A Challenge on the Historic Beaches of Normandy

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06 June 2013
Point Du Hoc, Normandy, France

A cold mass of buddies seeks shelter in one of the remaining bunkers on Point Du Hoc from the wind. As we are making small talk, and getting to know each other, from the rim of the bunker you hear, “One grenade and you’re all dead!” Cadre Garrett had arrived! Garrett explained to us that this would be a different kind of challenge because of the hallowed ground we were standing on. Garrett chose 4 people, 1 to be platoon leader, and the other 3 to be squad leaders. Garrett talked us to real quick about how 2nd Ranger Bn landed on the beach below with a force of approximately 220 Rangers, and began scaling the cliffs. When they reached the top there were only about 90 Rangers left. The Rangers located the German guns that had been moved, destroyed them, and started moving inland liberating the villages. This would be our mission as well, to liberate 3 villages. We would not be moving in the 2 pretty columns that the Challenge normally uses, we would be moving as squads, using Infantry Movement Techniques (IMT), Squad Rushes, pulling security in danger zones, and generally acting like an infantry unit. I was assigned to 3rd Squad, and was given the role of Assistant Team Leader (ATL) since I have military experience. Our Team Leader was Tom Rosenberger who had been an infantryman in another life. Our Squad Leader was John Alleman.

As we moved out, all 3 squads had numerous growing pains as we rushed, 1 squad at a time, from crater to crater and made our way from the cliffs to a road. At this point things go a little blurry. We spent the next several hours patrolling, I remember that every time we came to a cross road, the lead squad would post security, which we messed up regularly, and took numerous casualties from, while the other 2 squads sprinted through the danger zone. We would reach a town, 1 squad would pull security, while another squad assaulted, and secured the chapel. At the second village, the sun came up, and rather than Garrett’s normal Asian Calisthetics, we listened to morning colors. At this point we started operating in a lot of open fields. So instead of our former squad patrols, and secure the danger areas, we were now “peeling off” which means that as you lay on the ground, facing outboard, as the last person passes you, you get up, run behind them, and lay down facing outboard in front of everyone else. We did this for a number of miles, until we reached and secured the last village.

At this point a more normal Challenge was to begin. Flutter kicks, push-ups, get the flags up front, 2 columns, all the normal stuff. We left this last village and headed to a small museum. From there we started walking to Omaha Beach, along Omaha Beach. We stopped at the memorial on Omaha Beach, and switched Team Lead and ATL. We received our next mission, and stepped off. The wind was brutal, blasting us with sand from the beach. As the beach ran out and we followed the road there was a trail to our right heading in the trees, and up a flight of stairs. As we reached the top of the stairs, Garrett was asking us questions about each other. If you didn’t know the answer, back down and up you went. We followed this ridge line for some time before ending up at a small memorial next to a gorgeous wheat field. The field of wheat made a rustling/whistling noise as the wind blew, and gave the area a very surreal feel. We left this monument, and headed back down the hill, and down the street to the back entrance to the American Cemetary. Garrett stopped us and had us remove all headwear and sunglasses. We finished the climb up to the cemetery and entered from behind the statue of American Youth. We were just in time for Morning Colors…

After Morning Colors finished, we were given an opportunity to walk around and view the cemetery. After this we were told we had 15 minutes, “Don’t be late.”  It turns out that a member of the team had made arrangements to have a wreath presented at the statue from the GORUCK family.

After the wreath presentation, we headed down hill again, crossed some sand dunes, and onto Omaha Beach! We walked the surf line for the majority of Omaha beach, and let me tell you, the English Channel is COLD! It is also very strong, we all nearly fell over numerous times. We ended up walking two-by-two with linked arms to hold each other up. Before getting out we made two ranks, put our backs to the water, and walked out to sea until the water was a little over waist high.

After exiting the water, we started what I can only describe as our own long walk. Back to Point Du Hoc! This was approximately 10 kilometers. It took us forever. When we reached the Point we did our push-up, got our patch and relaxed in a bunker together.

This Challenge was incredibly emotional, and I feel very confident saying that I am not the only one who shed a tear in multiple places along this Challenge. Garrett did a wonderful job making this a very unique Challenge, that was fitting of what happened there.