Wednesday, June 7, 2017 -- Utah Beach

On this day we drove to Utah Beach to visit the museum and walk the shoreline.  Another incredible day.  Even though the day before was more emotional at Omaha Beach, this day was still momentous.  If you ever get the chance, I encourage you to take a trip to these beaches and view the artifacts from those days.  It is an extraordinary experience.  Part of the U.S.A.; part of our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents' lives.  If it had not been for those gallant men and women serving during this time, our world would be a very different place to live in, one in which you and I may not exist.

MUSEUM AT UTAH BEACH

Memorial standing before the museum

THE GERMAN PERSPECTIVE

The following photos depict a few German relics

A bicycle ready for battle

THE ALLIES

The next two photos show how the Allies used carrier pigeons to fight the enemy.  The second picture shows how the birds carried the messages.  You can click on each picture to maximize the view. 

Documents found in the wreckage of the USS Michigan

B-26 Marauders

 I found the below photo and description very interesting.

Items found in a GI's mess kit. 

 

Milk Tablets - I assume the brown is chocolate milk??

 The Code Talkers

 The Native Americans truly were also heroes in the war by sending messages in their native language which the Axis was unable to decode.

Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.

I found this story very moving as well.

These flags hung usually in windows on the home front telling of how many loved ones were serving in the war.

 This was an incredible artifact - The US Army distributed prayer books.  This particular prayer book belonged to a Sergeant in the 4th Infantry Division.  During the summer of 1944 while engaged in battled, an enemy bullet ricocheted off the Sergeant's rile and lodged into the prayer book, which was in his chest pocket --- and saved his life.

The following photos show young girl dresses made out of parachute canopies.  The dresses were work on June 6, 1945 -- the very first D-Day commemoration.

The following is a monument next to the museum and faces away from Utah Beach (Utah Beach is actually over the hill in this picture)

Another memorial commemorating the battle on Utah Beach

 This was extra special to see this day --- not far from the museum are chariot racing fields.  We were lucky to see a rider and his horse take to the beach and walk into the ocean.  It was one of those things you hear (horse galloping on the beach) and see and will always have the memory with this day.

 John and I discovered this partial German battery facing the shore - it was nice to sit down for a spell and enjoy this incredible day.

This was a special treat to see after returning from the beach - Army motorcycles.

Those of you familiar with the Band of Brothers movie and/or book will recognize the following photos commemorating one of heroes during the war.  Major Winters was in charge of Easy Company, 506 Parachute Infantry Regiment 101st Airborne Division

Thanks for stopping by