Amphibious Invasion

“If the soldiers of the Big Red One and their partners in the 29^th Division had failed, the Allied position in Normandy would have been severely hindered” (297).

The Book

The Dead and Those About to Die: D-Day: The Big Red One at Omaha Beach, by John C. McManus, tells the story of the United States Army 1^st Infantry Division’s (Big Red One) part in the D-Day invasion. D-Day took place on June 6, 1944 and the majority of the book chronicles the events of that day. The first chapter introduces the reader to the Big Red One and the last chapter focuses on the aftermath of “the longest day.”

McManus begins with an immediate background of the Big Red One: their success in the Mediterranean, arrival in England, and intense training for D-Day. The reader gets to know the type of men and their mindset through first person accounts. The soldiers went through land and sea training so often that they could complete their duties in the dark. Once a brief summary of the attack plan is covered, the book quickly flows into a word picture of the assault. Nothing went according to plan on Omaha Beach: pre-invasion assault did little to the Nazi defenses, the beach was littered with obstacles and mines, the enemy fire was relentless, the tide was coming in, and the beach was getting crowded. Yet, the Big Red One pressed on. By the end of June 6^th, the Nazi defenses were breached and the soldiers made their way inland.

Omaha Beach was one of five beaches invaded by the Allies on D-Day. As I was reading this book, I had to keep reminding myself that the Big Red One was only on two sections of one beach. The Dead and Those About to Die gave me a newfound appreciation for the sacrifices made on D-Day. The infantry fought hard to overcome the Nazi fortifications, the engineers worked amid enemy fire to dismantle obstacles, and the medics stayed in the crosshairs to treat the wounded. Readers will come away grateful for the courageous men of the Big Red One.

The Place

Nestled in the quite suburban park of Cantigny, the First Division Museum is dedicated to preserving the memory of the Big Red One. The land around the museum is populated by tanks and artillery pieces from World War I through Desert Shield. Visitors are invited to touch and climb on the tanks. This is a great feature for kids and even adults. History comes alive when you are able to touch or climb.

Inside the museum, visitors will find an impressive interactive display. The Main Exhibit Hall enables you to walk through the trenches of World War I, land on the beaches of Normandy in World War II, and explore the jungle of Vietnam. This is a truly immersive experience and you actually feel like you are fighting alongside the Big Red One. I have visited this museum numerous times and am always awed by the depth of the displays. The First Division Museum has spring/summer hours and fall/winter hours, so double check before you plan a visit. Admission to the museum is free; however there is a $5 per car charge to enter Cantigny Park.

Eyes Drawn Upward

“Dark, strong, powerful, maybe even a little threatening-like a muscle-bound, Prohibition era gangster clad in a tuxedo-the John Hancock Center says ‘Chicago’…” (101).

“And from certain vantage points, the [Sears] tower possesses a stepped-back silhouette that dominates the skyline…” (107).

The Book

Why Architecture Matters: Lessons from Chicago is a collection of Blair Kamin’s architecture columns from the Chicago Tribune, between 1992 and 2000. The columns cover building proposals and changes, Chicago architects, sports stadiums, the suburbs, skyscrapers, and the lakefront. The reader can tell that Kamin is protective of the Chicago style and the influence it has and continues to have.

Two of the columns focus specifically on the John Hancock Center and the Sears (now Willis) Tower, the “bookends” of the Chicago skyline. Kamin introduces the reader to facts about each skyscraper and the impact they have on the city. The column on the John Hancock Center is a well-written architectural description and details the impact it has on the other buildings and neighborhood. The column on the Sears Tower provides facts about the tower, including the two decades it spent as the world’s tallest building.

According to Kamin, “The best [skyscrapers]…transcend everything and become civic art” (112). The main civic art of Chicago is its skyline and the sense of wonder it can impart. Kamin’s columns provide a detailed story of the past, present, and future of Chicago architecture. Reading the book 14 years after it was published allows the reader to visual the changes described. It is a word tour that allows the reader to travel throughout Chicago history and visualize the impact of the city that invented the skyscraper.

The Place

It is easy to keep your eyes to the sky as you walk downtown Chicago. The historic buildings and ground-breaking skyscrapers entice you to look up. I love walking out of the Metra train station and being immediately engulfed by the towering buildings lining the Chicago River. As you move closer to Lake Michigan, the buildings shorten and suddenly you have the blue lake in front of you and the towering skyline behind you.

The view from the ground can only be matched by the view from the top. Both the John Hancock Center and Willis Tower provide opportunities to observe the city from above. 360 Chicago at the John Hancock Center is 1,000 feet above Michigan Ave. The observatory provides views from all sides and interactive technology that provides information about the skyline. TILT allows visitors to lean over the edge in an all glass case. 360 Chicago is open year-round and there is a general admission cost for adults and children. Skydeck at the Willis Tower is 1,353 feet above the ground and allows visitors to step out on an all glass ledge to view the city below. When you are not on the ledge, you can walk around the observatory for great views of the city. The Skydeck is also open year-round and has general admission cost.

Because the John Hancock Center and Willis Tower are on opposite ends of the skyline, they both provide fantastic and different views of Chicago and Lake Michigan.