The Battle of Pointe du Hoc/Transcript

Preloader Diary
June 5, 1944, 2100 hrs

Aboard the HMS Amsterdam

Overcast, rough seas, 57 F

Tomorrow morning, we hit the Normandy coast at a place called Pointe du Hoc. Our mission: disable six 155 mm guns the Germans captured from the French. These guns could hit Omaha and Utah beaches, jeopardizing the D-Day landings.

The cliffs there are heavily fortified. Sgt. Randall put it another way: "Anyone who even gets close to the cliffs ought to get a medal."

Corporal Bill Taylor

D Company, 2nd Ranger Bn.

Pointe du Hoc
Normandy, France

June 6, 1944

3 miles west of Omaha Beach

British Coxswain: Thirty seconds, Yanks! God be with you!

McCloskey: Hey Braeburn, you look like you're gonna puke.

Braeburn: Y'know what, Donnie... why don't you just... *pukes*

Coffey: Dog Company, listen up! Men on the beaches are counting on us to take out the coastal guns on those cliffs! Move fast, get topside, and get the job done!

''A Ranger gets shot. The Rangers gets to cover.''

Ranger: Incoming!

British Coxswain: Firing rockets!

The Higgins boat fires its rockets and reaches the beach.

Coffey: Move out!

''The Rangers move out, but an artillery attack destroys the Higgins boat, knocking Taylor down. He saw many Rangers getting killed by MG fire. Their Higgins boat was destroyed. 2 of them were burned while trying to get out. Randall approaches Taylor.''

Randall: I gotcha Taylor! You'll be all right! You're gonna be just fine!

''Randall carries Taylor. He saw a medic trying to get a wounded soldier to safety but was killed by MG fire. Taylor recovers. He gets to one of the ropes.''

Randall: Taylor! Get up this rope to the top of the cliff! We gotta get up there and take out those coastal guns!

''Taylor along with a few Rangers gets to the top of the cliff. A German soldier falls from the cliff, causing one of the Rangers to fall.''

Ranger: Let's go get the bastards!

Braeburn: Sergeant Randall! The guns are gone! They're not here!

Randall: What?

Braeburn: THE - GUNS - AREN'T - HERE! The Krauts must've moved them someplace else!

Randall: Well hell, keep movin', we're sittin' ducks out here! Head for rally point Baker and set up that roadblock! Taylor and I will look for the guns from there!

''Taylor fights his way in the Pointe as a Flakvierling opens fire on him and Dog Company. He finds a radioman.''

Radioman: Slugger. This is Baker, one four fire mission, over. TRP zero zero five, point fuse. Fire for effect!

''Slugger opens fire and destroys the Flakvierling. The Rangers move out.''

Ranger: Miller, do it!

Miller: Yes sir!

The Rangers enters a village and fight their way to rally point Baker when a halftrack approaches.

Randall: Halftrack! Swing around the left flank! Move move!

''The halftrack unloads German troops, but they were immediately killed. The Rangers reach rally point Baker.''

Ranger: Move out to the coastal road!

Ranger: Let's get that roadblock set up!

Randall: Taylor, Ward, Carter! Let's go mop up! The rest of you stay here and hold this road until the rest of the company shows up! Corporal Taylor, you're with me!

''Randall and Taylor moves out. They found the 155mm guns.''

Randall: Taylor! Here they are! We've found the damn guns! Get in there and fix ‘em with your thermite grenades! I'll keep an eye open for Kraut patrols. I'll take the ones on this side!

Taylor plants thermite grenades on the guns.

Randall: Taylor, I'm outta thermite! You gotta do the rest!

All of the guns were disabled.

Randall: Hurry up, Taylor, get the hell out! We gotta get back to the rally point!

Randall and Taylor returns to rally point Baker.

Braeburn: Sarge! I'm getting reports of German troops still holed up on the Pointe! The C.O. wants D, E, and F companies to secure the rest of the bunkers back there!

Randall: Braeburn! McCloskey! Ward! Carter! Hold here and watch the road for German reinforcements!

McCloskey: Did you guys find those guns?

Randall: Damn right, we got ‘em. Why the hell do ya' think we're back?!

The Rangers returns to the Pointe, and secure the bunkers.

Randall: Baker One-Six calling Sugar Charlie Six! Located Pointe du Hoc - mission accomplished - need ammunition and reinforcements - many casualties. Over! Wilco. Out!