Leonard G. "Bud" Lomell
January 22, 1920 - March 1, 2011
Tom Brokaw included a chapter on Bud Lomell in his book, "The Greatest Generation." Tom reported on Bud's passing tonight on Brian Williams' Nightly News on NBC. Bud was a decorated veteran of World War II and one of the heroes of the 2nd Ranger Division's mission on D-Day to scale the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, seeking to take out five 155-millimeter German cannons. Things did not go exactly to plan, but by pure chance, the mission was accomplished.
My ears perked up when I heard "Pointe du Hoc." I visited it last May as part of an side-tour I took of the Normandy D-Day invasion, "An American Highlights Tour" by Battlebus, while on Jeanne Mills' quilters tour.
Pointe du Hoc had been turned into a "moonscape of craters" by aerial and naval bombardment of the area, and this site is incredible. Our van-load of tourists wandered among the craters as our guide showed us maps and aerial photos and described the history of the campaign here. I could only think that similar topography in the US would be crisscrossed with cement pathways and guard rails.
See you tomorrow.
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Very interesting photos - - thanks for posting them.
ReplyDeleteI will show this to my husband. I think he will find it interesting, as do I. Thanks for sharing your photos, Lee!
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