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(From a note found in the pocket of an American serviceman on Utah beach.)
Dear Mom: This may be the last chance I get to write to you for a while. I wanted to tell you one more time, how much I love you and how important you and Lois are to me. I know in my heart that you did not want me to join the service, but I had to do what I felt was the right thing. I’m sorry I lied to you about what I was doing, and to the recruiter about my age. Every since dad passed away I felt a duty, a debt, to serve my country the way he did. I think today, you would both be proud of me. Besides, as soon as this war is over, I’ll be coming home, and I promise I’ll finish school and become a doctor, just like you have always wanted, I promise.
This is what we have all been training for all these months. Tomorrow I get a chance to help make a difference. We were called into action to help save the people of France. We had been confined to base for several days leading up to operation Neptune with a few false starts. The time has finally arrived, all of my skill and months of training will now be put to the test. I want you to know that everything will be alright. I’m here with a lot of my buddies from basic training and also with quite a few of the Brits that we trained with for the last few months. I’ve made friends with many of these English soldiers and despite the fact that they have a great sense of humor, they are ferocious fighters. It’s actually quite exciting, I’m on board a ship heading from England to France. At this point I’m not sure if we are part of the diversionary force or the actual main attack force. I’ve never seen so many ships in my life. The fleet is getting bigger as we meet up at sea with other ships from all over Southern England. We are part of a giant armada of sailing vessels and part of the largest invasion force the world has ever known.
The fleet is made up of everything that will float. There are literally thousand of ships, and several hundred thousand men from several countries, but mainly the U.S. and England. There are battleships, destroyers, cruisers, mine sweepers, submarines, (LCT) Landing Craft Tank, LCI (Landing Craft Infantry), and transport ships. The water is so thick with ships, that I could almost walk between ships as we left the port. Our invasion force also has in tow our own docks and artificial breakwaters to aid in getting men, tanks, and material onto the shore. I have to admit that it’s not exactly what I expected. I had envisioned myself on the newest state of the art Navy ship, bristling with huge guns and plenty of armor. Instead I find myself on an old transport ship, that has no weapons at all. It really doesn’t matter because I will get to the beach right along with the other guys.
We’ve been underway now for several hours and the channel is getting rough. Many of the men are already seasick, and the pills they have given us are making us more drowsy than well. Our commanding officer has instructed us to all get some food and rest, because the next few days are going to be tough. All of the men are preparing themselves for battle. Some are trying to sleep, others are playing cards, and some are reading and writing letters. I swear, some of the guys have checked their provisions and weapons at least ten times. I guess, at a time like this, every man has to deal with his own fears and uncertainties in his own way.
I’ve been too excited to sleep, but I did go up on deck and get some fresh air. The seas and currents have picked up quite a bit and some of the men are sea sick. I’m really not affected by the rolling waves at all, thanks to all those deep sea fishing trips with dad. In fact, if I could block out the other ships and the mission we are about to undertake, I could really enjoy being out at sea on a night like this. There are more than a few men on deck staring out into the darkness, on alert for an enemy sub, plane, or floating mine.
I can tell we are getting closer now, the ships are all slowing down, as we wait for the large fleet of mine sweepers creeping along ahead of us to clear a path for the rest of the fleet.. They have marked a channel for us that is only about 800 yards wide. We’ve been told that at least one of our ships has hit a submerged mine and has been lost. Many of the ships are struggling against the waves and currents to stay within the area between the lighted buoys. Our ship has been struck several times by smaller ships as they have attempted to fight the currents and stay within the safe zone.
We have been instructed to fly a large inflated balloon or dirigible above our ship to help ward off low flying attack aircraft. Our captain has decided to ignore the order because he feels it would help announce our position to any fighter plane in the area.
As we get closer and the sun begins to rise, more details and gossip about our mission are spreading through out the ship. Many of the men have joined together to hear a sermon by the Chaplin. There are very few who would admit to being disbelievers tonight. I think the reality of the situation is sinking in. We were told that some of us would not be going home. Our group is part of a large task force in an operation named Overlord. The plan calls for us to land on several beaches in Normandy. From there we are to take the beach, establish a beach head and then push inland.
We were just told that our group would not go ashore with the first wave, we were assigned to H-Hour plus 2, but somehow that didn’t ease the sick feeling in our stomachs. We hear the roar of our own planes racing ahead of us to deliver ordnance and drop parachute troops behind enemy lines. Reports of vicious fighting are now filtering through. My heart races as I hear of mounting casualties and loss of landing craft. I’m not sure if it’s harder to remain behind in these first hours or be on the front lines with our brothers.
Mom, please don’t worry about me, I will be fine. Thanks for always being there for me, in fact just writing this letter to you has restored my confidence. I’m confident that the Americans and our allies will prevail. My hope is to be back home, and with you soon, and that the French will never forget our work and sacrifice here. It’s time to go …remember..I love you.
Authors note: This story although fictitious, rings eerily true. I salute the men that served that day and all of our fighting men and women for their bravery and service to our country.
Part of speech from General Eisenhower on 6/6/1944
“ ……..I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.”
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