inland for cover. A soldier from Minnesota in the 1st Division will later recall that, "It was awful. People dying all over the place. The wounded unable to move and being drowned by the incoming tide and boats burning madly as succeeding waves tried to get in. I've never seen so many brave men who did so much. Many would go way back and try to gather in the wounded and themselves get killed.

• 25:53Greg Jackson?

  At least 80% of our weapons did not work because of sand and sea water." The 16th Regiment's first and second waves are, as historian Stephen Ambrose writes, "more reminiscent of an infantry charge across no man's land at the Somme in World War I than a typical World War II action." A charge through water, that is, into arguably even deadlier weaponry. And the situation won't improve much on these beaches, soon to be known as Bloody Omaha. History That Doesn't Suck is sponsored by Square.

• 26:34Greg Jackson?

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• 27:17Greg Jackson?

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• 28:00Greg Jackson?

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• 28:45Greg Jackson?

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• 30:11Greg Jackson?

  It's just after 7:00 AM, June 6th, 1944. We're in the shallow, shot-up waters of Omaha Beach, where 32-year-old, to the day, as it is his birthday, John Joseph Pinder, or Joe to his friends, is aboard a landing craft, heading for shore. Before serving as a technician in 5th grade, stocky, square-set Joe was a right-handed minor-league pitcher, working the farm systems for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, Washington Senators, and Brooklyn Dodgers. But today, a strike isn't quite what our birthday boy is focused on. No, he's alongside members of the 16th Infantry Regiment's Headquarters Company as they land with the second wave of attack.

• 30:57Greg Jackson?

  All of a sudden, a German artillery shell comes screaming and exploding mere feet from the landing craft, sending pieces of shrapnel throughout the boat. With gaping holes quickly letting in water, the boat's helmsman drops the ramp, ushering men out still over 100 yards from the shoreline. Joe splashes into the waist-deep water. Amid the chaos, he grabs one of the unit's most prized possessions: a radio system. With the 90-pound weight of the radio nearly pulling him down, Joe advances as bolts whizz by. One slices through the left side of his face. But the technician remains undeterred. He grabs now slightly detached flesh with one hand and soldiers on.

• 31:40Greg Jackson?

  He manages to drop the radio on a nearby pile of stones, alongside other members of that same landing craft. Joe then turns back to the sinking boat, wading through bullet-ridden waters to snag the backup radio set and other technical equipment. Once again, he zig-zags through obstacles, Nazi machine-gun fire, and the bodies of his fellow soldiers, some alive, some wounded, and some, so beyond dead, they no longer look like bodies. Nevertheless, Joe brings the second round of radio machinery ashore. I can only imagine the determination in the technician's eyes as he turns back toward the now nearly sunken ship for yet another time. Traversing the same death-filled waters,

• 32:24Greg Jackson?

  Joe grabs a few more spare parts and coatbooks, material the landing force is desperately needing. But as he begins the treacherous journey back to the collection of stones upon which his friends are perched, Joe's left runs out. He's struck in his left leg. Joe struggles onto the beach, now looking to set up the radio equipment he brought ashore. Infusing the help of his fellow technicians, or even a medic, the 32-year-old baseball player-turned-faithful serviceman is working on the instrument when, yet again, a German bullet finds him. And this one is fatal. Joe dies here, on the beach.

• 33:07Greg Jackson?

  When more senior commanders arrive, they are understandably shocked by the scene. Thanks to Joe's sacrifice, for which he'll posthumously receive the Medal of Honor, the regiment can, in fact, communicate via radio and try to coordinate naval and air support. It's the only chance they have of surviving. But aside from heroism, there isn't much progress to report. Many of the first-wave's troops huddle by the base of the seawall for cover, forgetting sometimes that they even have weapons to use. Indeed, one officer in the 116th Infantry will later say, "I felt more like a spectator than an actual participant in this operation." And the sight is horrific. One sergeant from Wisconsin describes the scene as,

• 33:51Greg Jackson?

