 June 6th, 1944, 5.55 a.m., bombardments from the invasion fleet begin to hit the beaches of Normandy, France for the Allied invasion. Just offshore, soldiers anxiously waited in landing craft for the signal to dash for the beach. All they knew was that when the ramp went down, there would be nothing separating them from German bullets, but their faith, their training, each other, and sheer luck. The beach heads saw horrific casualties. The small green sector of Omaha Beach would be among the worst. The soldiers making that landing had three choices, die, surrender, or win. A successful landing meant the Allied forces would have a base of operations in Europe to take the fight to the Nazis and bring an end to the Second World War. This June 6th marks the 71st anniversary of D-Day and serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by the greatest generation. For a closer look at the Allied invasion of Normandy, visit All Hands Magazine online.