Allied forces dared the English Channel and stormed Normandy Beach — determined to rebuke German occupation of northern France in what would be the late final chapters of World War II’s European theatre Among its many subplots: the arrival of Fort Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division and its undaunted paratrooper regiments pushed into Carentan les Marais despite frightful odds and scattered battalions and under a growing “sister-city” partnership with Hopkinsville a small contingent of Carentan’s leadership is once again spending time in south western Kentucky and northwest Tennessee — hoping to continue building what’s becoming an economic and emotional bridge over the Atlantic Ocean Christian County Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council Executive Director Carter Hendricks Christian County Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Director Taylor Hayes and Visit Hopkinsville’s Executive Director Amy Rogers Wednesday proved to be a full slate in Nashville and Fort Campbell — where visits to The Chefs’ Warehouse Whole Foods Market Green Hills and a Change of Military Command Ceremony filled the itinerary the group once again entrenched itself at Fort Campbell — an installation which appreciation and comfort from Carentan descendants and their emissaries is on his third visit to this portion of the U.S — a place he said he’s “proud to be in” because of its similarities to northern France with its “farms he finds himself in charge of many annual “D-Day” ceremonies and events — which often bring supportive summons from the 101st and Christian County — and it’s a yearly conversation that will always and forever link the two communities is serving his third — and final — six-year term for his constituents he is deeply invested in this “close link” with his home and Hopkinsville Christian County Chamber of Commerce’s director of military affairs said one of the more unique connections between the two communities — at least lately — hasn’t been dairy production It has been this era of historic preservation as Carentanian curators continue to find remnants of a horrific conflict — even as its city thrives eight decades after its Allied liberation said it struck him — when members of the contingent noted that “if not for World War II this relationship between Hopkinsville and Carentan might not otherwise exist.” Rogers was one of a few locals who made the trip to Normandy last June in what was a jubilant 80th birthday and remembrance of “Decision Day” or “Designated Day.” Friday will be driven by economic development before concluding with a private reception at The Bruce Convention Center Saturday rest-and-relaxation will involve a tasting and tour of the MB Roland Distillery Add the following CSS to the header block of your HTML document.Then add the mark-up below to the body block of the same document This work, Carentan Air Assault Demonstration B-roll, by SFC Joshua Joyner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright the collective age of the bride and groom was nearly 200 But World War II veteran Harold Terens and his sweetheart Jeanne Swerlin proved that love is eternal as they tied the knot Saturday inland of the D-Day beaches in Normandy she’s a youngster of just 96 — made their nuptials an almost double-century celebration The location was the elegant stone-worked town hall of Carentan a key initial D-Day objective that saw ferocious fighting after the June 6 Allied landings that helped rid Europe of Adolf Hitler’s tyranny arrive to celebrate their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais But Terens and his sweetheart Jeanne Swerlin proved that love is eternal as they tied the knot Saturday inland of the D-Day beaches in Normandy kiss from a window after celebrating their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais celebrate their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais kiss as they arrive to celebrate their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais smile from a window after celebrating their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais Terens called it ″the best day of my life.″ As the swing of Glenn Miller and other period tunes rang out on the streets well-wishers — some in WWII-period clothes — were already lined up a good hour before the wedding with a rousing pipe and drum band also on hand to serenade the happy couple After both declaring “oui” to vows read by Carentan’s mayor in English they waved through an open window to the adoring crowds outside And to peace in the world and the preservation of democracy all over the world and the end of the war in Ukraine and Gaza,” Terens said as he and his bride then clinked glasses and drank who wore a long flowing dress of vibrant pink Terens looked dapper in a light blue suit and matching pink kerchief in his breast pocket “Congratulations to the newlyweds,” Macron said prompting cheers and a standing ovation from other guests during the toast praising French-American friendship “(The town of) Carentan was happy to host your wedding Mayor Jean-Pierre Lhonneur’s office said he wasn’t empowered to wed foreigners who aren’t residents of Carentan they could always complete those formalities back in Florida if they wished Lhonneur likes to say that Normandy is practically the 51st state of the USA given its reverence and gratitude for Allied soldiers and the sacrifices of tens of thousands who never made it home from the Battle of Normandy although his comments also fittingly describe the feelings of many Normans for veterans “I hope for them the best happiness together.” Dressed in a 1940s dress that belonged to her mother 73-year-old Jane Ollier was among spectators who waited for a glimpse of the lovebirds “It’s so touching to get married at that age,’' Ollier said “If it can bring them happiness in the last