“If the soldiers of
the Big Red One and their partners in the 29th 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 1st
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 6th, 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment