When the sea came alive: an oral history of D-day

Part I: a world at war

War begins

War comes to America

1943

The start of SHAEF

Crossing the pond

The American invasion

Building the Atlantic Wall

Keeping secrets

Operation Fortitude

The Mulberry Plan

At Slapton Sands

Exercise Tiger

The transportation plan

Picking the date

Into the sausages

Keep calm and carry on

Learning the details

Spring in Normandy with the Germans

The D-Day weather forecast

Part II: the landing

A note on chronology and military terminology

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's order of the day

Paratroopers take off

Operation Coup de Main

The 6th airborne arrives in Normandy

The paratrooper skytrain

Night in the hedgerows

Liberation comes to Sainte-̈Mère-Église

Neptune rises

Confusing the enemy

Ashore in Normandy

In the air over the beaches

Heading ashore at Utah

Naval forces at Utah

The second wave at Utah

The rangers at Pointe du Hoc

Omaha beach

Into the devil's garden

Ashore at Omaha

Getting off Omaha beach

Afloat off Omaha beach

Jig sector, Gold beach

The Green Howards take King sector

Ashore at Juno

Sword beach

The news spreads

Part III

Holding the eastern flank

The walking wounded

The Battle of La Fïre Bridge

Afternoon for the German

End of D-Day

Epilogue.

Author's note

Foreword

Part I: A world at war. War begins ; War comes to America ; 1943 ; The start of SHAEF ; Crossing the pond ; The American invasion ; Building the Atlantic wall ; Keeping secrets ; Operation FORTITUDE ; The Mulberry plan ; At Slapton Sands ; Exercise TIGER ; The transportation plan ; Picking the date ; Into the sausages ; Keep calm and carry on ; Learning the details ; Spring in Normandy with the Germans ; The D-Day weather forecast

Part II: The landing. A note on chronology and military terminology ; Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's order of the day ; Paratroopers take off ; Operation COUP DE MAIN ; The 6th airborne arrives in Normandy ; The paratrooper skytrain ; Night in the hedgerows ; Liberation comes to Sainte-Mère-Église ; NEPTUNE rises ; Confusing the enemy ; Ashore in Normandy ; In the air over the beaches ; Heading ashore at Utah ; Naval forces at Utah ; The second wave at Utah ; The rangers at Pointe du Hoc ; Omaha beach ; Into the devil's garden ; Ashore at Omaha ; Getting off Omaha beach ; Afloat off Omaha beach ; Jig sector, gold beach ; The Green Howards take King Sector ; Ashore at Juno ; Sword beach ; The news spreads

Part III: The end of D-Day. Holding the eastern flank ; The walking wounded ; The Battle of La Fière Bridge ; Afternoon for the Germans ; End of D-Day ; Epilogue.