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.
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