The forty-seven immortals of Omaha (Vanity)

[Nicojones]

Every D-Day, I like to re-read the S.L.A. Marshall article “First Wave at Omaha Beach” to remind me of the great sacrifices made by real American heroes on this day. I was glad to see someone post the link to the article earlier (http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/196011/omaha). However, every year, I attempt the same unsuccessful search for more information on the “forty-seven immortals” referenced in the article

[Nicojones]

Every D-Day, I like to re-read the S.L.A. Marshall article “First Wave at Omaha Beach” to remind me of the great sacrifices made by real American heroes on this day. I was glad to see someone post the link to the article earlier. However, every year, I attempt the same unsuccessful search for more information on the “forty-seven immortals” referenced in the article (i.e. - “Taylor is a luminous figure in the story of D Day, one of the forty-seven immortals of Omaha who, by their dauntless initiative at widely separated points along the beach, saved the landing from total stagnation and disaster. Courage and luck are his in extraordinary measure.”) . I find it amazing that I can easily pull up so much crap on the internet yet can’t seem to find a website that lists “the forty-seven” with a description of their actions on this fateful day. This year, I’m hoping someone on the FREEP can help out. Can you post a link to a website or a book that contains detail concerning the forty seven referenced by Marshall? Thanks in advance.

[antiRepublicrat]

Bookmarking so I can keep track of the answer. You have me quite interested now.

[RC2]

As a youngster, I grew up in a Military Academy during the Korean War. My folks where working in the war effort so that was the best place for me. At the school, they had the old Time Life magazines showing World War II. One picture has always stuck in my mind. It was a picture of a soldier, exiting a landing craft. He made it about ten yards from the water and fell. Then as movies of the D-Day landing were released, I saw him again as he approached the beach. When he fell, I would always wait for him to get up. Hoping that he just tripped on something and fell down. He never got up. I don’t know how many times I have seen that film but it keeps coming back and catches my attention. I feel as though I know this guy personally. I saw it again today and waited as usual. I am always amazed at the bravery of our young men and women. God Bless them.

[InMemoriam]

The brave young man was probably a victim of the tactic the Germans came up with of concentrating fire on whatever landing craft had most recently opened in order to disembark its troops. Very effective.

[rvoitier]

Interesting. Have also bookmarked for answer.

But, obama said, "only a few" were brave that day. >:(

[r-q-tek86]

ping

[Robert357]

ditto, for reference

[matt1234]

Could the “forty-seven immortals” be the Medal of Honor recipients and the Distinguished Service Cross recipients? There is a book called “Omaha Beach” by Joseph Balkoski that lists all the men who received these medals. Anyone with a copy of this book could put this theory to the test.

[Nicojones]

That might be it. However, its kind of sad that, when I type in “obama d day speech”, I get 33,300,000 hits. However, there are no hits for the 47 immortals of Omaha (other than the Marshall article). Hopefully, somone will have a handle on who these great men were. The fact that we don’t is kind of pathetic. They deserve better than this.

[cyfer0]

Don’t know if Marshall’s writing might include more clues to what he considers that list, but some notable names it probably would include:

2nd Lt. John Spalding
Sgt. Philip Strecyzk
Col. George Taylor
Gen. Norman “Dutch” Cota
Col. Charles Canham

[cyfer0]

A few more possibilities:

Joe Dawson
John Pinder, Medal of Honor
1st Lt. Jimmie Monteith Jr, KIA, Medal of Honor

[Nicojones]

It still amazes me that no one thought to nail this down after Marshall wrote the article in 1960. I’ve tried to get the list since 2009 and still haven’t been able to find it. Hopefully, someone will come forward with it.