© 2019 David Steely
The D-Day Memorial at Bedford, Virgina is a $25 Million memorial dedicated to those that lost their lives and those that fought on June 6, 1944 to capture the beaches and towns in Normandy, France. Their success ultimately lead to the defeat of Germany in May 1945.
On the first Tuesday in June 1944 Bedford City, Virginia was
awakening to a new day. Milk deliveries
were being made, and breakfasts were being prepared. People were getting ready for work. When everyone had turned in for the night on
Monday there was little indication that the largest single invasion the world
had ever known was unfurling. The Allies
were attacking Fortress Europe.
The population of Bedford was about 3,200. It wasn’t much different than any other small American town. By 1944 most of its young men 18 to 30 years old were in uniform. They had been dispersed to all points of the world. Many had been serving proudly as members of the National Guard when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941. The Army quickly rolled these men into the 29th Infantry Division. They were shipped to England in September 1942. It was assumed at that time they would at some point be invading Europe.
On the home front war news was delivered in newspapers daily with multi-column headlines and with regularity on radio news broadcasts with special bulletins as the news warranted. Although the headlines were dramatic none of them were to claim the attention of the American public as intently as those of December 7, 1941 until June 6, 1944.
Originally set for June 5, the invasion was postponed for a day as the Allied command staff waited for a break in the weather that would clear the skies and calm the seas for the invasion. The men had been loaded on their landing crafts and ships on June 4 in preparation to cross the English Channel. The military put a heavy cloak of censorship over any news preceding and during the invasion. Even as they were loading their boats to traverse the channel the vast majority of the soldiers didn’t know their final destination. They had been training for years for this moment but nothing could have fully prepared them for what happened.
The invasion of Europe was on. The heavily censored news reports began to reveal the size and importance of the invasion. All across the country a news hungry public gathered around radios to listen to war correspondents' reports. Newspapers put out extra editions. Early reports were very general in nature. The Allies had attacked. The beaches had been taken. The troops were advancing inland. As expected, there were casualties.
On this fateful morning Bedford was set apart. No other city, no matter the size, would suffer as many casualties on D-Day and during the following battle for Normandy as this little town. Their brave soldiers had been destined for the beaches in Normandy that had been code named Omaha. They had been in the first wave to approach the beaches and many of them never lived to set foot on French soil. More than 1,000 soldiers died on June 6 at Omaha. Specific details regarding the invasion didn’t start filtering back to the United States for weeks as the army counted its casualties and consolidated its gains. The headlines about casualties were eventually supported by a flurry of telegrams authorized by the Department of Defense. D-Day became very personal for many.
Outside of the telephone, telegrams were the fastest and most personal way of communicating during the war. They carried with them a sense of urgency and importance. And it was effectual in that it was hand delivered to the recipient. Births were announced with them. Travel schedules were sent ahead to families and friends with them. Bad news was sadly delivered with them.
It wasn’t until July 17 that the first D-Day telegrams arrived at the teletype at Greens Drug Store in Bedford. Over the next few days families would receive the most dreaded telegram of all.
“The Secretary of War expresses his deepest regret that your son was killed in action on six June in France.”
“The Secretary of War expresses his deepest regret that your son was killed in action on six June in France.”
© 2019 David Steely
The City of Bedford monument to the young men who died on D-Day and the battle for Normandy sits in the town center on the county court house grounds. It is not a part of the D-Day Memorial but the community's own tribute to them.
In all 23 telegrams announcing those KIA arrived related to the D-Day invasion. The military was very efficient and began releasing the notices almost simultaneously. Each new notice that came in over the teletype at Greens Drug Store brought dread and sadness began to envelop the town.
Nineteen Bedford boys lost their lives on June 6. All were part of Company A, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division. Four more were to be killed within the next few days. Bedford’s total contribution of man power to the invasion was 30 soldiers. These numbers don't include the wounded. This made the casualty count for Bedford the highest per capita of any town in the United States. Company A itself was decimated. It lost so many boys in the first hour of the invasion that it was rendered useless as an effective military unit.
It was because of this great loss of human life to such a small community that Bedford was able to get the attention of the United States Congress. Congress agreed that a D-Day memorial was needed and it was befitting to be located at Bedford. President George H. W. Bush presided at a dedication of the 88 acre memorial on June 6, 2001.
© 2019 David Steely
As this 75th anniversary approaches, plans are
being made at both the D-Day Memorial and in Normandy, France to mark this enormous
achievement. It is universally recognized
that this year’s celebrations will probably be the last gathering of the D-Day
veterans in large numbers as those still living are celebrating life in their
90s. And they will more than likely hear
once again General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s words of encouragement to them one
more time:
“You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.
In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.
But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men.
The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together toVictory!
I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!
Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.”
― Dwight D. Eisenhower
© 2019 David Steely
© 2019 David Steely
© 2019 David Steely
© 2019 David Steely
For more information on the D-Day Memorial and the events
scheduled go to their web site at https://www.dday.org/events/.
For more information on in events planned in Normandy go to http://bayeux-bessin-tourisme.com/en/event/d-day-festival-normandy/
For more information on events planned worldwide go to http://www.dday-anniversary.com/downloads/D-Day75Events%20v1.0.pdf
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