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A plane just went down in flames, which I hope is a German. There is quite a bit of action off our starboard beam and it is believed they are bombing Point du Hoc, France. There is a lot of ack-ack and we can hear the rumble of the explosions. Many of the bomb flashes appear to be green. Very heavy blasts are hitting the ground and it looks like they are concentrating their attack on one spot. Large bursts can be seen in the sky from the anti-aircraft fire. The time is now H-minus three hours and things have quieted down now except for the AA fire. The range on Point du Hoc is 13,600 yards.

They are bombing what is known as Omaha beach area, and Point du Hoc is also covered with a green haze. The silhouette of the Arkansas and other ships can be seen. Anti-aircraft fire has increased and the explosions can be heard very distinctly. Ack-ack fire is bursting in clusters illuminating the sky like a Fourth of July celebration. The ship has gone into General Quarters from "one easy", and I am now on my station in the fire-room. The bombing seems to have died down at present. Flashes are appearing again in the Utah area, but they are not concentrated as yet. The Allied ships were to withhold their fire until forty minutes before H-Hour, unless the enemy opened fire upon them first. Evidently the enemy has opened fire because it appears that the British have started their bombardment. The time now is H-minus two and a half hours, so they are one hour and fifty minutes early with their firing.

They are blasting the Utah and Omaha areas now, which are plainly visible, although the bombs are throwing up so much dirt and smoke that low-flying planes disappear behind it. The president is now speaking over the radio and between the noise from the bombs and AA fire, we are managing to pick up a word now and then on the bridge. They are still blasting the Utah area. It seems that the president is talking mostly about Rome and what it means to the Allied nations. Everything seems to be calm aboard ship. Since we have been at anchor the temperature in the fireroom has risen to 106 degrees. It is necessary to transport all of our drinking water to the firerooms in containers. We have now consumed all of our ice water, so we have to drink lukewarm water which makes all of us rather heart-broken. Boy, could I go for a nice cold bottle of beer - Budweiser preferred.

They are apparently dropping some heavy stuff over on the Utah side. Flares that have been dropped are illuminating the area considerably. They appear to be concentrating their attack mostly in this region. There seems to be quite a fire raging east of us, unusually large bursts and flashes of light can be seen. There is a red glow on the beach that looks like a red-hot iron. The glows continue to spread, and it is possible to count at least half a dozen large fires. They are sure giving that place an awful pasting.

We are now preparing to up anchor as a number of landing craft are getting close to our port quarter; in fact, some are so near that you can read the US on the bow. Now it is possible to make out the numbers, one of them is 635. As near as we can make out they appear to be loaded with tanks. The first landing craft almost hit our bow, but the remaining seem to be about fifty yards away. The time now is H-minus two hours. Just one hour and twenty minutes before we turn loose our mighty guns against the Nazi tyrants.

It is still rather dark on topside. We can hear numerous planes overhead, but we can't see them. The landing craft are passing so close to us now that we can hear hammering on their equipment. "Train in all five-inch guns on port side." The 437 is not more than twenty yards away and is pulling away to avoid hitting us. The current is very strong and difficult to judge. A lot of these craft are getting so close to us that it is necessary for us to get underway. That last craft just skimmed by our bow and the side cleaners are beefing about the paint he might have scraped off. One of the landing craft rammed our port bow and we are afraid it will sink. "Signal bridge! Signal that destroyer quickly", is the next message we hear, and then almost immediately, "Signal that last craft to pass astern of us. Signal engine two-thirds speed ahead." We finally managed to get out of that landing craft box we were in. One of the landing craft skidded off our port bow, it fell back in line again, so we don't know how much damage was done. We had a little excitement for a minute, but it is now passed. Dawn is beginning to break in the east. They are really blasting along the beach. There is very heavy firing off our starboard bow and some of the landing craft are silhouetted against the beach. Terrific blasts and flashes of light can be heard and seen from here. Planes are also visible and now it is possible to distinguish them. There are P-38s and Flying Fortresses, also Spitfires. Tremendous explosions and fires can be seen on our port quarter. The explosions that are occurring on the beach almost defy descrip tion. There is now just one continual rumble and roar. On our starboard quarter a plane was just shot down in flames. The time is H-minus one hour and thirty minutes.

What is taking place greatly resembles scenes I have seen in the movies of planes dropping their bombs and the fires that followed. Another plane was shot down in flames. Quite a large flare was dropped dead ahead. More P-38s are entering the fight. We have been very fortunate at having passed through one of the most heavily mined fields known without mishap. It is very light now and the coast of France is clearly visible. Our range is now about 15,000 yards. H-minus one hour and fifteen minutes.

The ship is swinging port side to for firing. There is a line of destroyers between us and the beach. They are to eliminate pill boxes and cover the landing of our troops. Directly behind the destroyers are a long line of landing craft closing in. It is possible to see the Arkansas and her task force now. She is on the other side of Omaha, shielding transports on the eastern side.

Chaplain C Le Grande Moody

Every person involved in the preparation and execution of the landings would have a unique perspective on the meaning of war and warfare.

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