On 26 September 2008 a Navy Monument
was finally dedicated near all the other monuments to Armies and Air Forces
from the United States and the other WWII allies.
It is very likely that the majority
of active duty and retired U. S. Navy Sailors did not realize the extent of
Navy participation in the landing on 06 June 1944
Navy Combat Demolition Teams worked
to clear paths for the Army assault troops through the Rommel’s beach
obstacles. On Omaha Beach alone these
NCD Teams suffered 41 per cent casualties.
Battleships, cruisers and destroyers
provided the pre-invasion bombardment and suffered 3 destroyers lost, 2
damaged; a destroyer escort lost, 3 minesweepers lost, 1 PC, a trawler and a tug,
all lost. The Navy brought the Army ashore and the losses were steep. The Navy
lost:
·
4
LSTs of all types lost with 4 damaged
·
9
LCIs lost with 5 damaged
·
1
LCF lost
·
25
LCTs of all types lost with 46 damaged
·
8
LCMs lost
·
1
LCS lost
· 81 LCVPs lost with all personnel
·
17
LCAs lost
·
7
LCP(L)s lost
After the troops landed and slowly
worked themselves off the beach, the Seabees started clearing obstacles,
setting up an amazing temporary harbor for offloading supplies (remnants are
still visible) and building quarters for personnel manning the beach port. The Navy was there and that support was
appreciated and crucial as stated by Under Secretary of Defense Gordon England
at the monument’s dedication.
“Major
General Leonard Gerow summed it up well after going ashore to set up V Corps
headquarters following the successful invasion.
His first message to General Bradley, the Commander of all American
ground forces on D-Day, was: "Thank
God for the United States Navy!"
One of the Guidelines for Chief
Petty Officers is the promotion of Naval Heritage. It is an appropriate role for Chiefs and the
Navy would benefit by more promotion of their excellent and inspiring heritage. It works for the Marine Corps.
Note: The Guidelines for Chief Petty Officers is no
longer on the MCPON web site, which may indicate those Guidelines are not
longer in vogue.
Reference:
Normandy Navy Monument
http://www.normandymonument.org/
Normandy Invasion
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-eur/normandy/normandy.htm
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