years of their lives The WWII veteran first visited France as a 20-year-old U.S Army Air Forces corporal shortly after D-Day was attached to a four-pilot P-47 Thunderbolt fighter unit as their radio repair technician Terens helped repair planes returning from France so they could rejoin the battle He said half his company’s pilots died that day Terens himself went to France 12 days later helping transport freshly captured Germans and just-freed American POWs to England Terens again helped transport freed Allied prisoners to England before he shipped back to the U.S you know?” she proudly declared before they embraced enthusiastically for TV cameras That’s it for now !” Terens said as he came up for air To which she quickly quipped: “You mean there’s more later?” AP journalists Sylvie Corbet in Paris and Terry Spencer in Fort Lauderdale contributed to this report Army’s 101st Airborne Division commemorating the impending 80th anniversary of D-Day jumped out of helicopters Sunday and attacked mock targets in a display that showcased the present while paying homage to the past The air assault drill was held in Carentan paratroopers from the 101st arrived to liberate the town and provide vital support to the Allies’ beach landings Carentan annually celebrates the division with a parachute show the 101st decided to participate in the D-Day commemorative events by displaying its current capabilities “We think it’s worth highlighting how we have advanced since the early stages of airborne development,” said Lt the unit was designated as an air assault division the 101st can deliver an entire brigade hundreds of miles behind enemy lines by helicopter 50 soldiers were unloaded from four helicopters before breaking into an enemy camp another helicopter delivered supplies by sling load In addition to highlighting the advances and honoring the sacrifices of earlier soldiers the event showed support for the values they fought for “It’s important that we come together on this piece of terrain to reaffirm our commitment to those values particularly now when aggressors worldwide are threatening those,” he said more veterans were on hand to recount their memories of D-Day But with a dwindling number of them still alive organizers in Normandy have been looking at new commemoration options said this was a major factor in the extent of its participation this year the unit mostly just laid wreaths or made an appearance at the D-Day commemorations in Normandy “It’s about ensuring that we maintain this connection between the 101st and Normandy for the future,” Sylvia said After participating in the air assault drill Jason Rogers said the link feels strong despite the drastic differences between World War II and today it’s still demonstrating that we remember history and that we care about the community here The airborne landing on D-Day in support of the seaborne assault was considered crucial to the success of the entire invasion The 101st Airborne Division was less than two years old at the time Seizing Carentan was seen as essential for connecting to the American landing beaches and establishing a defensive line against German counterattacks the 101st participated in Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge Its efforts in France and Germany contributed significantly to the Nazis’ defeat members of the 101st Airborne Division deployed to Europe to assure NATO allies and deter Russian aggression on the Continent marking the division’s first European deployment in nearly 80 years still protecting us in Europe,” Denis van den Brink a consultant who works with Carentan officials on their D-Day events “We want them to keep coming and reminding the people they liberated all those years ago.” Officials with the Hopkinsville-Christian County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council are partnering to welcome a delegation from Carentan France — Hopkinsville’s sister city — which is expected to arrive next week The European visitors will consist of business education and political leaders who are looking to learn more about the area’s regional economy the potential of partnership opportunities between the two across-the-pond friends and with the citizens of south western Kentucky All parties will convene frequently March 18-23 SWK EDC Executive Director Carter Hendricks said this relationship began in 2018 following discussions related to the shared history with Fort Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division — which spent weeks in the Carentan region of France during World War II Hendricks added that this relationship has “already provided meaningful experiences and opportunities” between the leaders of Normandy and south western Kentucky and that he finds it “exciting” to see the sister city relationship continue its exploration of meaningful economic partnerships for the future — while showcasing economy and agricultural heritage Tourism Executive Director Amy Rogers also noted that “meaningful conversations” about potential partnerships are vital for economic development to any community The allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944 including the capture of Carentan by American airborne troops helped facilitate the destruction of German forces in northwest Europe Taking the city of Carentan was General Maxwell Taylor’s last major objective in the Normandy Campaign The 43-year-old career officer from Missouri commanded the 101st “Screaming Eagles” Airborne Division Taylor and his more than 6,000 paratroopers landed on French soil beginning in the early morning hours of June 6 1944—D-Day—after jumping from C-47 transports Another 6,000 paratroopers under command of General Matthew Ridgway’s 82nd Airborne Division jumped into Normandy slightly after the 101st Glider missions supporting both divisions followed later that morning and evening Both airborne