Vierville-sur-Mer in Calvados, Normandy, France — Western Europe
Vierville-sur-Mer: The Eleventh Port of the American Army
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 7, 2024
1. Vierville-sur-Mer: The Eleventh Port of the American Army Marker
Vierville-sur-Mer: le onzième port de l'armée américaine
Les rangers du 116e a l’assaut
A "Dog Green", en face de la valleuse de Vierville, la défense allemande fut terriblement efficace. La moitié des effectifs ne parvint pas au bord de la plage. lI fallut, ici aussi, l'appui rapproché de l'artillerie embarquée pour permettre aux soldats de se regrouper. Entre Les Moulins et Le Hamel-au-Prêtre, 500 hommes escaladèrent la falaise en début de matinée. Ils atteignirent Vierville vers 11 heures.
Le premier cimetière américain en France libérée
En bordure du boulevard maritime, une stèle signale l'emplacement où furent d'abord enterrés les soldats tombés à "Omaha-la-sanglante". Au soir du 6 juin, 3.000 Américains avaient été tués ou blessés sur l'étroite tête de pont d'Omaha.
Le "Mulberry A"
Le port artificiel, du même type que celui d'Arromanches, fut construit dans les jours qui suivirent le débarquement. Pour faciliter les mouvements, des brèches avaient été laissées ouvertes dans les lignes de caissons "Phoenix" posés sur le sable.
Désastre sur Omaha
Une terrible tempête
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Le château de Vierville servit, du 8 juin au 2 juillet 1944, de "quartier général du onzième port de l'armée américaine". Des éléments du port artificiel furent récupérés pour renforcer Arromanches. Tout au long de l'été, les Américains utilisèrent les plages d'Omaha pour débarquer hommes et matériel par échouage des LST (Landing Ship Tank).
Vierville-sur-Mer: The Eleventh Port of the American Army
The Rangers of 16th Infantry Regiment Attack
At "Dog Green", the German defence covering the small valley between the cliffs of Vierville were fearfully effective. Half of the men failed to set foot ashore. Here too, the naval artillery had been required to give close support to enable the soldiers to rally. Between Les Moulins and Le Hamel-a-Pretre, 500 men scaled the cliff early in the morning. They reached Vierville by about 11 a.m.
The first American graveyard in liberated France
By the boulevard along the seafront, a stele marks the spot where the soldiers who fell at "Bloody Omaha" were first buried. By the evening of 6 June, 3,000
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 7, 2024
2. Vierville-sur-Mer: The Eleventh Port of the American Army Marker
This view looks out at some of the "Mulberry" port remains.
“Mulberry A”
The artificial harbour, of the same type as the one at Arromanches, was built in the days following the landing. Gaps were left in the rows of "Phoenix" caissons placed on the sand, for ease of movement.
Disaster at Omaha
A terrible storm raged from 19 to 22 June. The bombardons (ballasted rafts) came adrift, smashing the "Phoenix" caissons, piers and boats. Eight hundred craft were piled up on the beach in indescribable chaos. Mulberry A was beyond repair. This caused the miltary operations to be delayed.
From 8 June to 2 July 1944, the château at Vierville became the "headquarters of the eleventh port of the American army". Elements of the artificial harbour were recovered and used to strengthen Arromanches. Troughout the summer, the Americans used the beaches at Omaha to land men and material by beaching the LSTs (landing Ship Tank). (Marker Number 9.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is June 3, 1944.
Location. 49° 22.774′ N, 0° 54.21′ W. Marker is in Vierville-sur-Mer, Normandie (Normandy), in Calvados. It is on Rue de la Percée west of Boulevard de Cauvigny, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5 Rue de la Percée, Vierville-sur-Mer, Normandie 14710, France. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony and also the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Royal Air Force 6 June 1944 (a few steps from this marker);
Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2024, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 164 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 27, 2024, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.
