“As our boat touched sand and the ramp went down, I became a visitor to hell. I shut everything out and concentrated on following the men in front of me down the ramp and into the water.” –Pfc. Harry Parley, 116th Infantry Regiment, US 29th Division.

If the Germans were going to stop the invasion anywhere, it would be at Omaha Beach. A wide, sandy beach, it was an obvious landing site. At each end of the beach there were cliffs running nearly perpendicular to the water. Behind the beach was a well-fortified bluff that rose 100 to 170 feet. The Germans had every inch of Omaha pre-sited with deadly crossfire.

The US 1st and 29th Divisions and men of the 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions had to cross Omaha Beach and seize several “draws,” ravines set into the bluff that offered passage inland.

Trouble began offshore. Thirty-two out of the 36 amphibious tanks accompanying the assault troops sank. Smoke and dust from the naval bombardment and strong currents pulled many boats off target. The first waves were nearly wiped out before the men got across the beach. Some died before they exited their boats.

Survivors crouched behind beach obstacles or crawled up the beach as the tide rose behind them. Many took shelter behind a sea wall.

Follow-up waves piled up behind the first, creating a traffic jam of men and vehicles, easy targets for the Germans. Omaha Beach became a killing field.

“The first sight I got of the beach, I was looking through a sort of slit up there, and it looked like a pall of dust or smoke hanging over the beach.” –Lt. Ray Nance, Executive Officer, 116th Infantry Regiment, US 29th Division

“…we were hearing noises on the side of the landing craft like someone throwing gravel against it. The German machine gunners had picked us up. Everybody yelled, ‘Stay down!’… I noticed the lieutenant’s face was a very gray color and the rest of the men had a look of fear on their faces. All of a sudden the lieutenant yelled to the coxswain, ‘Let her down!’ The ramp dropped….” –Pvt. H. W. Schroeder, 16th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 1st Division

“… the craft gave a sudden lurch as it hit an obstacle and in an instant an explosion erupted…. Before I knew it I was in the water…. Only six out of 30 in my craft escaped unharmed. Looking around, all I could see was a scene of havoc and destruction. Abandoned vehicles and tanks, equipment strung all over the beach, medics attending the wounded, chaplains seeking the dead.” –Pvt. Albert Mominee, 16th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 1st Division