Bedford in Bedford County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

United States Naval Academy

Ex Scientia Tridens

— National D-Day Memorial —

United States Naval Academy Marker image. Click for more information.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. United States Naval Academy Marker

Winds of War, Winds of Change: The U.S. Naval Academy During the World War II Era
Naval History and Heritage Command website entry
Click for more information.

Inscription.

United States Naval Academy. Ex Scientia Tridens. , The United States Naval Academy was established in 1845 at Annapolis, Maryland. Its mission is to develop midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically, and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor, and loyalty, and to provide the nation dedicated Navy and Marine Corps officers prepared to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government. Thousands of Naval Academy graduates diligently applied the tenets of their mission to make a profound difference in World War II, and on D-Day in particular. Its graduates served, and continue to serve, their nation with great valor, fidelity and sacrifice., D-Day, 6 June 1944, the largest seaborne assault in history, was by necessity dependent upon overwhelming naval power. No landing would be possible, no victory would be achieved, without command of the sea by the Allied fleets. Aboard the three US battleships, three cruisers, thirty-three destroyers, and other vessels were many officers trained at the Naval Academy. Their leadership contributed mightily to victory and saved many lives on the beaches. With admiration, Major General Leonard Gerow, US Army. Commander of V Corps on Omaha Beach, summed up the soldiers' gratitude after the battle was over: "Thank God for the US Navy!", Rear Admiral Alan G. Kirk (USNA 1909), Commander Task Force Western, recorded the fact that 125,000 Navy personnel planned, fought in-theater, and sacrificed to assure the success of the D-Day Invasion. Of these, Naval Academy graduates made up the vast preponderance of the effort's senior naval leadership and were deeply involved down the chain of command. On D-Day, for example, all thirty-three destroyer commanding officers, plus their seven squadron and division commanders, were USNA alumni., From the Mexican War to the present day, the United States Naval Academy has graduated generations of young men and women trained to lead and maintain the nation's sea power. Their record of service and sacrifice around the globe in defense of our nation's Constitution expresses the Naval Academy's legacy. , Funding for this plaque was provided by the Alumni Memorial Fund, a project established and led by the USNA Class of 1969.

The United States Naval Academy was established in 1845 at Annapolis, Maryland. Its mission is to develop midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically, and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor, and loyalty, and to provide the nation dedicated Navy and Marine Corps officers prepared to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government. Thousands of Naval Academy graduates diligently applied the tenets of their mission to make a profound difference in World War II, and on D-Day in particular. Its graduates served, and continue to serve, their nation with great valor, fidelity and sacrifice.

D-Day, 6 June 1944, the largest seaborne assault in history, was by necessity dependent upon overwhelming naval power. No landing would be possible, no victory would be achieved, without command of the sea by the Allied fleets. Aboard the three US battleships, three cruisers, thirty-three destroyers, and other vessels were many officers trained at the Naval Academy. Their leadership contributed mightily to victory and saved many lives on the beaches. With admiration, Major General Leonard Gerow,

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US Army. Commander of V Corps on Omaha Beach, summed up the soldiers' gratitude after the battle was over: "Thank God for the US Navy!"

Rear Admiral Alan G. Kirk (USNA 1909), Commander Task Force Western, recorded the fact that 125,000 Navy personnel planned, fought in-theater, and sacrificed to assure the success of the D-Day Invasion. Of these, Naval Academy graduates made up the vast preponderance of the effort's senior naval leadership and were deeply involved down the chain of command. On D-Day, for example, all thirty-three destroyer commanding officers, plus their seven squadron and division commanders, were USNA alumni.

From the Mexican War to the present day, the United States Naval Academy has graduated generations of young men and women trained to lead and maintain the nation's sea power. Their record of service and sacrifice around the globe in defense of our nation's Constitution expresses the Naval Academy's legacy.
Funding for this plaque was provided by the Alumni Memorial Fund, a project established and led by the USNA Class of 1969.

Erected by National D-Day Memorial and the Alumni Memorial Fund USNA

United States Naval Academy Marker (center) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. United States Naval Academy Marker (center)

Class of 1969.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is June 6, 1944.

Location. 37° 19.849′ N, 79° 32.144′ W. Memorial is in Bedford, Virginia, in Bedford County. It can be reached from Overlord Circle 0.9 miles west of Burks Hill Road, in the median. The Marker is located on the grounds of the National D-Day Memorial. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 3 Overlord Circle, Bedford VA 24523, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Southwest Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Citadel (here, next to this marker);

"The Battle for Fox Green Beach, D-Day Normandy" image. Click for full size.

via Naval History and Heritage Command, June 6, 1944

3. "The Battle for Fox Green Beach, D-Day Normandy"

Off crowded Omaha Beach, the destroyer Emmons fires at German emplacements in the heavily defended Colleville draw, in Navy combat artist Dwight Shepler's painting.

United States Military Academy (here, next to this marker); VPI (here, next to this marker); Virginia Military Institute (here, next to this marker); General of the Army George C. Marshall (1880-1959) (a few steps from this marker); Lend-Lease (Public Law 77-11) (a few steps from this marker); Richard S. Reynolds Sr. Garden (a few steps from this marker); Third Infantry Division (British) (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bedford.

Also see . . .
1. 'The Navy Saved Our Hides'. U.S. Naval Institute website entry:
With U.S. soldiers pinned down on Omaha Beach, American destroyers steamed in close to shore, opened fire on German positions, and helped turn the tide of invasion. (Submitted on October 16, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. National D-Day Memorial. (Submitted on March 2, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 2, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 236 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 2, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. 3. submitted on October 16, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.