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The Rangers of Point Du Hoc
By John
June 6th marks the 62nd anniversary of The Battle of Normandy, otherwise known as D-Day. So our moment-in-history zen for the day is the legendary capture and holding of Point Du Hoc by the US 2nd Rangers.
Rangers demonstrate how they scaled the cliffs of Point Du Hoc using rope ladders.
Point Du Hoc was a prime example of Rangers doing what they do best, beating insurmountable odds to accomplish their mission. By D plus 2, the 2nd Rangers -with their backs literally to the cliffs- had defeated 5 vicious German counterattacks. The price was high, as the Rangers suffered some 70% casaulties in the two day action.
For more on Point Du Hoc, read Brian Williams gripping account of the battle below the fold.
Pointe du Hoc by Brian WilliamsThe Objective
Pointe du Hoc was located on the coast to the west of the Omaha beach landings and was the position of six 155mm cannons with a range of 25,000 yards. These cannons had a commanding view of both Omaha and Utah beaches and the potential to cause much damage to the invading force. The area had been bombed since May and then grew in intensity during the three days and nights before D-Day. During D-Day, the USS Texas bombarded the point as did 18 medium bombers of the Ninth Air Force at H-20.The point stood on cliffs between 85 to over 100 feet high at whose base was a very small rocky beach that offered no protection. Because the point was positioned on near impregnable cliffs, the Germans had concentrated their defenses in anticipation of a ground assault from inland. Above were heavily fortified concrete casements interlaced with tunnels, trenches, and machine-gun positions around the perimeter. Although the 716th Infantry Division was thinly stretched along 30 miles of the shoreline, approximately 200 German troops (125 infantry and 85 artillery men) were garrisoned in or around the point.
The task fell to Lt. Col. James Earl Rudder's 2nd Ranger Battalion and called for 3 Companies (D, E, and F) of the battalion to scale the heights. Company D was to approach the heights on the west, while E and F were to attack on the east. The main Ranger force (5th Battalion and Companies A and B of the 2nd) were to wait off shore for signal of success and then land at the Point. In addition to destroying the guns, the Rangers were to move inland and cut the coastal highway that connected Grandcamp and Vierville. They were then to wait for the arrival of the US 116th Infantry from Omaha Beach to the east - scheduled to relieve them at noon on the 6th. Once linking up with the main force, they were then to move on Grandcamp and Maisy to the west in order to attempt to link up with the forces that were to land at Utah beach.
The Landing
H-Hour was scheduled for 0630 on June the 6th. The Rangers approached the point with their flotilla of ten landing craft and four DUKW's, but the seas were rough and one LCA sank after taking on excessive water. Ten minutes later, a supply craft sank leaving only one survivor. In the confusion and strong tide, they approached the beach near Pointe de la Percée, at over 3 miles east of their objective. Rudder immediately realized his error and headed west toward the point, but not before losing another DUKW to 20mm fire. The error proved to be costly because the Rangers were now 35 minutes behind schedule at which time the defenders at the point were able to reenter their positions after the bombardment. The main Ranger force was to wait until 0700 at which time if the landing was successful, they would follow the landings at Pte-du-Hoc. If not, they would land on the western side of Omaha and fight their way westward to the point. The designated time came and went and word was given to land at Omaha - Rudder and his Rangers were on their own.The Rangers headed for the cliffs, but now they found themselves only on the Eastern side of the point when the plan called for landings on both sides. The beach at the base of the cliff was only 30 yards wide and heavily cratered from the bombardment. In order to climb the heights, the Rangers' LCA's were equipped with rocket-fired grappling hooks and the DUKW's were fitted with fireman ladders. But, because of the shelling from the USS Texas and others, earth had piled up at the base of the cliff and the DUKW's couldn't approach close enough to the cliff to effectively use their ladders. On the other hand, the piling at the base gave the men somewhat cover from enemy fire and also made the height to climb less.
After several failed attempts (due to the weight of soaked ropes) and due to the assistance of naval artillery (especially the British destroyer the Talybont), the Rangers finally struggled to the top after incurring only 15 casualties. As men reached the top, they went off in small groups to accomplish their missions.
They reached the gun emplacements only to find that they had been removed and telephone poles had been temporarily installed. Lt. Col. Rudder then split his command into two. One group stayed behind to establish a command posts, while the other went in search of the missing guns. The second group headed south and found the guns in an apple orchard, where they had been removed in order to be saved from the bombardment. They were unguarded and were destroyed with thermite grenades. The primary mission of the Rangers had been accomplished.
Up to this point, the German defenders had not yet recovered from their initial confusion. They were slowly regrouping and assembling, and later that day the 916th and 726th counterattacked the Ranger positions. Throughout the day, the USS Satterlee, Barton, and Thompson gave fire support to the Rangers when possible. By nightfall, the Ranger were forced back into a 200 yard wide defensive position inside the battery. The Rangers had lost 1/3 of his men and ammunition was running low.
By June 7th, the next day, of his original 225 men, Rudder had fewer than 100 and almost no food. Despite attempts of the 5th Ranger Battalion that had landed at Omaha Beach four miles to the east, the Rangers remained under siege. By the 8th of June, the 5th Ranger Battalion finally relieved Rudder's position. They were almost 2 days behind schedule.
In the end, Rudder's Rangers had suffered 70 percent casualties and held off five German counterattacks. Rudder was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his service at Point du Hoc and went on to command the 109th Infantry Regiment later in the war.
