06JUN1944: Headed towards Easy Red sector on Omaha Beach, 2LT John Spalding and his men were dropped 200 yards offshore. Wading ashore under fire, Spalding led his men to the relative cover just off the beach and quickly recognized the rest of his company was nowhere to be seen. Fortunately for Spalding, he had landed on target and not in front of WN 62 where the rest of E/2-16 IN came ashore. Spalding identified a ravine leading inland that provided relative cover from the nearby defenders. He led his men through the wire and minefields before destroying a German machine gun position. From there he headed west towards WN 64, thought to overlook the E-1 draw. Again negotiating minefields, Spalding and his men attacked the outposts and by early afternoon had overrun the position. Spalding's platoon of less than 30 had breached the German lines, knocked out a German strongpoint, and taken 17 prisoners. Their work opened up the Easy Red sector for follow on waves. Spaldings route can today be traced right along the American cemetery on Omaha Beach. For his actions that day, 2LT John Spalding would be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related