  "Men dumping, just like corn cobs, off of a conveyor belt." Close quote. And Captain Maurice Francis McGrath will later remember how, "We talked to the surviving soldiers and tried to get them to follow us." None of them, however, would come along. Any of them seemed to be paralyzed by fear. But the men are soon rallied by the tall, thin, bespectacled, and mustachioed Colonel Charles "Old Hatchetface" Canham and Brigadier General Norman "Dutch" Cota. Together, these two pace up and down the beach, reinvigorating troops. At one point, "Old Hatchetface" is shot through the right wrist, but he bandages it quickly, putting his arm in a sling,

• 34:35Greg Jackson?

  and carries on as if nothing has changed. It's a welcomed sight, especially for troops with hardly a single junior officer in the ranks above them, still breathing.

• 34:46Greg Jackson?

  Roughly an hour after the initial landings, the first minor breakthrough on Omaha occurs. Part of the 2nd Battalion of the 16th Infantry lands between Saint Laurent and Colville. And crossing the beach largely intact, they penetrate German lines. Half an hour later, at 8:00 AM, Brigadier General Norman "Dutch" Cota searches for a place to break through the wire, toward Les Moules. He decides to carry out some reconnaissance, while Colonel Charles Canham, or again, "Old Hatchetface", heads left to try to find an exit from the beach. They both encounter similar scenes. Trying to light a fire under the dazed American men, Charles yells at a group sheltering from the barrage, "Get these men the hell off the beach!

• 35:30Greg Jackson?

  Go kill some goddamn krauts!" Among those hiding is an unnamed Lieutenant Colonel, who replies, "Colonel, you'd better take cover, or you're going to get killed." Undeterred, Charles shouts back, "Get your ass out there and get these men off the goddamn beach." Norman proves just as punchy. At some point in the morning, he encounters some of the 5th Rangers. After demanding to know who the huddled group of American soldiers are, the frustrated Brigadier General yells, "Then, goddamn it, if you're Rangers, get up and lead the way." It's a legendary quote, when attributed in various forms, as legends often are. But whatever the exact truth,

• 36:15Greg Jackson?

  it triggers the 5th Rangers to work westward, to position themselves behind the Germans covering the beach. And a form of the phrase itself, rendered as "Rangers Lead the Way", will later become the official motto of the US Army Rangers. Over on the eastern side, Colonel George Taylor, commander of the 1st Division 16th Infantry Regiment, behaves comparably. The Colonel has next-to-no armor for support because, as we know, almost none of those tanks from the 741st Battalion made it out of the water. He hollers to his men, "We've got to get off the beach before they put the 88s on us. If we've got to get killed, we might as well kill some Germans.

• 36:58Greg Jackson?

  The only men on this beach are the dead and those that are going to die. Now let's get the hell out of here." General Norman "Dutch" Cota and Colonel Charles "Old Hatchetface" Canham regroup at 8:30. They watch as a burst of machine-gun fire kills two of five German prisoners being marched by their command post. The remaining three kneel and beg for mercy before a third is shot through the chest. The two men decide to move their command post, but they've got to contact the 1st Division on the left. It's not an easy task.

• 37:30Greg Jackson?

  Back at headquarters aboard the command ship USS Ancon, a message reaches General Leonard Juro at 9:15. Boats and vehicles piled on beach, troops dug in on beach, enemy holds fire until craft beaches. "Oh, that's not good at all." Leonard tells General Omar Bradley, who worries about the next big wave, especially since engineers can't clear paths through the minefields and snipers are targeting officers and NCOs. It's so bad that Omar thinks about abandoning the beachhead and diverting troops from Omaha, perhaps into the British Sector. The problem with that, however, is it would leave a gap of about 35 miles between Utah Beach and Gold Beach that the Nazis could certainly exploit.

• 38:14Greg Jackson?

  And it would leave the troops already landed on Omaha completely stranded. Despite General Omar Bradley's conundrums on the ground, or more aptly, at sea, it's finally time to alert the general public. At 9:32 local time, Cheffe Press Chief Colonel R. Ernest Dupuy issues Communicate Number 1 from Senate House at the University of London.

• 38:36Speaker 06

  Under the command of General Eisenhower, Allied naval forces, supported by strong air forces, began landing Allied armies this morning on the northern coast of France.

• 38:48Greg Jackson?