divisions spearheaded Operation Neptune with the task of blocking approaches to Utah Beach and capturing causeway exits off the beach to allow amphibious landings by 4th US Infantry Division landed far from their drop zones and were scattered onto cow pastures Slowly that day they managed to regroup and conquer their initial objectives Now the prize of capturing Carentan awaited them Taylor’s forces needed to take the town in order to consolidate the beachheads at Omaha and Utah Although only a small city of 4,100 civilians Carentan was larger than any other community in the lower Cotentin Peninsula Straddling the main highway from Cherbourg to Caen and Saint-Lô the double-tracked railroad from Paris to Cherbourg cut through the center of town making it strategically important for German communications Reuters war correspondent Bob Reuben remembered how seriously the 101st Airborne anticipated the battle for Carentan In the marshaling area back in England before D-Day Taylor’s staff officers stressed that the town “was the channel through which Germany could pour its hordes upon our landing forces while they struggled through the water and sought a shaky foothold on the landing beaches.” their milk processed at the Carnation Evaporated Milk dairy on the site of an old creamery The only sound approach to Carentan was down the slope from the village of Saint-Côme-du-Mont and along an exposed causeway supporting the main road Carentan was mostly defended by two battalions of the German 6th Parachute Regiment After two days of ferocious fighting along the causeway Taylor’s men were in position to launch an attack against Carentan in the early morning hours of June 10 from two directions The 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment advanced from the south along the Cherbourg Road while the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment crossed the Taute River to strike from the northeast a brief artillery and mortar bombardment preceded the advance of the 1st Battalion German bombers struck one American company of the 502nd killing and wounding scores of Taylor’s men suffered so many casualties that the Americans later called the contested ground Purple Heart Lane two more glider battalions were across the Taute River the glider soldiers renewed their attack southwestward but were stopped cold on the northern outskirts of Carentan a battalion of the 502nd renewed its attack under cover of a smokescreen Reinforced by another of the regiment’s battalions hand-to-hand fighting ensued for almost six hours Taylor had his officers in the field negotiate a truce at noon to collect the dead and wounded Taylor exploited the opportunity to send a message to the German commander Strict orders from Hitler to hold Carentan at all costs meant that Heydte couldn’t even consider Taylor’s offer the Germans repeatedly counterattacked until 10:30 p.m. forcing all three battalions of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment to withdraw under cover of artillery and mortar fire so Heydte ordered his troops to abandon Carentan under the cover of darkness and under fire as the Germans began pulling out of Carentan 101st Airborne artillery commander Brigadier General Anthony C McAuliffe’s men pelted the enemy with big guns six hours later McAuliffe’s firepower had cleared the town of Germans but the jubilant French citizens came out of hiding to greet the American liberators The French skillfully uncorked the bottles of wine that hadn’t fallen into enemy hands the German 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division mounted a heavy assault to strike the 101st by way of the Carentan-Baupte-Périers road The Americans were overrun by German infantry armed with self-propelled guns but Colonel Robert Sink’s 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment managed to hold on until relief came from tanks and heavy guns manned by an element of the 2nd Armored Division After five days of almost continuous combat the 101st drove off the final German counterattack: Carentan and the link between Omaha and Utah were now secure The town looked every bit a war zone: German bodies The civilians who remained during the fighting were left with no water or electricity and rotting garbage and decaying animals filled the air with a nauseous stench Taylor’s 101st remained in Carentan on occupation duty until the end of June before moving back to England in early July to prepare for the next offensive—Operation Market Garden stepped out of the column and plucked some labels with the Carnation logo and placed them in his pack to give to his parents Stedman had worked at the Carnation plant in Massachusetts This article is excerpted from his most recent book The Paratrooper Generals: Matthew Ridgway and Maxwell Taylor and the American Airborne from D-Day to Normandy Once Hitler declared a place a "stronghold," his men had no choice but to fight to the death Copy MLA Citation Copy APA Citation Copy Chicago Style Citation the day after V-E Day was officially confirmed Eleanor Roosevelt reflects on the cautious mood along with his fellow RAF pilots who have been revered as “the Few,” played a critical role in defending the United Kingdom against Nazi Germany during the summer of 1940.  US Third and Seventh Armies' March 1945 offensive cleared the Rhineland pushing deep into Germany and decisively weakening German defenses before the final Allied push Adolf Eichmann initially escaped justice by fleeing to Argentina where he hid out for nearly a decade until he was kidnapped by Israeli intelligence operatives and taken to Israel for trial Before the Allies could cross the Rhine River Bernard Montgomery’s forces first had to pry the German defenders away from its western bank with two simultaneous operations: Veritable and Grenade.  The Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum confirmed retired Lieutenant Colonel Harry Stewart Jr.'s death saying he passed away peacefully at his home in Bloomfield Hills a lesser-known but significant offensive in Alsace in January 1945 But why did Hitler choose to draw the United States directly into the European conflict View Campus Map The first time Harold Terens traveled to Normandy and tasked with bringing freed American prisoners of war to England days after D-Day in 1944 — a pivotal moment in World War II that helped liberate Europe from Nazi occupation Terens returned to the region in northern France with another mission at hand — to tie the knot with his sweetheart Jeanne Swerlin "I am blessed that I am going to be married to the beautiful girl that she is. The smartest girl I've probably ever known, the wittiest girl, the best dancer, the most fun," Terens said last week "She is the best of all the rest," he added Terens, 100, and Swerlin, 96, both grew up in New York City but did not cross paths until 2021 through the introduction of Swerlin's former partner's daughter. Both Terens and Swerlin were widowed at the time. Terens had sworn off dating at the time but he said he felt an instant connection to Swerlin after the two were encouraged to go to dinner, The Associated Press reported On Saturday, the two exchanged vows inside a town hall in Carentan a small port city near the beaches that Allied Forces landed on during World War II The city is also famous for the Battle of Carentan when American airborne forces fought to secure the link between the landing beaches the two were invited to a special state dinner at the Élysée Palace with French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S "Congratulations to the newlyweds," Macron said as the crowd of prominent French figures celebrities and business leaders cheered for Terens and Swerlin It came a few days after Terens and dozens of other WWII veterans were honored by France at a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion Terens was in England working on radios and helping repair planes for battle he volunteered to go to Normandy and help bring back American and British prisoners of war Terens ended his service in 1945 and worked for a British conglomerate that distributed beer, cigarettes and other items, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel Become an NPR sponsor military demonstrations and more were held throughout the region during the main commemorative period Below is a selection of memorable moments from the week captured by Stars and Stripes Vintage military vehicles drive along the beach in Normandy Hundreds of World War II vehicles from Europe and the United States were brought to France to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day participates in D-Day commemoration events in Normandy on June 2 Paratroopers were vital to the success of the D-Day invasion air and sea forces of the allied militaries and remains the largest amphibious invasion in military history Various parachuting events marked this year’s anniversary celebrations the eldest son of the 26th president of the United States directed troops a Utah Beach during the Normandy landings John Steele hangs from the village church in Sainte-Mère-Église Steele’s parachute got entangled on the church during his landing on D-Day He is said to have hung for about two hours before German forces captured him He later escaped and went on to fight for the rest of the war A couple dressed in 1940s attire walk through the streets of Arromanches-les-Bains Vintage clothing and music are a hallmark of D-Day anniversary celebrations in Normandy World War II military vehicles line up on the beach at Arromanches-les-Bains Arromanches was at the center of the Gold Beach landing zone It is to the east of the American landing beaches of Utah and Omaha Kammer is projected onto a screen as he enters the D-Day ceremony grounds at Normandy American Cemetery Kammer served as a Technical Fourth Grade with the 16th Armored Division and was sent to Europe in 1945 A firework show is held in Arromanches-les-Bains This work, "Filthy 13" honored in D-Day 80 festivities, by SSG Ariel Solomon, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright 101st Airborne Division troops who spent the week in Normandy, France, this week as part of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of D-Day took part in a moving moment on Friday when they re-created a famous photo first taken on June 20 Maxwell Taylor was presenting awards to Screaming Eagle soldiers in the Carentan Town Square after the city's liberation from Nazi forces by the 101st Airborne It was a moment that signified the Allied victory in Normandy the 101st Airborne re-created that photo during a mass reenlistment ceremony for 21 current Screaming Eagle soldiers in the Carentan Town Square Chief of Staff of the Army, issued the oath to the troops as he and current 101st Airborne Division Commander Maj and the Mayor of Carentan Jean-Pierre L'Honneur all presided over the ceremony.  