France

Outside the Louvre (6/2016)

Fans of England gather in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower to watch their Eurocup match against Iceland (6/2016)

Anguish washes across the faces of English fans as Iceland levels the match (6/2016)

Frustration mounts as the clock ticks toward the 90th minute (6/2016)

Traffic passes in front of the Arc de Triomphe (6/2016)

The Eiffel Tower against a cloud covered sky (6/2016)

The base of the Eiffel Tower (6/2016)

On the night of June 5, 1944, members of the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions jumped into the unsuspected village of Sainte-Mère-Eglise. Their mission was to gain control of key routes that led inland from the beaches that were to be stormed the following morning. A large firefight ensued between the Americans and occupying Germans and the effects of the numerous shells fired can still be seen throughout the town center. (6/2016)

The Church of Notre Dame, located in the town center was in the middle of the firefight on June 5, 1944. The paratroopers who jumped from passing planes failed to land in their anticipated drop zones and were strewn throughout Sainte-Mère-Eglise and the surrounding towns. Many became lodged in trees and John Steele, of the 82nd Airborne, sat helpless against the side of this church after his parachute became caught on the steeple. He miraculously survived the ordeal. (6/2016)

The Church of Angoville-au-Plain became a triage location set up my two medics of the 101st Airborne Division. Robert Wright, with two months of training, and Kenneth Moore, with only two weeks of training, tended to the wounds of soldiers from both sides of the fight from June 6 to June 8. German officers refused to fire upon the church because Wright and Moore were assisting their soldiers as well as Allied Forces. (6/2016)

Holes from mortar shells can still be seen from inside the Church. (6/2016)

Utah Beach – Utah was one of two beaches stormed by the Americans on D-Day (Omaha was the other). The remaining three beaches (Sword, Juno and Gold) were the responsibility of the British and Canadiens. (6/2016)

Looking south along Utah Beach, the furthest west of the five beaches stormed on D-Day. (6/2016)

The American Flag is seen widely throughout the D-Day beaches and in the surrounding towns and villages. (6/2016)

Statue dedicated to the US Navy at Utah Beach (6/2016)

Higgins Boat Monument located at Utah Beach. The Higgins boat, developed by Higgins Industries of New Orleans, was one of two crafts that shuttled Allied Troops towards the beaches on June 6, 1944. (6/2016)

Point Du Hoc is the highest piece of land between Utah Beach and Omaha Beach. The Germans set up fortified bunkers in this area outfitted with a number of anti aircraft guns. On June 6, 3 Ranger companies approached the cliffs of Point Du Hoc. The boats that transported them towards the shore were piloted by British service members who failed to factor in the strong currents in the area. One craft sunk on route and only half of the Rangers that deployed reached the base of the cliffs. Some scaled the cliffs using makeshift ladders while avoiding enemy fire; others used bayonets to carve out hand holds in order to climb. The Rangers completed their objective but were surprised when they did not find any anti-aircraft guns. Unbeknownst to them, days earlier an allied aerial bombing run scared the Germans and as a result they moved the guns into nearby orchards. (6/2016)

One of the concrete bunkers that remains on the cliffs of Point Du Hoc. Pieces of rebar can be see along the left side of the roof and from them the Germans hung camouflage netting. (6/2016)

A memorial located inside the primary German bunker at Point du Hoc. (6/2016)

A panoramic picture of Ohama Beach. Early Allied intelligence failed to document the abundance of obstacles that Allied troops would face upon landing on Omaha Beach. The Germans had built fortified bunkers into the cliffs that overlooked the beach and set up numerous weapons of various calibers at each end to rain down munitions on approaching troops. Unlike Point Du Hoc, the currents that swept the landing crafts eastward as they approached Omaha Beach may have saved a number of lives as the entire force did not land in the section of beach photographed above. Brigadier General Teddy Roosevelt Jr, who in his mid-50s, volunteered to join the front lines approaching Omaha Beach. He was first off his landing craft and led his men to shore under enemy fire. He did not recognize the landscape and a scout party was sent out. They returned with the news that they were 1 mile east of their anticipated landing. Roosevelt had to make the tough decision on whether to work westward along the beach or continue inland. After a few minutes he uttered the famous words “We’ll start the war from right here!” (6/2016)

Located on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery is dotted with over 9,000 crosses representing members of the American Military and a few civilians that died during World War II. (6/2016)

The names of 1,557 Americans who died in World War II, yet whose remains have never been located, are listed in a semi-circular memorial. A Gold Oak leaf has been placed next to a handful of names and indicates that the remains of that individual have been located since their name was added to the wall. If a family member of someone on the Memorial Wall travels to the cemetery, they can notify cemetery officials who will allow that individual to gather sand from Omaha Beach and rub it into the name of their loved one on the wall. This darkens the name and makes it stand out for photographs and hopefully provides additional solace for that individual. In the above photograph, a loved one of Earl Parker had recently visited the cemetery and chose to participate in this tradition. (6/2016)