  Shortly thereafter, Ike broadcasts from London,

• 38:51Speaker 06

  "People of Western Europe, a landing was made this morning on the coast of France by troops of the Allied Expeditionary Force. The hour of your liberation is approaching."

• 39:02Greg Jackson?

  The BBC reinforces this at 10:00, famously saying,

• 39:06Speaker 06

  "D-Day has come."

• 39:09Greg Jackson?

  But oh, is that liberation still being hard-fought. Sure, at 10:46 on Omaha Beach, Colonel Benjamin Tally radios his higher-ups aboard the USS Ancon that "Things look better, but better than sheer disaster, still isn't very good." General Norman "Dutch" Cota takes men inland, which is later seen as a bad move by officers who think that only tanks and bulldozers should have pushed on. But by mid-morning, his men, in a combined unit called "The Bastard Brigade", scale the bluffs, attempting to avoid the incredibly dangerous mines scattered throughout. Slowly, improvements are made on the beach. Two landing craft, unable to unload for lack of space,

• 39:55Greg Jackson?

  gun their engines straight at the shore, firing as they go, destroying some German positions. Other boats and barges follow, and 11 destroyers support attackers with cover, despite the fear of harming their own men. By 11:00 AM, Vieillede is in American hands. An hour later, at 12:00 noon, the high tide continues to swallow men in the ocean. 15 minutes later, a fire lights on the beach, traveling from east to west. Yet somehow, by 12:30, the Americans have managed to land 18,772 men on Omaha Beach. The tide goes back out at 1 o'clock. At our tale of Omaha Beach, we'll pause with it.

• 40:37Greg Jackson?

  Because the Americans aren't just on their two beaches of Utah and Omaha. In between them, at Point du Oise, is yet another target, one being struck by a group of brave, brazen Army Rangers.

• 40:54Greg Jackson?

  It's 7:10 a.m., Tuesday, June 6, 1944. We're at Point du Oise, where Sergeant Bill Elrod Petty is trying to climb, hand over hand, up a mud-caked and soaked rope dangling from the side of a 100-foot cliff. His hands slip as dirty water oozes between his fingers, and his German machine gun fire sprays down on him from above. This looks to be an impossible task, even for an expert free climber like Bill. So how did he find himself in this position? A little background: Our sergeant, Bill, is a member of Lieutenant Colonel James E. Rutter's 2nd Ranger Battalion.

• 41:35Greg Jackson?

  And these 225 men from three different companies are tasked with neutralizing six massive 155-millimeter guns that can hit both Utah and Omaha beaches. Guarding them, the Nazis have an observation bunker and machine gun positions that must also be taken out. Meanwhile, the three companies here have been delayed by more than half an hour past H-hour because of a misdirection. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Worse still, as Bill and the rest of Rutter's Rangers finally arrive at Point du Oise at 7:10, Max Snyder's Rangers have already assumed the worst. So, instead of reinforcing, they're diverting to their fallback: hitting Omaha.

• 42:19Greg Jackson?

  But back to our sergeant. Supported by U.S. naval gunfire, the Rangers prepare to scale the cliffs. Literally. Weapons slung over his shoulder, Bill looks to his side to see ladders supplied by the London Fire Brigade getting strung up. Okay, that makes far more sense than trying to use this slippery rope. But every time the ladder is close to proper placement, German gunfire kicks back in, tearing through men and earth, raining pieces down on those below. Bill grimaces as he watches some of his fellow Rangers use knives to cut handholds into the cliffside before beginning the long climb upwards. Of his attempt to use grappling irons, it's a hectic scene.

• 43:03Greg Jackson?

  Bill turns to one of the grafted-roped ladders. Yes, this looks like his best bet. Trying to avoid the muddy patches, he climbs one straining, muddy rope rung after the next, up the nine-story cliff. Grenades are tumbling down, but he's made it 30 feet up, about a third of the way there. Then, all of a sudden, his rope ladder gives way. Bill scrambles, grapples, does everything he can to hold the rock face. Incredibly, he turns what could have been a 30-foot drop into a 30-foot downward scramble. Clattering to the ground, Bill knows what happened. The Nazis cut his ladder from above. He checks himself. Miraculously, no major injuries.

• 43:48Greg Jackson?

