American Valor Quarterly Issue 6 - Spring/Summer 2009 | Page 17

direct fire, but I give the Navy credit for
the success of the invasion. Their mission
was to cruise up and down this section
of the beach raking the shore in front of
us with as much firepower as possible.
John told me they were firing five-inch 38
shells at the rate of one shell every four
seconds. I feel this fire gave us the relief
to get organized.
When the ramp went down, we were in
kneeling positions. Private Galenti, the
Radioman, and I rose to exit first. At
about the second or third step I started
my break to fan right. At this second
Galenti was hit by what I believe was
machine gun fire because it seemed there
were more than one bullet The radio
was hit also and fragments flew from it.
Galenti went down on the boat ramp. The
fire seemed to come from our left front. I
was maybe two feet ahead of him saving
me from being hit with the same burst
of fire. I don’t recall getting my feet wet.

American soldiers unload from their landing craft under heavy German fire on Omaha Beach.
The assault force on Omaha numbered some 34,000 men and 3,300 vehicles, supported by two
battleships, three cruisers, 12 destroyers, and 105 other ships.

to the side of me. I believe the bullets were coming from a long
The burst hitting Galenti went between me and PFC Stephen distance away as they seemed to have lost some of their energy
Cicon of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania. PVT Arthur Schintzel of and I could barely hear their hissing sounds.
Williamsburg, Virginia was the fourth man off on our side. Arthur’s
story almost ended here. When he came off he went to the right, I spotted the bank of shingle just above the tideline, which was a
heading for a knocked-out tank, thinking it would give him cover. sort of raised roadbed running parallel to the beach. Many men
Wrong! A German rifleman had the tank covered. Arthur believes were lying behind it. Looking like the only cover, we headed for
it was a rifleman because only single bullets were being fired at him. it too. As soon as I reached the safety of the shingle bank I called
He was hit and knocked down. He stayed down until he thought it out to Sgt. Rummell and Sgt. Haughey and they answered very
would be safe to move. He got up and was knocked down again. close from my right. I asked if they and the men were OK and
From there his memory is foggy, as he was unconscious some of they replied “Yes,” not mentioning Private Schintzel. I didn’t know
the time. I did not see Arthur for forty years, thinking all the time that he was missing until later.
he was dead.
I don’t believe the times of events would be very reliable, so I will
I stayed to the right for a short distance. Looking for any cover, I tell of events as they happened. We had gone directly ahead to the
headed for an obstacle made up of what appeared to be rails welded shingles without wasting time. We passed men in the water that
together. It reminded me of the balls and jacks we played with as were driven to the shingles later by the incoming tide. It was near
kids. The beach was very smooth here, showing the absence of shell low tide when we landed and near high tide when we left the beach.
holes we were promised. I knelt by the obstacles to look around. We reached the temporary shelter of the shingles and snuggled in
From the craft to this point, my constant thoughts were “What’s between others already there. As the tide came in others crowded
keeping me up? I must be hit. What does it feel like when you get in to snuggle in with us. Our area of the beach seemed relatively
hit?” Too many bullets were flying not to be hit. While crossing safer, but only if you stayed completely behind the shingle bank.

National Archives

the beach I felt tugs at my pants legs several times. Searching later
I found too many rips and tears to identify any as bullet holes. I
think it possible for bullets to pass close enough to tug at your
clothing. Bullets coming so close, make a hissing sound as they go
by. Those you hear are not the ones that hit you.

Many times after bursts of machine gun fire or shells landing close
I called out to Rummell and Haughey, asking if they were OK and
they replied, “Yes.” Once I got an answer from Donald A. Heap of
Atlanta, Georgia. Dale was our platoon comedian. His comment
was serious, but laughable at any other time. He said, “Sarge, how
I didn’t stay at the obstacle long. Bullets were coming through long do we have to put up with this shit? We’re going to get killed
and hitting the sand at my feet. What was keeping me up? I could here.” As though I could do anything about it.
see bullets hitting the sand in bursts and ricocheting in front and

AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Spring/Summ