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At 0630 hours on June 6, 1944, Companies E and F of the 8th Infantry became the first American troops to storm Utah Beach—but nothing went according to plan. Landing 2,300 yards south of their target under withering German fire, these brave soldiers faced immediate confusion as familiar landmarks vanished and maps proved useless in the chaos of battle. Experience this critical operation through the words in this authentic military document.
The first troops ashore were Companies E. and F, 8th Infantry. They hit the beach at H-Hour 0630. Companies B and C were about 15 minutes late landing at approximately 0645. The actual landing was 2300 yards south of the point planned. A change was made at the last munute because the fire was so heavy on the planned landing beaches. This new landing was road U5. The original planned landing was astride road T7. Confusion ensued as maps and spotting by the troops thought they were on T7 so German emplacements and other landmarks were not where the men thought they should be. The locating of an old windmill enabled officers to orient their actual position and they made adjustments to their attack.
Between 1000 and 1030 the 1st and 2nd Batallions of the 22nd Infantry began landing.
Official Document of the 4th Infantry Divsion. Source U.S. National Archives