  Only one thing to do then: start over. Now on his third attempt, Bill again turns to a rope ladder. As he ascends, he watches a Ranger next to him stiffen, then swing far out from the cliff. The young man falls, smashing into the ledges and rocks on his way down. Bill will later recall that it felt like a lifetime before his body hit the beach. The sergeant is understandably shaken. He freezes momentarily, saying to himself, "This is just too hard to climb." The jolt of German machine gun fire startles Bill back to reality, though. He scampers up the rest of the way, finally reaching the top of that 100-foot cliff half

• 44:29Greg Jackson?

  an hour later, around 7:40. Finally, Bill and his fellow Rangers emerge on top. They throw themselves into the protection of shell holes. They've made it! Communications Officer James Eichner manages to send off the success signal of "Praise the Lord." But this is when the other shoe drops. Sources conflict on the details, but the Rangers now find either that the Germans' casemates are empty, or that what's sticking out isn't the barrels of 155-millimeter cannons, but telephone poles. Either way, the Germans have moved the guns, and their ruse has succeeded.

• 45:12Greg Jackson?

  It's led to brave Rangers sacrificing themselves in a dangerous and futile mission, and left the survivors at Point du Oise unable to do anything other than wait for reinforcements. History That Doesn't Suck is supported by Vistaprint. This podcast is a small business passion project, and seeing our vision come to life offline is cool, too, thanks to our expert partner, Vistaprint. On my recent book tour, we were able to order custom, high-quality banners for book readings. It also added a nice professional polish. It also made the events more memorable because readers and I could pose together in front of the banner for selfies to post online. And that's just one of the countless premium products Vistaprint offers to elevate your brand identity.

• 45:56Greg Jackson?

  From postcards and posters to tumblers and t-shirts, Vistaprint makes high-end, custom printing accessible to everyone, giving you exceptional quality and results that make every single dollar go further. With real people on standby and seamless tools, Vistaprint guides you through every step of the process so you always look completely polished. There's a reason over 17 million small businesses trust Vistaprint to elevate their vision. Vistaprint: Print Your Possible. Right now, new customers get 20% off with code NEW20 at Vistaprint.com. That's 20% off at Vistaprint.com using code NEW20. HTDS is sponsored by BetterHelp. Thanksgiving looks different for everyone.

• 46:38Greg Jackson?

  For some, it's travel, turkey, family, and football. For others, it's just another Thursday. Whatever your tradition, or none at all, I think it's worth pausing to make a little room for gratitude in our busy lives, and maybe giving ourselves permission to rewrite a few of the holiday rules that may actually add to your stress. If the season's expectations and emotions are weighing on you, talking it through with a professional can help. BetterHelp therapists are licensed, experienced professionals with at least three years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience. A short questionnaire helps BetterHelp match you with a therapist who fits your needs and preferences. And if you're not happy with your match, you can switch to a different therapist at any time.

• 47:21Greg Jackson?

  BetterHelp is now in-network with more than 125 health plans, with many copays as low as $15 for eligible members. And if you don't have eligible insurance or live outside the U.S., you can still get 10% off your first month. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com/htds. That's better-h-e-l-p dot com slash h-t-d-s. History That Doesn't Suck is sponsored by Quince. Quince makes high-quality staples from premium materials. My wardrobe now has Quince linen shirts for summer, commuter pants for year-round comfort, and of course, my Mongolian cashmere shawl collar cardigan, which is perfect for crisp fall weather.

• 48:05Greg Jackson?

  And increasingly, Quince is taking over my wife's wardrobe. Just last night, she opened up her latest order and showed me a beautifully crafted sweater. She was thrilled to see it was every bit as professional and sharp as it looked online. More than that, it's durable, yet soft. She was thrilled. Everything is priced 50% to 80% less than similar brands because Quince works directly with ethical factories to cut out the middlemen. And it's not just clothes: fine jewelry, leather bags, hotel-quality bedding, chef-grade cookware, and five-star luggage. Give the gift of quality this holiday season. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the U.K. too.

• 48:50Greg Jackson?

