World War II: US Army Rangers D Day at Pointe du Hoc

Early in the morning on June 6, 1944, US Army Rangers stormed the beaches of Normandy and scaled 100-foot cliffs under fire to eliminate German artillery that threatened the Allied spearhead into enemy-occupied Europe.

The task was given to Lt. Col. James E. Rudder by commander for the cross-channel invasion Lt. Gen. Omar Bradley, who wrote in his memoirs: "No soldier in my command has ever been wished a more difficult task than that which befell the thirty-four-year-old commander." The mission's objective was to knock out German 155 mm artillery positions able to target US troops coming ashore at Omaha and Utah beaches.

Following an early morning naval bombardment of the German position, three companies from the 2nd Ranger Battalion began their assault on Pointe du Hoc, landing under fire at the base of the steep cliffs.

The Rangers climbed up wet ropes and ladders in damp, muddy uniforms as German bullets and grenades rained down on their assault. It took about half an hour for the invading Rangers to reach the top, where they battled against fierce resistance to find and destroy five of the six enemy guns, which had actually been moved farther inland before the assault.

More than 200 men from the 2nd Battalion fought to take Pointe du Hoc. When they were finally relieved after two days of fighting, there were only about 90 Rangers still standing.

Fast forward to June 5th, 2019. The 2nd Ranger's assault on Pointe du Hoc is reenacted in the video below. U.S. Army Rangers are climbing the jagged cliffs of Normandy's Pointe du Hoc to honor the men who scaled them 75 years ago in a valiant D-Day assault.

Elderly veterans looked on Wednesday as members of the 75th Ranger Regiment started mounting the limestone promontory at dawn, pulling themselves up on ropes one by one, seagulls swooping above them. The operation helped prepare the way for Allied troops landing on beaches a few kilometers (miles) up the coast to break Hitler's stranglehold on France andis forever ingrained in US Army and Ranger lore.

Here Am I, Send Me

Everyone knows about the Famous D-Day invasion of Normandy to begin the march across the Europe which led to the defeat of Nazi Germany. We commemorate it in many different ways. The coolest way to remember that day when our greatest generation waded through beach surf facing unrelenting German machine gun fire, or jumped out of airplanes into sheer darkness behind enemy lines, is to partner with your brothers in arms and the mother of a fallen Ranger to visit Normandy and make a historic parachute jump out C-47 airplanes. And to do it on the 75th Anniversary of D Day.

A team of Special Forces soldiers, 75th Infantry (Ranger) Veterans and Gold Star Mother Scoti Domeij, was documented by film maker Devin Super Tramp as they visited Normandy and jumped from a WWII aircraft to honor the life of Sgt. 1st Class Kristoffer Domeij, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Domeij was the most deployed U.S. soldier (14 deployments) to have been killed in action (Oct. 22, 2011).

This film debuted on YouTube on Veterans Day, 11/11, 2019 and will be sent to film festivals worldwide.

From those who were there:

“Participation in the 75th Anniversary of D-Day was a lifetime experience of lifetime experiences,” said Matthew Griffin, former Army Ranger and Co-founder of Combat Flip Flops. “A team of Rangers, Green Berets, pilots and filmmakers came together to honor a legend, Army Ranger Kris Domeij. We did this to memorialize his character, provide perspective, and honor the sacrifice of the thousands that lost their lives on D-Day to ensure freedom for the oppressed.”

“We took on this project not knowing exactly what we were going to capture or even how, but we knew it was the opportunity of a lifetime and that we had to be a part of it,” said Devin Graham, Director/DP at Devin Super Tramp. “It ended up being a more meaningful experience than we could have imagined. Due to the subject matter, historical locations, and the personal stories shared, each day after filming there was an immense emotional weight. It genuinely opened our eyes and changed our perspectives on sacrifice, family and gratitude.”

“While we by no means want to compare ourselves to the veterans we had the privilege to work with there, we chose Here Am I, Send Me for the title of the documentary feeling it not only represented so many of these soldiers but also fell right in line with how we felt when this project was first presented to us. Filming these veterans, and a Gold Star mother, and sharing with them this experience in Normandy, was an intimidating and overwhelming responsibility but we essentially raised our hands and said “we’ll do it, send us!” and we are forever grateful that we did.”