Notice: Ads help support our website operation, if you would like to turn them OFF for this visit;
Step into the chaos of June 6, 1944, through the eyes of those who lived it. This raw, unfiltered military report from Headquarters Company of the 16th Infantry Regiment provides an unprecedented glimpse into the opening moments of Operation Overlord—where courage met carnage on the blood-soaked sands of Omaha Beach, and ordinary soldiers became the architects of victory.
HEADQUARTERS COMPANY CT - 16
APO #1 U. S. ARMY
12 June 44
REPORT AFTER ACTION:
The Advance C.P Group, consisting of 102 officers and men in LOA #35, moved toward the beach in a rough sea. The weather was rainy. A cold. A considerable volume of fire, artillery, machine gun and rifle, was directed at the craft as it neared the beach. The tide was just turning to rise and the ramp was dropped 150 yards from shore at 0730 hours.
Lt. Mills led the I & R into the water ahead. They were cold and wet followed by the personnel of the communications group carrying radios and wire, the Regimental Headquarters advance Group, and the advance Command post. Landing at extremely low water gave the officers and men a long distance to cover before they came to the first obstacles. They were in some depth of water when they met their first enemy fire. They immediately hit the sand but the rushing tide made deeper those spots where many of the wounded that were unable to walk were swamped heroic efforts were made by other men coming in support them (carrying them in). By the time the beach was reached, the Officer in charge Lt. Col Mathews was among the first to be hit, and died immediately. Thirty five men in all were wounded and 15 killed. From the time the ramp went down till they hit the beach was crowded, no exits had been made in the wire, the beach was under continual cross fire from small arms and machine guns. One equipment had been lost and some radio. That showed an antenna above the shale shelf drew immediate and personal attention from enemy guns. Into this confusion the rear C.P. group landed at approximately 0815. As the rear boats were within fifty yards of the shore they came under fire, the men went off in orderly fashion, but the confusion on the beach soon infected the continuing force. Officer proceeded immediately to the vicinity where the advance CP should have been which was some hundred yards to the left of where they landed. It soon became evident that no such command post existed, so that most elements ill-fated on the beach. A word might be said at this point that may in all fairness be included to explain some of the grouping on the beach. All these men were fresh, and a great number of them were fatigued, sea sick and needed some rest before they could continue. Col. Taylor sought out the various commanders and tried to get order out of what looked like chaos. "The only people on this beach are the dead and those that are going to die—now lets get the hell out of here". They did. By that time he had most of the Staff Officers and followers about with Headquarters Company. The primary and was to gather the beach so that a good bit of equipment was left behind. In the meantime at a point close to where the CP came in an exit was made in the wire and it went thru this single hole that the whole combat team left the beach. Cover was taken behind steep hill that overlooked the beach some three hundred yards inland. From this CP was organized and rescue squads were sent back to the beach to salve what wire radios and other equipment was left there. At this point a count was made of the personnel present, and some that were hit on the beach were evacuated. The air support command weathered almost intact but without equipment. Not one radio was in working order. A shortage of wire was reported but without vehicle to carry everything was almost in working order. Major Godfrey was reported to be killed on the beach, while trying to assemble his command. All in all, it was a poor beach assault that while the exit location was better after leaving the beach it left much to be desired. Mortar shells fell in the draw with a disconcerting frequency, and pieces of men were falling with a disconcerting frequency, and pieces of men were falling on every side and little could be done to stop it. Deidness was medics were doing a land office business. The Command continued to function in creditable manner. During the night the enemy air power was felt and the CP found itself on the receiving end of the naval anti air fire. The following morning the CP moved to the vicinity of Colleville to more fully protect exit #3 of the war zone and soldiers got a peaceful sleep. [end]
