This was the last place I wanted to be. You could see it on the other men's faces also. The training for Operation Overlord had lasted nearly one month, but nothing could prepare us for the battle we fought in our heads. Our landing craft was packed with soldiers; it looked like a shapeless mass of camouflage. Diesel smoke poured from its motor, making my eyes burn and lungs writhe. The ocean was cold, and the constant spray and mist in my face did nothing to comfort me. I knew that most of us were going to die today, myself included. I looked up to hear our commanding officer yell in a deep confident tone "In ten minutes we will be going ashore, don't forget your training and you will make it!" I was afraid, more afraid than I had ever been. I didn't want to die today.
Ahead through the fog I could start to make out the cliffs. The explosions from the constant shelling were now visible. The Navy's 18-inch guns made thunder sound insignificant, and the blasts were like a kick to the chest. After three days of shelling the beaches, the Germans knew we were coming. Behind me was a stream of landing craft stretching to the horizon. I could see the extensive network of battlements the Germans had set up on the beaches and the cliffs were daunting. Two divisions of paratroopers and glider infantry had flown in behind enemy lines the night before. Unfortunately for the paratroopers, the weather had not cooperated with them. The divisions were scattered about like playing cards in a bad game of 52 card pick up. The units were in no condition to take on the battlements. We were told by our commanders that after last nights surprise attack, resistance would be minimal. .
Unfortunately this was not the case. The cliffs erupted in flashes and bursts of machine gun fire. We were still a few hundred yards off the beach but bullets were hitting all around us. I could hear the drone of a mortar shell, and instantly the craft to my right erupted into fire and smoke.
