[Nifster]

“These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. And these are the heroes who helped end a war. Gentlemen, I look at you and I think of the words of Stephen Spender’s poem. You are men who in your “lives fought for life and left the vivid air signed with your honor.””

Chilling and evocative. Still makes me weep

[Jumper]

Lost on me in my youth was the fact that my assistant scout master was one of the Rangers who made their way to Point du Hoc; however, upon entering the Army myself in 1974 for basic combat training and advanced individual training for infantry/mortars I realized our scout troop was really military training. We built three types of road bridges across the Stillwater River in Dayton, Oh. We backpacked for all camping trips and hiked 50-55 miles of the Application Trail in 1968 and 1969 in the Smokies. By the time I reached the 82d Airborne Division, I had turned 18 in Jump School, and was already privy to knowledge uncommon among my peers. I could keep my feet dry in days of rain, I had personal gear from scouting that really improved my life. All thanks to a D-Day Ranger.

As an Assistant Scout Master myself, I took our scout to Normandy one weekend and during the D-day week celebrations on the beach we found a live mortar round which the police fenced off - we hiked from the bunker at Pointe du Hoc back to Omaha and military grave yard. Over a three span while in The Netherlands, our troop put out US/Dutch Flags on the 5000+ US burial site at Margaraton. I planned it so I could put a pair of flags on every headstone during that time.

I have been to Bastonge many times, it was my favorite place, and found many old items from the war, from broken weapons, helmets, mess kits, ammo, etc.