Before the infantry hit the beaches, the Navy sent in frogmen (forerunners of the SEALs) to go in and clear the obstacles that were in the way. I met one of these frogmen a few years ago. He went in to Omaha Beach, and was the only survivor of his team of eight. The plan was their landing craft would get to about 100-200 yards offshore, and the team would disembark and swim in. They guy I met was the first man out, and right after he jumped, their landing craft took a direct hit and killed everybody else. He didn't know this though; he only found out as the day went on and he kept not finding anyone from his unit.
|
