78 years ago on this on Normandy’s miles of 5
beaches
The Allies came ashore to the Atlantic Wall try to breach
The largest amphibious invasion in history would be known as D-Day
And when after 24 hours of fighting the survival prospects for the Third Reich
began to fade away
The invasion was not a sure thing as Dieppe earlier had proved
Fortunately Operation Fortitude deceived the Germans and their panzers had not
moved
At Juno, Sword, Utah and Gold, the Allies were able to slowly advance
But at Omaha the first wave barely had a chance
Thousands shot when the Higgins Boats had their ramps dropped
For hours on end pinned behind cliffs and seawalls it seemed the invasion had
been stopped
The craters that were to be created by bombs dropped on the beach on the coast
Only a few as the targets further inland received the most
General Cota rallied the pin downed GI’s with his immortal cry
“There are only two types on this beach those dead and those about to die”
With destroyers shelling point blank close enough to almost beach on the sand
And Bangalore torpedoes and diminishing German ammo the US. moved inland
A truly historic day honored by presidents and generals in the past
Save for Biden with his normal Delaware weekend making it longer last
© June 6, 2022 The Alaskanpoet
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