this will truly be the one that I will take away from this experience as holding the most significance for me," said LTC Martin O'Donnell of the 101st Airborne "This was a true connection of the past with the present," he said O'Donnell said the significance of the moment was certainly not lost on the troops who raised their right hand to take their oaths there because we're a volunteer force," O'Donnell pointed out and they got the experience to re-enlist here at such a historic location and time." He said it was also an important moment for the people of Carentan "Both the city and the Division wanted to highlight the impact that the 101st Division had in Carentan It commemorates the liberation," said O'Donnell they are all still so very thankful that everything this Divison and our country did for them." Reach Jennifer Babich at 931-245-0742 or by email at jbabich@gannett.com consider signing up for a digital subscription at TheLeafChronicle.com This work, 101st commemorates 78 years since bloody cabbage patch fighting in France, by LTC Karolyn McEwen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright Terens described it as "the best day of my life," while Swerlin affirmed that love isn't just for the young and they still get butterflies After affirming their vows with the mayor of Carentan Terens and Swerlin exchanged rings and raised a toast to the health of everyone and the resolution of conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza Despite their non-residency status in Carentan making the marriage symbolic under French law they can complete legal formalities back in Florida Their love story serves as a testament to the enduring power of love across time and borders The town is adorned with flags and bunting and veterans are celebrated like rockstars A Carentan town spokesperson admitted to a ‘simple and honest mistake’ News | World A French town in Normandy has apologised over a “mistake” in not flying the Union Jack in its D-Day celebrations Carentan traditionally flies all of the flags of the Allies during its annual commemorations pictures of flag bunting appeared to show the Union Jack missing and the flags of the US and Canada were present A town spokesperson told the Daily Mail: “We admit to a simple and honest mistake.” He added that the town will play God Save The King alongside the Star Spangled Banner and other national anthems on their official ceremony on June 2  Those visiting the picturesque town had voiced disappointment at the omission as 11,000 UK troops were killed in the landings Engineer Neil Geddes, 59, of Fleetwood, Lancashire, told the Sun newspaper: “It’s wrong considering our involvement in France’s evacuation and liberation.” he said: “They have no right to flags here added: “For the brave contribution our country gave to defeating evil we should never be forgotten.” Because of its proximity to the French coastline Carentan was a vital town for the Allies to capture during the D-Day operation which saw tens of thousands of soldiers land on French shores during WW2 Around 10,000 allied soldiers were killed in the operation including thousands of troops from the UK and US It took Allied troops six days of bitter fighting to liberate the town and maintain the area between the two landing beaches of Utah Beach and Omaha Beach June will mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings on 6 June 1944 with a series of major commemorations and events planned across the UK and in France King’s health ‘heading in positive trajectory’ ahead of accession anniversary Boeing Starliner returns to Earth without astronauts BA pilot suspended after ‘drunken assaults on female crew’ Also known as D-Day, the historic operation saw the Allied Forces mount a large-scale invasion of Nazi-occupied France that ultimately tipped the course of the Second World War in the Allies’ favour The King and Queen, accompanied by The Prince of Wales but not Kate, will attend the UK’s national commemorative event in Portsmouth as well as events in Normandy the Princess Royal will unveil a statue of a Second World War Canadian Royal Regina Rifleman and attend a reception in Normandy Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin This work, Task Force Carentan Mentors 95th Air Assault Brigade During Battalion FTX, by 1LT William Trout, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright I'll let the screenshots do the talking.  (Image credit: Black Matter)(Image credit: Black Matter)(Image credit: Black Matter)(Image credit: Black Matter)(Image credit: Black Matter)(Image credit: Black Matter)(Image credit: Black Matter)(Image credit: Black Matter)The density of map props and buildings is… kind of shocking The overview of the map itself is staggering to consider if you've played tactical shooters before Overlapping lines of fire exist everywhere as do blind spots that allow nearly any position to be flanked from multiple angles Driving one of Hell Let Loose's claustrophobic tanks in this environment is going to give me ulcers Black Matter explained more about the map in their update "Building a photoreal town from to-scale reference is no easy feat," said developer Max "and to achieve that we've taken the liberty of closing off many of the 2000+ gardens that lay nestled behind the street fronts." Hell Let Loose's upcoming Update 7 will also include a full animation and sound overhaul for the game what their post describes as "some of the biggest changes to the game that we’ve ever made." Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team. ContributorJon Bolding is a games writer and critic with an extensive background in strategy games he can be found playing every tabletop game under the sun This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Watch the 101st Airborne Division Silver Star awards ceremony which took place on 20 June 1944 at the Place De La République in Carentan The footage from this video has virtually never been seen before the military superintendent of the city and acting Mayor Mr in this role because of the death of Doctor Caillard The commander of the 101st Airborne Division Facing Major General Maxwell standing left to right are: The campaign between the Nazis and Allies for the city of Carentan occurred between 10 and 15 June 1944 fiercely within the city and while converging on the entrances of Carentan Carentan had to be wrested from the hands of the Germans to establish a continuous defensive line against expected German counterattacks while the Allies linked up with the Utah Beach and Omaha Beach frontlines The Nazis were defending Carentan with four divisions of the Wehrmacht – 2 regiments of the Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6 (6th