There were about 150 of us on each of the L.C.I.’s and transported over with L. C. M.’s and rafts in tow—these were all filled with explosive materials. We were given, immediately, our final destination orders and already knew the type of job to be done. On the way over we were frankly told that many of us would be killed—now that was a comforting thought. The price of freedom was going to be expensive. Our particular mortality rate was very assuredly in the 10% range of survival.
We were supposed to arrive at 0330 but must have been later as it was. nearing daylight, and things were quite visible. The others that arrived before were the Rangers and the glider corp. The gliders were engineless planes that were towed over from England and then set free. These “planes” carried combat ready troops but had it very rough as many crashed into the trees and stone walls.
We transferred onto the L. C. M.’s which were carrying about a ton of explosives and all the needed detonators, this was indeed, our working capital. All our moves had to be done with hand signals and complete silence. The Germans, who had expected us, were waiting in “pillboxes” about a thousand yards away.
All of our complement had been divided into about 10 each, much easier to control your mission with that numbered amount. At that time in our life we had come a long way from “boys” in high school and certainly now deserved to be called “men”.
Part of my original group was split up and as I understand it, this put some of us on the shores of Normandy on June 6, another part came 1 week later, and the balance came ashore 2 weeks later. There was still plenty to do for all of us. The only thing most of us had in common was our training and not through any of our names or personalities.
Our task forces entered France at the “Red” sector of “Omaha Beach” on Normandy shores. This, incidentally, was where all the thousands of invasion forces passed into Europe. There was a hastily 2 lane path up the side of a hundred foot hill. The Germans, at times, were so close that we could hear them talking and laughing as they were dug in waiting for the “kill”. Before our forces were on shallow ground we were totally discovered by the enemy. The Germans began hitting us with rifle fire, machine guns, and their deadly 88’s—one shot went high, one low and the third usually would hit its target. There were terrific explosions from everywhere, from the front and the back—from everywhere. All the fire came from our ships, ground forces and from the enemy. At this point the understatement would be just deafening destruction everywhere, just too horrible.
The sea was literally red with blood. Scores of our forces were blown apart and many body parts were floating ashore, the loss of life was simply staggering and there were many drowned under the weight of their heavy packs which pulled them under. We did have much physical and mental support from the sea by all the ships.
As I said before, the noise from the land and sea was terrific, if you never prayed before you learned how in a hurry. The onslaught of ships, troops, bombers and fighter planes who were covering in about a one mile stretch was staggering. It indeed, was an ugly event which seemed like the whole world was mad and blowing up—this was not like the movies you know. How we did make it ashore and to do our job was a miracle in itself. We became so numb to all the death and destruction around us that for a while, at this point, we didn’t have the luxury or time to be scared for which it seemed like forever. My shaking came later and certainly not from being cold. This is something that is a memory you never forget, even at this time in my life, I do often dream about it.
After many hours of carnage (eternity) the beach head had been secured, the important German bunkers had been secured and their “Atlantic Wall” had been smashed. The price on both sides had become quite evident, there were scores on both sides that lay dead on the shore. There were so many in fact that machines had to make emergency ditches on shore to bury them as they were hampering the operation to get tanks, trucks, etc. ashore—most necessary.
I was told that the first 3000 Navy men had been killed coming ashore, these were young men, who a few short weeks ago were civilians—just “cannon fodder”. Our laborious hard work was to blow up the steel obstacles that the Germans had placed just under the surface of the water for the sole purpose of sinking our amphibious ships that were coming ashore. We also had to blow up wrecked ships, boats, and other debris. This was done with “plastic” explosives (T.N.T.), this material looked and felt like window putty and was shaped by hand so that any object could be imploded or exploded. The work was long, hard, hot—no glorious glamor here.
This account is taken from the personal memoirs of Ellsworth Nightingale, of Falmouth, MA. He enlisted in the Navy and was trained as an underwater demolition “frogman” at Little Creek, VA, serving in both the European and Pacific theaters. Quoted with permission.