this was utah beach, easy to see how the allies had a lot easier time landing. natural fortifications arent near as good as pont du hoc or omaha. the initial wave was 175,000 soldiers over 60 miles of beach. over 350,000 troops landed in all. ernest hemingway was with the 5th wave the afternoon of d-day. he was writing for Collier's magazine and recently dubbed "america's greatest writer", he wasn't allowed to land. he stayed on a troop carrier and observed and wrote. the truth was he had a large flask with him and was staying loaded to avoid the pain from 50 stitches in his head. the week before he and a buddy were drunk and trying to drive in blacked-out london and wrecked their car and hemingway's head hit the windshield. papa finally was allowed to land in july, when he and his driver went off by themselves ahead of their escorts and caused a lot consternation and worry. no doubt papa had a bottle or found a bottle. this was typical hemingway.................
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