Parachute Regiment) of the 2nd Fallschirmjäger-Division and two Ost Heer battalions The Germans ordered reinforcements to Carentan was delayed by the unavailability of transport vehicles and because of aircraft attacks by Allied Forces This left an opening for the attacking 101st Airborne Division which had been ordered to seize Carentan from Nazi hands The 101st Airborne had landed by parachute and glider on 6 June on the outskirts of the city the 101st pushed forward across the causeway into Carentan on 10 and 11 June 1944 A shortage of ammunition forced the German forces to retreat on 12 June The 17th SS PzG Division launched a counter-attack against the 101st Airborne on 13 June but the counter-attack was thwarted by the Airborne troops and reinforcements from the U.S 2nd Armored Division of the CCA (Combat Command A) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dazv0ZHQuMA Joris Nieuwint is a battlefield guide for the Operation Market Garden area His primary focus is on the Allied operations from September 17th Having lived in the Market Garden area for 25 years he has been studying the events for nearly as long He has a deep understanding of the history and a passion for sharing the stories of the men who are no longer with us @joris1944 facebook.com/joris.nieuwint The launch of the new map hasn't been smooth but it promises to be the best version of this iconic WW2 location Follow us for daily PC games news, guides and reviews on X, Facebook, Google News, and Steam. Or sign up to our free newsletter. This Page Has Washed AwayLooks like this page has disappeared with the tide — perhaps it’s buried in the sand at Vazon or drifting off Petit Port About 150 soldiers will deploy in mid-April according to a Friday release from the 101st Airborne and they are expected to be gone for nine months They will replace the Tennessee National Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment which has been in Ukraine since last summer Soldiers from each of the brigade’s seven battalions will form Task Force Carentan They are scheduled to case their colors April 12 at Fort Campbell The mission is part of efforts to build up Ukraine’s defense and training capabilities though an initiative called the Joint Multinational Training Group - Ukraine Task Force Carentan will help develop cadre they will move toward a goal of Ukraine’s forces taking full responsibility for training at the center next year “The majority of deploying Soldiers are leaders who have years of experience overseeing and conducting tough 502nd Infantry Regiment and senior commander for the task force “I expect this to be a great opportunity to share lessons learned from our own combat training centers as well as gain valuable insights from the UAF that will make the Strike brigade a more ready force.” The 2nd BCT soldiers deploying “will be not be actively involved in operations in Ukraine’s conflict area,” according to the release and instead their mission will be “strictly for training and advising purposes” at the request of the Ukrainian government The task force will be named in honor of the battle at Carentan Soldiers of the 502nd Infantry Regiment liberated the town following the D-Day invasion on June 6 “This mission plays an important role in contributing to the security of Europe as a whole," Col "The Soldiers of Task Force Carentan stand ready to share their extensive knowledge and training experience and we look forward to growing this strategic partnership with the UAF as we learn from their perspective and expertise.” She has been an editor at Military Times for 20 years covering issues that affect service members She previously worked as an editor and staff writer at newspapers in Columbus Posted in: Games, Team17, Video Games | Tagged: , , , Team17 and Black Matter revealed this morning that the latest update for Hell Let Loose has been unleashed with the Battle Of Carentan This update is the biggest so far as they raise the bar and the difficulty for the 50-v-50 shooter The animation for the game was given an overhaul along with the audio and some of the mechanics for a better experience in the game The update also brings with it the new map of Carentan a city of "strategic significance" in the days following D-Day in Normandy it's going to focus on a lot of brutal house-to-house taking place in one of the biggest maps they ever made for the game "The battles of Hell Let Loose have been raging in Early Access for over a year now and with every update that's been released the intensity and nightmare of war has become even stronger but none of that comes close to what this new update brings The real world fighting in and around Carentan was brutal and entirely different to any of the other battles held during the war up to that point and it's that experience that we've aimed to reproduce as best and as accurate as possible for our incredibly passionate and growing community of players The animation overhaul is the icing on the cake for all of this – it pushes everything that bit further," said Max Rea "Hell Let Loose is such a remarkable game It's quite unlike any other title in our portfolio and that's what makes it particularly special to work on The new update brings us closer to fulfilling our true vision for Hell Let Loose and we look forward to further improving the experience as we approach a full launch," said Chris Coales This work, Multinational Air Assault Planning Exercise Conducted at JMTG-U, by 1LT William Trout, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright Dear Reader,Unfortunately our comment platform isn\'t available at the moment due to issues with our paywall and authentication vendor The 80th anniversary this week of D-Day brings mixed emotions for French survivors of the Battle of Normandy CARENTAN-LES-MARAIS, France — Shortly after D-Day in 1944 the American soldiers heading