Colie's mission again

We had a great second tour of Colie's mission. We went to Paris first...and it's still lit up beautifully for Christmas. (Remember Herway's last Christmas in Paris?) Then we took off to Caen for a visit there. On the way we stopped in Rouen. This was the town where Joan of Arc was burnt in 1431. The Rouen cathedral was the subject for a series of paintings by Monet, that are now in the Musee d'Orsay. It is stunning. And to top it off, while we were in the cathedral, the organist was giving a concert and he let out all the stops, literally! He even played the Star Spangled Banner. We all stood mesmerized and there was lively applause at the end.
Rouen is also noted for its surviving half-timbered housing. It's as impressive as Strasbourg and Colmar. I would love to go back to that city. Certainly a hidden gem that we had never seen before.
The other discoery was Pointe du Hoc. (no pictures from me, all on Colie's camera)
The Germans had built, as part of the Atlantic Wall, six casemates to house a battery of captured French 155mm guns. With Pointe Du Hoc situated between Utah Beach to the west and Omaha Beach to the east, these guns threatened Allied landings on both beaches, risking heavy casualties in the landing forces. Although there were several bombardments from the air and by naval guns, intelligence reports assumed that the fortifications were too strong, and would also require attack by ground forces. The U.S. 2nd Ranger Battalion was therefore given the task of destroying the strongpoint early on D-Day.
Problem is, the guns had been moved. The rangers regrouped and went in search of the guns. The costliest part of the battle for the Rangers came after the cliff assault. Determined to hold the vital ground, yet isolated from other assault forces, they fended off several German counterattacks over the next two days, until reinforced from Omaha Beach.

The site is speckled with bomb craters. It really gives you a feel for what those men had to endure. Tom got 'Band of Brothers' for Christmas. Now after visiting Bastogne and now Pointe du Hoc, it seems more real than ever. In the movie one man says, "you just figure you are dead." I'm sure there wasn't much thought of survival under those conditions.

Another blessing. To live in the part of the world where there is peace. I certainly am grateful to those who risk their lives so I can live mine in peace. We also visited the German cemetery, La Combe. The stories there are just as moving. Over 21,000 soldiers buried there. Many of the German soldiers didn't want to be there. They served because they had to. Some were as young as 14 years old. Most were around 19. Sobering.