Over the weekend I went to the D-Day re-enactment in Coneaut, Ohio. It was a blast! Weather was perfect.. rainy, cold, just like june 6, 44 in France. I was the Beachmaster. I represented the US Navy men who were the first off the landing craft and set up the beach. They directed the troops and landing craft. We had been under heavy fire from the German troops on the bluff.. Even though they had been repeatedly straffed by a P-51 Mustang at close range. I swear, He was one hotshot pilot!! He was low to the deck and after one pass, did a barrel roll and looped around for another.. It was truly awsome. I was told later that since I was in a gray helmet, I was easy to pick out and the snipers and MG crews were all gunning for me between defending thier position.
I made it across the beach and to the shingle before I finally dropped and had to lay and catch my breath. My rifle was jammed anyways. I was soaked. I was first off the landing craft and it was only knee deep, but a wave caught me a little above the waist from behind and drenched me. We had a USO dance afterwards. I went in Navy dress blues and learned how to do a little swing dancing and drank a lot!! Can't wait to do it next year. May go as a German tho as all you gotta do is sit on a hill, shoot GI's, and surrender or die.. LOL I'm gettin lazy as I get older.