out to more fighting against Adolf Hitler's forces couldn't help but notice the hungry French boy by the side of the road One by one, the men fished fragrant, brightly-colored spheres from their pockets and deposited them in Yves Marchais' hands. The 6-year-old boy had never seen the strange fruits before, growing up in Nazi-occupied France, where food was rationed and terror was everywhere the young Marchais counted them all — 35 — and dashed home for his first taste of oranges But also seared into survivors’ memories in Normandy are massive Allied bombing raids that pulverized towns burying victims and turning skies fire-red Marchais remembers his family's house in Carentan shaking during bombardments that sounded “like thunder” and how his mother stunned him by gulping down a bottle of strong Normandy cider when they were sheltering in their basement declaring as she finished it: “That's another one that the Germans won't drink!” Some 20,000 Normandy civilians were killed in the invasion and as Allied forces fought their way inland, sometimes field-by-field through the leafy Normandy countryside that helped conceal German defenders. Only in late August of 1944 did they reach Paris Allied casualties in the Normandy campaign were also appalling with 73,000 troops killed and 153,000 wounded Allied bombing was aimed at stopping Hitler from sending reinforcements and at prying his troops out of the “Atlantic Wall” of coastal defenses and other strongpoints that German occupation forces had built with forced labor The list of Normandy towns left ruined and counting their dead grew with the Allied advances: Argentan Leaflets scattered by Allied planes urged civilians to “LEAVE IMMEDIATELY YOU DON'T HAVE A MINUTE TO LOSE!” but often missed their targets a woman in the bombarded port city of Cherbourg described Allied pilots as “bandits and assassins" in a June 4 letter to her husband who was being held prisoner in Germany “My dear Henri, it's shameful to massacre the civilian population as the supposed Allies are doing," reads the letter, which historians Michel Boivin and Bernard Garnier published in their 1994 study of civilian victims in Normandy's Manche region French President Emmanuel Macron paid homage to civilian victims in commemorations on Wednesday in Saint-Lo recalling how the Normandy town became emblematic of losses from Allied bombing when it was razed on June 6 and 7 Playwright Samuel Beckett dubbed Saint-Lo “The Capital of the Ruins” after working there with the Irish Red Cross Macron said Saint-Lo was “a necessary target" because Allied bombers were aiming to prevent German reinforcements from reaching the invasion beaches and described it as "a martyred town sacrificed to liberate France.” Those killed in Saint-Lo included Marguerite Lecarpentier's older brother Henri was 19 and he'd been helping another man pull a teenage girl out from under debris when the town was bombarded again Marguerite's father later identified her brother's body “because of his shoes When her family subsequently fled Saint-Lo they crossed through what was left of the town “It was terrible because there was rubble everywhere,” Lecarpentier recalled Her mother waved a white handkerchief as they walked “because the planes were constantly flying overhead” and “so we'd be recognized as civilians.” Lecarpentier speaks without rancor of Allied bombing “When one thinks that they landed on June 6 and that Saint-Lo was only liberated on July 18 and they lost enormous numbers of soldiers.” University of Caen historian Françoise Passera co-author of “The Normans in the War: The Time of Trials 1939-1945," says Normandy's civilian casualties were overshadowed for decades by the exploits of Allied soldiers in combat and their sacrifices Although towns held remembrances locally she noted that it wasn't until 2014 that a French president — Macron’s predecessor François Hollande — paid national homage to Normandy's civilian dead because France had been bombed by its liberators “this was not a subject that could be raised very easily by French authorities," Passera said “Civilian victims were swept under the carpet somewhat to not offend the Americans," she said D-Day and its aftermath were "a bit of a confusion of feelings,” she said but we also cried because the dead were all around us.” This work, D-Day 80 Air Assault Demonstration [Image 6 of 6], by SFC Joshua Tverberg, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright Tags a rumour went around claiming that Microsoft was working on a Gears of War Remaster one that would bring the franchise to PlayStation for the first time Microsoft has announced Gears of War: Reloaded View Results For all of the CBS Austin area except Mason County. Hail, high winds, isolated tornadoes, and flooding are possible. FORECAST'Woo-hoo!' At 97 D-Day veteran parachutes into Normandyby JOHN LEICESTER France (AP) — No murderous hails of gunfire this time 75 years almost to the hour after he parachuted into Nazi-occupied France Tom Rice again found himself floating down through Normandy's skies now a grizzled 97-year-old thrilled as a little kid "Woo-hoo!" the ex-paratrooper yelped after hitting the ground carrying the memories of comrades lost in battle and on a new mission — of remembrance this time — for the ever-shrinking numbers who sacrificed so much in World War II "I represent a whole generation," Rice said C-47 transport planes dropped string after string of parachutists a couple of hundred in all - including Rice not alone and laden with weapons as he did on June 6 with round 'chutes akin to those used by D-Day soldiers were honoring the thousands of paratroopers who leapt into gunfire and death 75 years ago Their landing zone Wednesday was fields of wildflowers outside Carentan one of the targets of the airborne forces that were dropped in darkness on perilous missions to