Omaha Beach: A Short Story

Hillenbrand aims the story towards anyone with a military backgroud or someone who is fond military survival stories. Hillenbrand references many WWII figures, places, techniques, or objects that people without knowledge of WWII or wars in general may not understand. This book could also be intended for anyone who is looking to gain determination or hope of their

The storm clouds were dark, gloomy and grim like a graveyard. They were near the surface of the earth. It was going to rain. They were lingering on. The soldiers’ uniforms were repeatedly buffeted by the howling gale. The sky was as black as a devil’s soul. A large boom echoed across the crimson battlefield as the lighting returned the thunder’s call. Endless calls for help could be heard. Then, the rain started pouring down, filling up the battle field, like a flood, as the constant sound of the rain pounding on the metal could be heard. Heavy boots pressed down on the wet mud, which would not be dry for the next week, due to the trenches. The trenches were six-foot-deep and reeked of dead bodies and human excrement.

A few miles northeast of Bath ME, down the stretch of route 1, to the right, you come to a dusty road covered in rocks and leaves. The rocky dirt road comes to a stop were a small, rough path takes you through the peach colored brush to a hot sandy beach. The beach glimmers in the sunshine turning the grainy sand into a golden blanket. The beach winds around westward clifts for four miles. Towards the east, segmented by a river emptying its contents, the beach gradually plunges down into the chilly Atlantic ocean, where rushing water from the river clashes with the salt water. The waves roll and crash on in like the sound of African drums, on rhythm that never stops. On the horizon where the water meets with the sky an island sits with a lighthouse perched on the land looking out for dangers that lurk. The sky continues on to the animated clouds, carrying one's eyes up to the heavens.

Moreover, during an extensive struggle on the Morris island, a lot of numbers of torpedoes were being used by the rebels in defense of Fort Wagner. In one of the huge explosions, a corporal of the 3rd colored troops was thrown about 25 yards. “the dead soldier landed entirely naked, with arm resting on the plunger of another torpedo.”

All bullets were counted, beds made, uniforms cleaned, this occurred until suddenly 03:45 arrived. “Men, the time is nearly here,” my words choked as self-hatred flooded my body, “What we do here today will be remembered for generations to come, we fight today not only for ourselves, but all who we know. All our mates and family who live back home!” A faint cheer followed my speech as I steadied myself for what was to come. “We charge in 5 minutes. We charge not only for our freedom but for the freedom of our country. For the freedom of the world!” Spit filled the air from the cheer which erupted from my unit this time. A unity formed over the men, a cold malevolent sweat captured me. Who was I to send these boys to their death? A resolve set inside me, I would fight alongside my men, their lives are worth the same as mine. 04:00 “THIS IS IT MEN! WE FIGHT FOR THE WORLD!” I screamed as I led the charge. Vaulting out of the trench I saw no man’s land clearly for the first time. Death was everywhere, flies swarming the pools of blood. The land so barren of life no greenery was seen. A cold resolution set over me, it was the Germans fault, they caused

During the time of World War II, America fought to end the tyranny of Nazi Germany by using its most valuable tool, the Easy Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne. The author Stephen Ambrose catches a glimpse of what these heroic soldiers accomplished in his book Band of Brothers, by providing readers with interviews of first hand encounters on the battlefields of Europe, from former paratroopers that served in the 506th Regiment. Ambrose’s book depicts how the spectacles of war create everlasting scars on soldiers mentally and physically, that never fully heal.

“By the look of things, Captain Everett Donovan, 1st Marine Division, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, was lucky to be alive” (13). Donovan has many conflicts by this point, but his biggest one is the fact that he is the only surviving member of his regiment, and is stranded in the North Korean tundra fighting for his life. He faces extreme cold as well as not knowing what day it is, no definite way to get help, and being shot and captured by a North Korean sniper as part of his troublesome journey through the tundra.

I faced the sky and tried to cover the sun’s bright afternoon glare with my hands. The “All-American” B17’s were flying above us. 30,000 feet in the air and joining another formation, the 97th. Total of 40 B17’s backed by 50 spitfires. The whole day has been filled with commotion, it’s as if the ground echoed and bounced around the sounds of war. My ears rang painfully against my head, it’s almost like I still hadn’t gotten used the roaring sounds yet. I ignored the ache, and went back to the task at hand. We were told to dig, dig, and dig, and start creating the “walls”. When we got to the fields of France, the fields were already covered, allowing the Germans to create a stable defense. The battle of hedgerows ended when we blew the hedgerows

As we arrived at the beaches of Normandy by the command of General Eisenhower. Bullets sprayed through our boat with ease we all hit the deck and then ran up to the beach. Young men falling like flies without even touching the rocky sand. Blood taints the water with a stomach churning burgundy hue. I slowly start to crawl around behind enemy lines, while I'm doing this I feel a sharp pain through my calf. I turn around in horror that i've been shot, I see a very slim figure with a totenkopf on his hat and i pass

Five years into World War II the future of Europe hangs in the balance. Hitler’s Nazi occupy the mainland, together with its allies America is spearheading the fight. Its 6 am on the French cost, 8 companies of American troops, the first wave to go into battle. As they approach the landing beach code named “Omaha” hundreds of men are praying knowing what awaits them is a wall of guns, killing zones and possible death. 1220 Germans have

I was informed of a Hauptmann (company officer) was in the area and I was to kill him. The german forces were set up in the town square so I snuck into one of the buildings nearby to get a good shot on them. There were four of us assigned to the mission but I was to take the shot at the Hauptmann. As we waited for what seemed like hours the Hauptmann finally came out into the open. I set up my rifle and lined up my scope with the target I saw something I wish I didn't see, the Hauptmann was Heinrich little did I know he too joined the war but he quickly rose through the ranks and now my friend, my brother was at the other end of my rifle and I had to kill him. I didn't have much time and my companions were getting uneasy so I had two options shoot my brother and help win the war or let him live and possibly make the war last alot longer. So I did what had to be done I squeezed the trigger, everything went quiet as if the world stood still, a tear rolled down my left eye as I realised what I had done. I came back a hero everyone loved me, but what I would give to go back to those days in

Imagine being on a boat headed to Normandy, France with 160,000 other American, British and Canadian forces. There are planes flying overhead and there’s a tank on your boat and all the other boats have tanks. Then you hear your platoon leader saying “Men, we’re on our way to a heavily fortified beach head to take control of the beachhead. Securing the beachhead will help us stop Hitler’s plan to conquer the world for himself.” When they were at the beach they had to keep their heads low until the door opens and let the tank get through first so they could take cover behind it. “And men, good luck out there.”

Dover Beach intrigued me as soon as I read the title. I have a great love of beaches, so I feel a connection with the speaker as he or she stands on the cliffs of Dover, looking out at the sea and reflecting on life. Arnold successfully captures the mystical beauty of the ocean as it echoes human existence and the struggles of life. The moods of the speaker throughout the poem change dramatically as do the moods of the sea. The irregular, unordered rhyme is representative of these inharmonious moods and struggles. In this case, the speaker seems to be struggling with the relationship with his or her partner.

was a big wave. The wave hit the boat. The boat started to capsize then the next

The place where I feel most comfortable is a place where I am calm. A place that is peaceful in its own ways. It is the place to go to get away from all my troubles. It is the one place where I could sit forever, and never get tired of just staring into the deepest blue I have ever seen. It is the place where I can sit and think the best. A place where nothing matters but what is in that little moment. The one place capable of sending my senses into an overload. This place is the ocean.