Ultimate Sacrifice

     June 6th 1944, a top secret mission code named “Operation Overlord” better
known as D-Day commenced. The purpose of this mission was to break the
Germans “unbreakable Atlantic Wall”. With the success of this mission it opened
up a route for the Allied forces to liberate Western Europe and would mark a major
turning point in the war. D-day was the largest amphibious operation in history that
included 5,000 ships moving soldiers across the English Channel, 30,000 vehicles,
80 warships and 11,000 aircraft covering the landing operations. By the end of the
day the Allied forces controlled all five of the invaded beachheads, but it was not
without heavy losses as 9,000 Allied troops were killed or wounded by the end of
that first day of fighting. Some of the heaviest fighting took place in the American
sectors of Utah and Omaha beaches. There are 9,387 American soldiers buried on
Omaha beach. One can only imagine the thoughts that went through the minds of
these brave men before the invasion or what they endured. But, they were willing
to make the Ultimate Sacrifice for Freedom.