30 years ago, at the signature ceremony of the 40th anniversary of Operation Overlord, President Reagan delivered a stirring address from the top of a little known cliff in Normandy called Pointe du Hoc. The “Boys of Pointe du Hoc” speech highlighted the perilous mission of D, E and F companies of the 2nd Ranger Battalion. The president delivered his address from on top of the German command and control observation bunker which still exists today. If you have never heard the speech, it is well worth the time to listen to.
Therefore, it is only fitting for the 70th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion, and the 15th year of D-Day Conneaut, that this historic site be featured on this year’s coin. This edition is the sixth in the D-Day Conneaut series: "Rangers, Lead the Way", proudly honors both sides of story.
Led by Colonel James Earl Rudder, the Rangers scaled the 100 foot high cliff face using rocket powered grappling hooks, ropes and ladders to reach the summit to attack and destroy the German heavy gun positions on the plateau above. Some have described this assignment as a suicide mission. Yet Rudder inspired and encouraged his men and gave them a sense of confidence. He trained his troops relentlessly, climbing cliffs all over the coast of England, including the near vertical walls on the Isle of Wight.
From these heavily fortified positions, the German guns at Pointe du Hoc could unleash havoc on both Allied ships in the channel and troops on both Omaha and Utah Beaches simultaneously. The 11 mile range of these six 155mm guns prompted Allied planners to release smaller landing craft from a great distance from the beach. In some cases the assault troops endured a 3 hour ride on pitching seas before reaching land. The stronghold was a formidable position and thus attracted numerous Allied bombing raids. Fearing the destruction, the Germans moved the guns to an orchard behind their original positions. Yet there was no way to tell where the guns were at this time in history. Fearing the worst, they had to be taken out.
Initially the landing craft carrying the Rangers drifted off course. After discovering their true position the landing craft and men inside endured continuous fire from atop of the cliffs as the passed parallel to the beach. Eventually arriving at the base of the cliff these specially designed and fitted landing craft launched rocket powered grappling hooks and attached ropes to the summit above. The Rangers were joined by two of four 101st Airborne paratroopers that survived a hasty exit from their burning C-47 plane before it crashed into the channel the night before. Those that were lucky enough to begin their climb were met by Germans defenders from the garrison above. Many of the men failed to reach the summit and many more were killed or wounded at the base of the cliff from grenades tossed down from the defenders above. To assist the climbers, the US Navy destroyer Satterlee turned their guns on the defenders and within 5 minutes the first Ranger reached the top.
Much to the surprise of those that reached the summit, the guns were gone. A scouting patrol found them in the orchard, abandoned, the barrels having never fired a shot. Of the 225 plus men who were tasked to scale the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc, approximately 90 were fighting ready on D-Day plus 2.
The Allied side inset of the 2014 coin features the first Ranger to make it to the top. In the background appears the signature geography of Pointe du Hoc, a pointed arrowhead shaped rocky outcropping. The cliff edge barbed wire fence has been blown away by Naval fire and a Ranger is shown pulling himself up from the edge of the cliff, M1 Garand in one hand, a roped grappling hook in the other.
Supporting the 2nd Rangers left flank and landing near Vierville, the 5th Rangers were assigned to approach Pointe du Hoc from the east. 2 days later, they made the link up with their 2nd Ranger brothers. The remaining companies of the 2nd and the 5th landed further east on Omaha in support of the 1st Infantry Division. This region of the beach was under the command of General Norman Cota who allied his men to get off the beach or die. He was heard to say “Well then Goddammit, Rangers, lead the way!” as the Atlantic wall at Omaha Beach was breached. Also appearing on the Allied face is the Ranger shoulder sleeve insignia, the parent regiment of both the 2nd and the 5th, the 75th Regiment.
Rounding out the elements of the 2014 Allied side of the coin is the American Flag, front and center, the British to its left, the French to its right, the Canadian on the lower left and making its debut the flag of Greece whose Navy supported the landings with two destroyers.
Depicted on the Axis side of the coin is the Command and Control Observation Bunker located at the edge of the cliff at Pointe du Hoc. It is probably one of the most preserved features of the Atlantic wall. The majority of the gun positions look more like a lunar landscape. From this heavily reinforced concrete domed bunker, the field of view is absolutely breathtaking. For miles one can see into to the English Channel and to its left, Utah Beach and to its right, Omaha. It’s quite a view…especially to the German observer taking a break outside from its protective cover. Nearly 4 feet of concrete protects the observers. From inside the observers could relay position and range of target to awaiting gun crews.
These elaborate structures, tunnels, crew quarters, observation and firing positions are known to history as the Atlantic wall. The Wall spanned from the Norwegian coast to the south of France. Built under the command of Organization Todt, this necklace of reinforced concrete emplacements, “Eine Perlenschnur Aus Stahlbeton” were built to last 1000 years. The jewels of this necklace were the precision engineered gun positions. The crews that manned them wore the Coastal Artillery badge of honor. Yet despite their design and complexity they were to last for less than 5 hours under the full weight of the Allied invasion.
The remaining features of the 2014 commemorative coin celebrate the 70th anniversary of D-Day, (LXX), and our 15th year (XV) of the event here in Conneaut. Lastly the signature “Liberté” which has been on every D-Day Conneaut coin caps the Allied side.
