The fourth and final stop on our Normandy D-Day road trip was Pointe-du-Hoc.  The Fighting-Texas-Aggie in me had been looking forward to visiting Pointe-du-Hoc all day, as it was Lieutenant Colonel James Earl Rudder who led the Army Rangers to victory at Pointe-du-Hoc.  Rudder retired from the Army as a Major General and was the third president of Texas A&M University.

Pointe-du-Hoc was an important strategic location for the Germans, as it was the high point between Omaha Beach and Utah Beach.  A victory at Pointe-du-Hoc was crucial for the Allied forces in order to prevent the Germans from using Pointe-du-Hoc for observing both Utah and Omaha Beaches.  The 2nd Ranger Battalion was to scale the cliffs by using ropes, ladders, and grappling hooks.  Out of the 225+ American men who landed at Pointe-du-Hoc, 135 died.  The Americans were at a clear disadvantage — imagine being expected to scale cliffs while enemy soldiers stood atop them, armed and shooting downward at you.

Ronald Reagan Quote

Grappling Hook

“The officers said everyone that even gets close to the cliff out to get an award.”

Lieutenant Colonel James Earl Rudder

Ronald Reagan Quote

Map of Normandy Coast

Marks of Heaving Bombing from April 1944

Marks of Heaving Bombing from April 1944 (…and sheep)

Marks of Heaving Bombing from April 1944 (…and sheep)

Observation Bunker

Base for a 155mm Gun (the Germans moved the guns out prior to D-Day)

Marks of Heaving Bombing from April 1944

Marks of Heaving Bombing from April 1944

State of Texas Historical Marker Honoring Rudder

Plaque Honoring the 2nd Ranger Battalion

Fire Damage on a Bunker Ceiling

Casemate for a 155mm Gun

Looking out the Observation Bunker Towards Omaha Beach

Monument to the 3 Companies Who Attacked & Took Possession of Pointe-du-Hoc

Monument to the 3 Companies Who Attacked & Took Possession of Pointe-du-Hoc

Looking at Pointe-du-Hoc from the East

Looking West from Pointe-du-Hoc Towards Utah Beach

Looking at Pointe-du-Hoc from the East

A Feathered Friend