  And when Quince asks where you heard about them, let them know it was History That Doesn't Suck. It's the best way to support the show. While ours is an American tale, I'd be remiss not to mention the sacrifices being made beyond the American Sector's two beaches, and Point du Oise. This same Tuesday morning, June 6, 1944, British and Canadian troops land on the three other beaches. To briefly remind you of the layout, these beaches lie east of the American Sector, and continuing in that same direction, moving west to east, they're codenamed Gold, Juno,

• 49:33Greg Jackson?

  and Sword, and are a fair distance apart, running roughly 25 miles across Normandy's coast. The Brits are at Gold and Sword. The Canucks hit Juno. Notably, the British and Canadian beaches include closer and bigger villages and towns, leading the fighting to bleed right into the streets along the shore. Nor does D-Day's list of Allied participants end there. Troops, pilots, and sailors from other Allied nations, such as France, Belgium, Greece, Poland, Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, and Norway, as well as British dominions and self-governing colonies beyond Canada, like Australia, New Zealand, and Rhodesia, all play a part in Neptune's early action.

• 50:15Greg Jackson?

  With this morning's actions completed, London begins to break the news to the world. Prime Minister Winston Churchill speaks to the House of Commons at noon.

• 50:23Speaker 07

  During the night and in the early hours of this morning, the first of the series of landings in force upon the European continent has taken place. In this case, the liberating assault fell upon the coast of France. So far, the commanders who are engaged report that everything is proceeding according to plan. A complete unity prevails throughout the Allied armies. There is a brotherhood in arms between us and our friends of the United States.

• 50:57Greg Jackson?

  Well, you and I know that everything according to plan is a bit of a stretch. But it's not like military leaders want to broadcast to their almost certainly listening in foes that plans have adapted for the moment. So what progress does follow Winston's enthusiastic midday report? Let's begin with Utah Beach. As we know, compared to the landings on Omaha, Utah was a relatively low casualty landing. Lessons learned from the tragic exercise Tiger ensured good on-the-ground coordination, and the precise naval and air attacks along the coastline meant that German batteries were already heavily damaged before soldiers' boots hit the sand.

• 51:37Greg Jackson?

  It became, ironically, a spectacular success, thanks to the bravery and quick thinking of General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. He'll receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for his role in today's landings. Not that he'll ever know it. Before the news can reach him, Ted will suffer a heart attack and, like his presidential father, die in his sleep. But the location of his death has more in common with his baby brother, Quentin. You may recall from episode 140, this youngest of the Roosevelt children also met his end in France. Shot from the sky as a World War I pilot. Eventually, the two brothers will repose eternally together at the yet-to-be Normandy-American cemetery.

• 52:21Greg Jackson?

  But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Ted's death is a month away, and we still have much to say about June 6, 1944. The struggles on Utah get harder as the day goes on. As historian Sir Max Hastings succinctly writes, "Almost all the Americans' difficulties on Utah that day began as they left the beach." Men heading north to the area where the 4th Division should have landed encounter serious resistance. Members of the 12th Regiment and some other stragglers head over the dunes and into the flooded fields, all be it moving excruciatingly slowly. By nightfall, the American land forces reach roughly four miles inland, securing the four

• 53:04Greg Jackson?

  exits from the beach and linking up with the airborne troops. The Lach, a dam of sorts, à la Baquette, is held by the 101st Airborne. And the town of Sainte-Maleiglis, where our friend John Steele parachuted in this morning, is also in American hands. Well done to the 82nd here. But farther west, other elements of the famous All-American Division have yet to make proper contact with the beach forces, leaving this westernmost flank anything but secure. By the way, John is all right. Plane dead worked. It got him through the dark morning battle, and after hours of hanging in his harness just below the church's tolling bell, the Germans did realize he was alive and took him prisoner.

• 53:48Greg Jackson?

  He escaped soon thereafter, though, and, despite his hobbled foot, immediately rejoins his brothers of the 82nd to continue the fight. Meanwhile, farther south and east, at Point du Oak's jutting cliff, Rutter's Rangers are still waiting for reinforcements. A mix of Rangers and 29th Infantry will arrive in two days on June 8, and find that of the original 225 Rangers sent here, only 90 are still in fighting shape. As for the German guns, they're found just hours later on June 6, camouflaged and hidden. As we hit the southern point of the American front, the middle of the entire Allied front,

• 54:30Greg Jackson?

