PrintMay 20, 2004
The Steeple at Vierville
[Memorial Day approaches, soon followed by the sixtieth anniversary of the D—Day invasion of Normandy. Military historian John B. Dwyer, author of last week's article on John Kerry's Swift boat service in Vietnam, presents an inspiring story of military intelligence and heroism in Normandy — editor]
It stood less than a mile inland from the Normandy coast in the little village of Vierville—sur—mer. Navy Scout & Raider officer Phil Bucklew saw it sometime in January 1944, during his first cross—Channel reconnaissance mission. 'I remembered little of the area but noted what appeared to be a church steeple in the background during the lighted star shell action.' Bucklew would see that steeple again.
Allied planners for the upcoming Normandy invasion, Operation Overlord, needed all the intelligence they could get on the landing beaches. Besides aerial reconnaissance, they employed various intelligence gathering...(Read Full Article)