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Comments
My favorite quote was from, I think, Col Rudder who asked a reporter during a memorial some years after the war ended:
"Will you tell me how we did this?"
Humble and effective, a great combination as it turned out.
Kevin
I would like to find the names of the Rangers who served with COL Rudder during th Normandy invasion. Kindly request you dierect me to a resource that my provide this information.. Thank you
I think it should be pointed out that:
1: The air bombardments never hit the pointe
2: 23 men of A Co. 5th Rangers did make it to the pointe on D-day.
3: 20 more 5th Rangers landed in an LST at the pointe on D+1
4: The rest of the 5th Rangers were behind schedule because General Cota ordered them to help the 29th ID in one of the towns...
im doing a project on the battle of pointe-du-hoc and books and things off the internet dont relley give the things i want to now i want to hear it from some one who was thare
if thats still possible
travis;
Step 1 - Return to Grade 4.
Step 2 - Learn to spell & punctuate.
Step 3 - Repost and perhaps people will not look on you as a borderline illiterate.
hi im trying to trce 2 army rangers who took part in the dday landing their names are PETER CAVANOL AND EARL DYSON they were best friends earl was from tennessee and peter moved later to newyork if anyone can help please e mail me or pass on my email
thanks jayne
jayne-jumbo@hotmail.co.uk
I am due to give a lecture on Point Du Hoc at a conference later this month. Most of those in attendance will be British WWII vets. I would like to discuss my piece with someone who was there before I deliver it, please email me if you can help. Thank you
thomas_hj_sawyer@hotmail.com
My father was boat officer taking the rangers in to pointe de hoc S.Lt I vaughan RNVR from ben my chree - would love to hear from anyone who was any of the LCAs he took in Rob vaughan
Dear Brian
I hope when you do your factual talks about Pointe du Hoc you will be discussing the effects of the gunfire from Battery Maisy on Omaha Beach and the surrounding area on the morning of the 6th to the 9th of June 1944.
If you have any queries about Maisy firing on Omaha Beach please refer to the US Washington archives for items released in December 2003 where range maps and descriptions of the 3 main gun batteries on D-day are evaluated. i.e. St. Marcouf. Maisy and Longues sur Mer. The document was prepared for the Admiral of the Fleet on the 21st June 1944 and later marked TOP SECRET.
Just because Maisy Battery has been hidden for 60 years dosnt mean that the efforts of the 5th Battalion at Maisy should go unnoticed. Please can you amend your speeches accordingly.
I also agree that the 23 members of A company 5th Battalion should be recognised for their efforts on D-day - travelling from Omaha Beach all the way to Pointe du Hoc on the 6th of June. In fact as I am sure you know, at the time they received the Presidential Unit Citation for the deepest penetration of any unit on D-day.
Many thanks.
Gary Sterne
My grandfather was in the 2nd Rangers... and I am looking for any information on this battalion.
My uncle was in Rudders Rangers. His name is Fred Slager (96 years old now). His name, among the rest, is listed in the appendix of "Rudders Rangers". I wouldn't mind hearing from anyone who remembers him.
My Grandpa, Ralph Kotas, was a Ranger in WWII and I have heard stories of how he scaled the cliffs at Pointe Du Hoc. It brings tears of pride to my eyes to read about what he did. He is, and always will be my hero. He died when I was a little boy, and I never had the chance to ask him what Battalion he served under, or what he did, I know he got a Purple Heart for getting his thumb almost cut off by a German bayonet at some point and that he was a Tech 5. I am so incredibly proud of my Country and to be an American. I will never forget, and none of us should ever forget, the price in blood our Fathers, Grandfathers and so on paid so that others could be free and live their lives in peace. They were the voices for the people who couldn't speak, and the salvation for the world as they knew it. Honor isn't a strong enough word to describe them. Anyone who reads this and could tell me anything at all about him, the 2nd, the campaigns they went on, would have my eternal gratitude. God bless America forever...
my grand father was one of the 90 rangers that made it to the top.
My Grandpa, Cpt. Bob Arman was one of the Army Rangers to survive. He died before I was born. I wish I could have had the chance to look at him face to face, hug him, go on a walk. Thankfully we have words. I can read the stories of those who survived or heard stories from their parents, brothers, grandfathers to get a small glimpse of what my grandpa went through.
Thank You.
Lauren
I hope this doesn’t sound trite, but I've been playing the video game, Call Of Duty II, in which one of he American battles Rangers fought was the battler of Pointe du Hoc. They went up against a dug in enemy protected by bunkers, tanks, heavy guns and superior numbers. Playing the game at the highest level, which might be a reflection of the real odds of survival, suggests a daunting task. Almost certainly lethal, given that there was not a clear superiority in weapons or numbers. I can only conclude after playing it many times, that those who attacked that beach, scaled the cliffs, fought and in the end prevailed, were the bravest and most skilled soldiers imaginable.
Peter and Lauren my grandfather also took part in the D-Day invasion. He to passed away when I was 2 and I wish like Lauren I could have gotten to know my grandpa better. My dad said my grandpa told him that when those gates on the landing boats dropped down he "saw god" because all of his friends and allies were being slautered be he lived through WWII.
Its great what the yanks did in the war, But the russians would have done it without us eventually!
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Col. Rudder also went on to become President of Texas A&M University, and is credited by many with the transformation of a small state college into a great University.
Once a great leader, always a great leader.