  Omaha Beach, the afternoon is just as grisly as the morning. At 1 o'clock, a company from the 1st Division's 16th Infantry Regiment and the 29th Division's 116th Infantry attack Colville Semer. They enter the town only to be bombarded by their own naval guns. A few minutes later, at 1:05, General Leonard Giraud tells his boss, Omar Bradley, that the first exit has opened up. To quote him, "Troops formerly pinned down on beaches are advancing up heights behind beaches." Hearing this, General Bradley gives up the idea of abandoning Omaha. Fires on the beach rage all afternoon.

• 55:12Greg Jackson?

  General Norman Cota, or Dutch as we know him, walks up and down the hillside, urging his demoralized men across the boucage, through the minefields and flooded ground, all the while sidestepping the bodies of their fallen friends. At 2:15, the 29th Division's 115th Infantry attacks Saint Laurent, forcing the surrender of Nazi troops, but not yet capturing the town. Americans are shocked to identify their prisoners via paybook as members of the German 352nd, the unit that no one knew was defending the beach. Ah, the fiercer-than-predicted resistance to the landings makes a lot more sense now.

• 55:53Greg Jackson?

  At 5:21 that evening, Colonel Benjamin Tally once again gives an encouraging statement. Omaha will now permit wheeled-and-tracked vehicular traffic. Emboldened by this and continuing favorable assessments, General Leonard Giraud comes ashore at 8:30, crossing the beach in an armored bulldozer and joining the temporary command post. By nightfall, three exits from the beach have been opened, relieving the pressure of tomorrow's incoming troops. But even though trucks, jeeps, and tanks can move inland, artillery is still stuck, and the earlier chaos still threatens the flow of supplies. Unlike over at Utah, where, as we know, Americans are roughly four miles inland, here

• 56:38Greg Jackson?

  at Omaha, they've barely made it one mile. Now, none of these challenges indicate failure. Quite the contrary. The D-Day landings are an overwhelming victory for Allied planners, who have managed to pull off the largest amphibious operation known to man. By the end of June 6, roughly 156,000 men have set foot on the shores of France. 13,000 Americans parachuted onto the Cherbourg Peninsula. Another 8,000 Brits did so near Caen. 55,000 landed in the American sector, and 78,000 in the British sector. But the sacrifices were real. Even though casualties came in around 10,000, which was well below the 25,000 planners

• 57:23Greg Jackson?

  had feared, the first wave of slaughter at Omaha Beach was still a huge shock to the High Command. It counts for a quarter of the total number of casualties, with the 82nd and the 101st Airborne Divisions jointly making up another quarter. While the total deaths can't be known perfectly, the first 24 hours of Operation Overlord end with at least 1,465 Americans dead. With wounded and missing, American casualties rise several thousands, and likely make the majority of all Allied casualties. As for the Germans, they're estimated to have suffered up to 10,000 casualties. And both the Allies and their Axis foe would have lost more that day if not for two brave,

• 58:08Greg Jackson?

  daring medics from the 101st. It's an unspecified time, June 6, 1944. We're just south of Sainte-Maleiglis, in the French village of Angoville Au Plin, where a paratrooper medic from the 101st Airborne is pushing a wheelbarrow with an injured soldier in it right through a raging battle. A bold move for a 19-year-old kid from California with a mere two weeks of medical training under his belt. But that's came more for you. He's moving this injured soldier to the village's centuries-old church, which he and his fellow 101st medic, Bob Wright, are using as their sickbay. Making it back to the stone-built church, Ken wheels his patient inside.

• 58:53Greg Jackson?

  He and Bob then lift the man, lay him out on a wooden pew, and get to bandaging him up. How many times Bob's already made this same run, I can't tell you. Just as I can't tell you whether the patient is an American or a German. Because Ken and Bob aren't discriminating between uniforms and languages, they're simply determined to save lives. Period. Suddenly, the doors fly open. A German soldier stands there, machine gun in hand. But then he takes in the scene. He sees these two Americans saving Germans from death as readily as their own men. Such a sight in the middle of battle, and in a house of God nonetheless.

• 59:35Greg Jackson?

