IN THE BEGINNING

Today, June 2d, the best of our civilization began embarking for their journey to Normandy. They came from all walks of life and all ranks. They were the pure distillation of our civilization and the spirit from which we all derive.

They boarded from more than a hundred ports on the South of England for the 150-mile journey across the English Channel to a piece of France that would forever be enshrined in our memory-Normandy.

Normandy meant a foothold on the Continent and the eventual destruction of the German Army. Normandy meant that light would be shown into what had been for four years, darkness. It was this and a larger desire for peace and tranquility that bound the men into common cause. Normandy would be the spark that lit the fire.

For almost a month, they had been locked into the “Sausages” that had been erected throughout the embarkation port areas. Rain had been a near constant companion as had the smells of companionship in a very small area. It was time for fresh air and sea breezes.

Beginning on this day, they trucked or marched to their respective ports. As they passed the houses and shops of the English population, their presence alerted the population as to the ultimate meaning of their passage-The Invasion was beginning and the long war perhaps coming to conclusion.

The people looked and expressed a variety of honest emotions. Some clapped. Some said a prayer on the passage. Others patted the troops as they passed and wished them well. All knew that many of those fresh anticipatory faces would not return. The price to pay for what we are and wish to be.

Churches were opened and began to fill though it was not Sunday. There was recognition, however shrouded, that this was Liberty hanging in balance, held by these young men with guns.

Upon arrival quayside, they were greeted by organizational teams with clipboards and assignment instructions. This was a highly disciplined operation, necessary with the management of the flood tide of men. More than 140,000 would make the initial landing with more than 100,000 to immediately follow.  

This vast force, collected on the shore, was distributed to Higgins boats, attack transports, LST’s, LSI’s, impounded commercial ferries and a myriad of other craft. It was perhaps, the largest logistical operation in our history and probably ever will be.

Some simply walked on board from the piers while others had to be ferried to their ship in the distant roadstead where they would climb up netting or Jacobs Ladders to their ships.

Upon arrival topside, they would be handed a bunk assignment and rudimentary directions-Yellow Passageway, Stair Three, Compartment Twelve, Row Eight, Rack 6.  

Here, the war begins. The bunk to the beach. Waiting, wondering as to their individual fate, but covering the anxiety with the smiles and activities of relative youth. Sometime this week, they would become aged adults well before their time.

To paraphrase Winston Churchill: 

This is not the end of the beginning. It is the beginning of the end.