United States Navy Monument at Normandy

Endorsement: Naval Order Life Companion George Herbert Walker Bush
Former President of the United States

Thank you for writing to me about the ambitious campaign organized by the Naval Order of the United States to erect a monument on Utah Beach, Normandy recognizing the U.S. Navy's significant contribution to the Normandy invasion. As a former Navy man myself, I salute the Naval Order for taking on this "labor of love" to honor all those who were a part of that campaign and, most especially, those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

Endorsement: Tom Hanks
Actor/Director/Writer
"Band of Brothers" "Saving Private Ryan"

The peaceful world as we have known it for over half a century began in Normandy on June 6, 1944. The U.S. Navy helped deliver the material of liberty to UTAH at an extreme cost of thousands of lives. One cannot enjoy the former without understanding the latter. I support the Naval Order campaign to erect the long overdue memorial to what happened there not so long ago. I urge you to do the same, and to remember...

Endorsement: Senator Robert J. “Bob” Dole
US Senator (R. KS) (Retired)
Chairman of the newly-dedicated National World War II Memorial

History records the allied D-Day Invasion on June 6, 1944 as the largest amphibious operation ever undertaken. Eight American warships were sunk and a thousand Sailors were killed, yet no monument exists in Normandy to honor the U.S. Navy’s role in that epic battle. The Naval Order’s campaign to erect a monument on UTAH Beach will change that. I urge you to support this long-overdue tribute to service and sacrifice.

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Endorsement: Wild Bill Guarnere and Babe Heffron
South Philly, Band of Brothers

To the US Navy Normandy - We say this, without the US Navy in WWII - we would not have won the war - Bless you all, Anchors Aweigh!

Endorsement: John A. Panneton
National President, The Navy League of the United States

Thank you for keeping me abreast of your efforts to maintain momentum toward the establishment of Navy monument on the beach at Normandy. The Naval Order is to be commended for spearheading this campaign to honor the contributions and sacrifices made by Sailors in the D-Day assault to begin the liberation of Europe. It is often said that the ultimate measure of a Nation is the way they treat those who have served in uniform, and especially the brave souls who have given that last full measure of devotion to America.

On behalf of our 65,000 Navy Leaguers around the world, we wish you and the Naval Order every success in making this dream a reality very soon.

It has come to my attention that the Naval Order of the United states has mounted an effort to place a Monument to the United States Navy at Normandy, France to memorialize the Navy's contribution to the liberation of Europe from Nazi tyranny.

Having served during World WW II as a member of the naval service in the U.S. Marine Corps I give my full support to this endeavor.

Medal of Honor Recipients do not, as a matter of principle as well as policy, give endorsements.

However I am familiar with the efforts of the Naval Order to honor, with a Monument, over 1000 Navy men killed in action on D-Day 1944. This is a project which every American should be proud to identify with.

I feel privileged to be a part of this Navy D-Day Monument Fund Drive and I encourage my fellow Viet Nam Veterans to support this effort.

The Naval Order of the United States is raising funds to build a monument in honor of the U.S. Navy’s successful amphibious landing at Normandy in 1944. This campaign deserves the support of all Americans. It will bring long overdue attention to the United States Navy’s sacrifices on behalf of the troops that landed on D-Day. It will focus attention on the heroic risks undertaken by individual ships and smaller units to protect the troops from deadly enemy fire from German defensive positions. The Navy’s destroyers, in particular, came in close to the beach, exposed to enemy gunfire and at risk of foundering in the surf, to destroy German pillboxes, machine gun nests, and artillery positions. They opened the way for the invasion forces to break through the defenses and surge inland, preventing a dangerous counterattack that could have pushed our invading forces back into the sea. It will be a great moment when, thanks to the generous efforts of the Naval Order and the welcome backing of France, we can see an inspirational memorial to the U.S. Navy placed at UTAH Beach, for visitors of all nationalities.

It was the largest naval operation in history, an extraordinary assemblage of more than 1,000 combat ships and 124,000 U.S. sailors and Coast Guardsmen determined to wrest France back from the Nazis.

By the evening of the June 6, 1944, D-Day landing on the French beaches, after hours of hellish fighting, U.S. forces were firmly rooted on dry ground thanks in large measure to the guns of American destroyers blasting away at the Germans' formidable defenses.

But as the 62nd anniversary of the pivotal Normandy invasion dawns Tuesday, there still exists no monument to the overall contributions of the U.S. Navy in turning the tide against Adolf Hitler's army, or to the 1,000 U.S. sailors who lost their lives in doing so.

Long heralded for its pivotal role in the Pacific portion of World War II, the Navy has gotten far less note for its efforts on the opposite side of the world.

The Naval Order of the United States, a fraternal society of veterans of America's sea services and others, is determined to change that.

Now under way is a campaign to raise $500,000 for the U.S. Navy D-Day Monument, a 12-foot-tall bronze sculpture to be placed at a spot reserved for it by France at Utah Beach in Normandy, one of five sites stormed by Allied forces that day.

"It will bring long-overdue attention to the United States Navy's sacrifices on behalf of the troops that landed on D-Day ... (and) focus attention on the heroic risks undertaken," said William Dudley, formerly the Navy's top historian.

In all, the Navy assembled about 15,000 U.S. sailors on more than 1,000 combat ships, 87,000 on more than 3,500 landing craft, and 22,000 at bases in advance of D-Day. They formed the bulk of the largest armada ever assembled.

Their job was to transport troops, artillery and vehicles from England to France, and then to shore at heavily fortified and mined beaches. After the invasion, as the fighting progressed inland, they kept the U.S. soldiers going with supplies, ammunition and other materiel, and shuttled the wounded to Navy hospital ships.

World War II historians credit the Navy with providing the firepower that helped defeat the Germans at Normandy - a battle that became the beginning of the end of Hitler's drive to dominate Europe.

Key were the actions of U.S. destroyers, which risked disaster on the offshore shoals to come within visual distance of German gun emplacements on land and batter the enemy with 5-inch guns.

Naval underwater demolition teams were equally pivotal - and little heralded, historians said. These sailors were among the first to hit the beaches, racing under heavy German fire to clear pathways through the deadly obstacles placed by German troops along the coastline. At Omaha Beach, these teams suffered a 52 percent casualty rate.

In all, the Navy ship toll included 148 landing craft, a troop transport, two destroyers, a destroyer escort and a minesweeper.

To honor these contributions and losses, the Navy D-Day monument will feature three realistic figures: a Navy captain taking charge, with charts and codebooks at his feet; a sailor holding a 5-inch shell; and a demolition team member carrying a rifle.

On the base of the monument will be the names of all Navy vessels that participated in the invasion.

Artist Stephen Spears of Fair Hope, Ala., designed the sculpture at his own expense. The son of a U.S. Air Force career airman, he said he is pouring his heart and soul into his work.

"It's an incredible honor to be part of it," Spears, 50, said.

If all goes as planned, the sculpture will be shipped to Normandy for a 27 September 2008, dedication. France will take care of the monument, paying for upkeep and repair.

Daniel Felger, a retired Navy commander and head of the fund-raising effort, said the project is infused with a sense of urgency, given the dwindling number of Navy and other World War II veterans.

"We've got to get this done before all of this generation passes," Felger said.

On the Web: www.navalorder.org - Naval Order of the United States

(Contact Lisa Hoffman at HoffmanL@shns.com)