  It must be the most Christ-like act this soldier has witnessed in a long time. Instead of using his hand to pull a trigger, he makes the sign of the cross and leaves. Ken and Bob are later interrupted by German officers. They too are touched, and rather than disrupt or take the Americans prisoner, they instead offer to bring in a doctor. Bullets tear through the windows. At one point, a mortar flies into the church. Miraculously, it's a dud. The medics get rid of it, continuing their work through June 6 and into the next day, ultimately treating some 80 soldiers from both sides, as well as a child from the village.

• 1:00:21Greg Jackson?

  While the stories and details that I can share about D-Day are endless, we've come to the end of our telling of June 6, 1944. Or close to it. Let's take a moment to reflect on its meaning, both in 1944 and to us in the 21st century. First, let us recall that, for all of the day's success, the fight in Western Europe is only beginning. As Private First Class Robert "Bob" Sales of the 116th Infantry Regiment's B Company so aptly puts it, "D-Day was the longest day." There's no doubt about that. But for those who survived, it was just one day. I had 180 to go.

• 1:01:03Greg Jackson?

  Nonetheless, the opening of the Second Front in Europe does spur excitement with all troops, even those who are currently in German POW camps. Take, for example, the American officers of Off Flag 64, a German POW camp near the town of Schuben in occupied Poland. On June 6, these men prepare to mark their first year of captivity with carnival games and a variety show. It's odd enough that their German guards look in. Then, around noon, the radio brings word: "America has invaded France." As Luminary Wilcox will later recall, "Obviously, the Germans thought that we had the news in advance. We really did celebrate in full blast after that, but we could in no way indicate to

• 1:01:48Greg Jackson?

  the Germans that we knew what was going on. We did celebrate so hard and make so much noise that, finally, the Germans shut us off, about 10 o'clock at night. You cannot imagine, however, how the invasion had raised our hopes of getting out of prison camp." As for us in the 21st century, D-Day has become an indelible part of how America sees itself, of who or what America is. As historian Michael Dolski asserts, "The D-Day story that has developed in America carried so much weight because the battle seemingly connected with cherished American

• 1:02:27Greg Jackson?

  values like liberty, salvation, democracy, and pride in martial strength." Indeed, from the grit of Teddy Roosevelt on Utah Beach, to the gumption of the Rangers at Point du Eau, to the 'charity-for-all better angels' among the 101st medics, it's a day of Americans truly embodying our ideals and values. Nor do we have to wait the better part of a century for Americans and their allies to appreciate that. Even in the immediate aftermath, still in 1944, world leaders expressed these values when officially announcing the landings to their respective countries. His Majesty, King George VI of the United Kingdom, tells the Commonwealth,

• 1:03:12Speaker 07

  "After nearly five years of toil and suffering, we must renew that crusading impulse on which we entered the war and met its darkest hour. We and our allies are sure that our fight is against evil and for a world in which goodness and honor may be the foundation of the life of men in every land. At this historic moment, surely not one of us is too busy, too young, or too old

• 1:03:50Speaker 07

  to play a part in a nationwide, perchance a worldwide vigil of prayer as the great crusade sets forth."

• 1:04:01Greg Jackson?

  Charles de Gaulle proclaims to both Free and Vichy France, "The supreme battle is engaged." And of course, the President of the United States is proud to announce the invasion of Normandy, the culmination of the grand strategy and "Germany first" policy, and of his own insistence that Operation Overlord be launched. Let's listen in on this fireside chat, shall we? It's 10:00 PM Eastern Time, June 6, 1944. We're in the diplomatic reception room on the ground floor of the White House in Washington, DC, where President Franklin D. Roosevelt is set to give another one of his fireside chats.

• 1:04:44Greg Jackson?

  While the subject of war has been a common topic, in fact Franklin just spoke to the country last night about the fall of Rome, today's message will be a little different. FDR will be delivering a prayer, the text of which was distributed in advance so Americans can read along with their president. Before asking citizens to join him, though, Franklin writes in a few short lines about the events of the day. He begins,

• 1:05:12Speaker 06

  "My fellow Americans, last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far. And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer.

• 1:05:53Speaker 06

  Almighty God, our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and true. Give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. They will need thy blessings; their road will be long and hard.

