Pointe Du Hoc

Pointe Du Hoc. D-Day · 6 June 1944. , Pointe du Hoc was a prominent German defensive position on the coast of Normandie, France, placed atop 100-foot cliffs that jutted out between Utah and Omaha Beaches., The Germans had a battery of heavy guns on top of the cliff. The guns had a range of about 20,000 yards and could easily cover both beaches., On D-Day at 0445, Lieutenant Colonel Rudder and 225 U.S. Army Rangers from the 2nd Ranger Battalion boarded landing craft heading out into the dark, choppy waters of the English Channel for the hour-long crossing to Pointe du Hoc. The trip in the landing craft was rough and cold and one LCA capsized in the Channel., The Rangers were due to land on the beach at 0630, with U.S. Navy ships ceasing their covering fire at 0625. Because of a navigational error, they did not land on the beach until 0710. The delay gave the Germans enough time to leave their fortified concrete bunkers, man their gun positions, and begin firing., The Rangers faced an impossible task that morning. Besides the treacherous ascent, German bullets and “potato masher” grenades rained down on them from above. Nevertheless Rudder’s Rangers prevailed and gained the top of Pointe du Hoc under heavy enemy fire., During their combat actions between 6 and 8 June 1944, Rudder’s Rangers suffered a 70% casualty rate. Less than 75 of the original 225 Rangers who landed on Omaha Beach were fit for duty, with 77 killed in action, 152 wounded and 38 listed as missing., National Memorial of Military Ascent. The National Memorial of Military Ascent (NMMA), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, was created in March 2022 by the NMMA Veteran’s Commission to oversee within the City of Grafton a national Veterans’ Memorial, from initial design through construction and operation., Our Core Values , Honor Veterans · Never Forget · Cultivate Unity · Foster Courage. Reaching beyond a single locale, the Memorial stands as a profound tribute to the indomitable spirit, unwavering sacrifice and steadfast commitment of all Veterans. We invite you to join together in this noble cause. You not only pay homage to the brave men and women who have selflessly served our nation, but you are fostering a living legacy that will continue to unite, educate, and inspire new generations of Americans to “Never Forget.”