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- Early in the morning on June 6, 1944, US Army Rangers stormed the beaches of Normandy and scaled 100-foot cliffs under fire to eliminate German artillery that threatened the Allied spearhead into enemy-occupied Europe.
- On Wednesday, June 5, 2019, US Army Rangers made the same climb to honor the courage and sacrifice of the 135 US troops who were killed or wounded in the assault 75 years earlier.
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US Army Rangers climbed the towering cliffs overlooking the beaches of Normandy on Wednesday, reenacting one of the most daring and dangerous missions that US troops carried out on D-Day — the assault on Pointe du Hoc.
Wednesday’s climb honored the courage and sacrifice of those service members who participated in the assault 75 years ago on June 6, 1944, when US Army Rangers stormed the beaches of France and scaled 100-foot cliffs as a determined enemy fought to drive them back into the sea.
The mission’s objective was to knock out German 155 mm artillery positions able to target US troops coming ashore at Omaha and Utah beaches.
The task was given to Lt. Col. James E. Rudder by commander for the cross-channel invasion Lt. Gen. Omar Bradley, who wrote in his memoirs: "No soldier in my command has ever been wished a more difficult task than that which befell the thirty-four-year-old commander."
Some war planners feared the mission might be impossible, but the US Army pulled it off. Here’s how the mission went down.
Following an early morning naval bombardment of the German position, three companies from the 2nd Ranger Battalion began their assault on Pointe du Hoc, landing under fire at the base of the steep cliffs.
W.wolny via Wikimedia Commons
The Rangers climbed up wet ropes and ladders in damp, muddy uniforms as German bullets and grenades rained down on their assault.
US Navy
It took about half an hour for the invading Rangers to reach the top, where they battled against fierce resistance to find and destroy five of the six enemy guns, which had actually been moved farther inland before the assault.
Archives/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain
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See Also:
- The 4 most dangerous missions American troops carried out on D-Day, 75 years ago
- 3 unsung World War II female spies who helped make D-Day a victory
- It’s been 75 years since D-Day: Here’s how the Allies began to reclaim Europe from the Nazis
SEE ALSO: The 4 most dangerous missions American troops carried out on D-Day, 75 years ago
Source: Business Insider – rpickrell@businessinsider.com (Ryan Pickrell)