• 1:06:35Speaker 06

  For the enemy is strong; he may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again. And we know that by thy grace and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph. They will be sore tried by night and by day without rest until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame; men's souls will be shaken with the violences

• 1:07:18Speaker 06

  of war. For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest; they fight to end conquest; they fight to liberate; they fight to let justice arise and tolerance and goodwill among all thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home. Some will never return.

• 1:08:00Speaker 06

  Embrace these, Father, and receive them, thy heroic servants, into thy kingdom. And for us at home, help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in thee in this hour of great sacrifice. And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in thee, faith in our sons, faith in each other, faith in our united

• 1:08:44Speaker 06

  crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment; let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose. With thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances.

• 1:09:26Speaker 06

  Lead us to the saving of our country and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace, a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men, and a peace that will let all men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen."

• 1:10:11Greg Jackson?

  History that Doesn't Suck is created and hosted by me, Greg Jackson. Episode researched and written by Greg Jackson and Riley Newpower. Riley and I are incredibly grateful to the following people for welcoming us into their institutions and helping as we research this episode. Ugo Levanyé, Magali Male, and the Airborne Museum of Saint-Mély-Gnies, Guillaume and the Utah Beach Museum, Andrew Whitmarsh, and the D-Day Story Portsmouth. Our thanks also extended to the National World War II Museum, the D-Day Museum in Aromanches, and the Battle of Normandy Museum in Bayeux. We encourage listeners to visit these institutions should you ever find yourself in Normandy. Production by Airship.

• 1:10:56Greg Jackson?

  Audio editing by Mohamed Shazade. Sound design by Molly Bond. Theme music composed by Greg Jackson. Arrangement and additional composition by Lindsey Graham of Airship. For bibliography of all primary and secondary sources consulted in writing this episode, visit htdspodcast.com.

• 1:11:21Greg Jackson?

  HTDS is supported by fans at HTDSPodcast.com/membership. My gratitude to you kind souls providing funding to help us keep going, thank you. And a special thanks to our patrons whose monthly gift puts them at producer status. Adam Goran, Ahmed Chapman, Amy and Ross Hensman, Andrew Nissen, Andrew Sherwin, Anna M. Huta, Art Lang, Baby Nika, Bob Stinnet, Bonnie Brooks, Brian Gavigan, Brian Boils, Brian Goodson, Bruce Hibbert, Kayden Howitz, Charles Clendenin, Charles Starkey, Charlie Majes, Christopher Merchant, Christopher Lyle, Christopher Pullman, Christopher Young, Cody Brown, Colleen Martin, Colin Ferris Pennington, Connor Hogan, Craig Burrhost, Dan G., Daniel Beecham, Daniel Lucana, Darren Chambers, Daryl the Kid Lovell, David Rifkin,

• 1:12:06Greg Jackson?

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• 1:12:47Greg Jackson?

  Karen Bartholomew, Carl Friedman, Carl Romer, Ken Culver, Kim R., Kimberly Pruitt, Kristen Pratt, Kyle Decker, L. Paul Goringer, Laura Norman, Lawrence Newbauer, Linda Cunningham, Mark D. Worrell, Mark Ellis, Marcia Smith, Mason Glenn, Matt Siegel, Michael Longus, Michael Sullivan, Nick Cafrell, Nicholas Powell, Owen W. Sedla, Paul Huguenroth, Philip May, Randy Keane, Rich Ruckel, Rick Brown, Rob Dravovic, Robert Shelton, Brock Gay, Ryan Fogelman, Sam Holtzman, Sarah Prescott, Sarah Traywood, Scott Hurst, Shane Smith, Shannon Hoagland, Sharon Feasen, Sean Baines, Sean Collins, Stacy Ritter, Steve Williams, The Creepy Girl, Thomas Churchill, Thomas Matthew Edwards, Thomas Sabbath, Tim and

• 1:13:32Greg Jackson?

  Sarah Turner, Todd Curran, Tom Bestafka, Travis Cox, Walter M. Ames, Wesley McKee, William Durham, William Curry, William Thompson, and Zach Jackson. Join me in two weeks, or I'd like to tell you a story.