#Repost @thedarbyproject (@get_repost) ・・・ Honoring those that paid the ultimate sacrifice today. Up against formidable odds, the Rangers of WWII led the way, and showed they truly exhibited the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger Objective. Take time today to honor those that came before us. “Fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession!” RLTW! .... The Rangers of Pointe du Hoc "Located Pointe du Hoc, Mission accomplished, Need ammunition and reinforcements, Many casualties." --Lt. Col. James Rudder, 2nd Ranger Battalion, D-Day message Between Utah and Omaha Beaches stands a large promontory called Pointe du Hoc. Allied planners learned the Germans had placed a battery of 155 mm howitzers here. With a firing range of 14 miles, these guns threatened the assault forces on both American beaches. Allied planners gave two battalions of U.S. Army Rangers the job of neutralizing the German guns. These elite troops were trained to make an amphibious landing on the beach in front of Pointe du Hoc, scale its 100-foot cliffs, and destroy the German battery. On D-Day the Rangers, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Rudder, used rocket-propelled grappling hooks attached to ropes and ladders to climb the cliffs. As they worked their way up, the Germans dropped grenades on them and cut some of their ropes. Still, within five minutes, the Rangers made it to the top and drove off the defenders. They then made a startling discovery, the German guns were missing. Sergeant Len Lomell and two other Rangers scouted inland. A short distance away they found the guns. They quickly destroyed them. By 9:00 A.M. the Rangers had accomplished their mission. But for the next two days they faced intense German counterattacks. The 2nd Ranger Battalion took over 50 percent casualties. 🇺🇸 . . #RLTW #pointeduhoc #thedarbyproject #wheresdarby #darbyproject #suasponte #rangerregiment #rangerbattalion information source: nationalww2museum.org