take strategic objectives and disrupt German defenses so that the greatest amphibious invasion in history jumped into roughly the same area he landed in on D-Day He said it was dark in 1944 when he hit the ground in hostile territory and he can't be sure exactly where he was Army's 101st Airborne Division on that momentous day 75 years ago landing safely despite catching himself on the exit and a bullet striking his parachute He called the 1944 jump "the worst jump I ever had." "I got my left armpit caught in the lower left hand corner of the door so I swung out came back and hit the side of the aircraft and I just tried to straighten my arm out and I got free," he told The Associated Press in an interview His jump on Wednesday was an altogether different story and having prepared for six months with a physical trainer Rice swooped down with an American flag fluttering beneath him and landed to a wave of applause from the crowd of thousands that gathered to watch the aerial display Other parachutists jumped with World War II souvenirs some carrying items their grandfathers took into battle and music of the time played over loudspeakers Army's Green Berets who served in Afghanistan cigars and the dog tag and wallet his grandfather had with him when he fought as an artillery man in France "I feel like I got to jump with my grandpa," Schaefer said afterward British parachutists jumped later Wednesday en masse over Sannerville D-Day veterans were expected to be among them The jumps were part of events marking the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion Asked how his D-Day comrades would have felt about him jumping "Some of them couldn't handle it This work, French families host American Soldiers during Normandy commemoration, by SGT A.M. LaVey, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright One of the most well-known veterans of the D-Day invasion of Normandy came home after the war and became a successful businessman in the Irish Hills Fred Bahlau jumped into France with H Company Bahlau had been tested in combat against the Germans along the Carentan Canal near the town of Carentan His bravery there earned him his first of two Silver Stars As one of the most-decorated soldiers of World War II — along with the Silver Stars he received two Bronze Stars and two battlefield commissions — he has shared his stories with multiple authors and historians and a national news broadcast two of the suggested searches are “Fred Bahlau 101st Airborne” and “Fred Bahlau Band of Brothers.” Bahlau was not portrayed in the popular HBO miniseries based on Stephen Ambrose’s book which was about E Company of the 506th PIR at the Army’s school in England for soldiers who had received battlefield commissions to become officers The Allies needed to take Carentan so that tanks landing at Omaha and Utah beaches could link up and move east with machine gun tracers reaching up to the sky anti-aircraft flak bursting all around and  burning C-47 transport planes falling to the ground Bahlau’s company had to take a 283-foot bridge across the Carentan Canal He and two other men had joined up with Capt Charles Shettle and about 40 others from different companies to assemble a small group to cross the bridge To avoid being gunned down by German machine-gunners watching their end of the bridge the paratroopers had to dive through the bridge railing into the water before they got to the end of the bridge Bahlau and the others got to the bank on the other side of the canal then a German came over the top and shot one of the Americans Bahlau tried to shoot back with his Thompson submachine gun but its action had become clogged with sand then ran up to the top of the bank and shot the German Bahlau and the rest of his unit eventually secured the bridge Bahlau jumped into Holland in Operation Market-Garden during which he received his second Silver Star received his second battlefield commission during the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne and helped liberate Adolph Hitler’s summer home in Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps Bahlau took over his father’s electrical business and eventually owned several Irish Hills businesses Bahlau is 90 years old and lives at a nursing home in Toledo To listen to or read a transcript of an interview of Fred Bahlau conducted by family friend Ryan Gabbert, visit the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project by clicking here This work, 101st honors memory of WWII soldiers killed in Normandy crash, by LTC Karolyn McEwen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright France (AP) — In a small Normandy town where paratroopers landed in the early hours of D-Day applause broke the silence to honor Charles Shay He was the only veteran attending a ceremony in Carentan commemorating the 77th anniversary of the assault that helped bring an end to World War II Amid the coronavirus pandemic this year's D-Day commemorations are taking place with travel restrictions that have prevented veterans or families of fallen soldiers from the U.S. Britain and other allied countries from making the trip to France Only a few officials were allowed exceptions Army medic when he landed on Omaha Beach on June 6 he recalls the “many good friends” he lost on the battlefield the 96-year-old Penobscot Native American from Indian Island stood steadily while the hymns of the Allied countries were played Friday in front of the monument commemorating the assault in Carentan that allowed the Allies to establish a continuous front joining nearby Utah Beach to Omaha Beach Shay regretted that the pandemic “is interrupting everything.” He is expected to be the only veteran at Sunday’s anniversary day ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer “We have no visitors coming to France this year for two years now And I hope it will be over soon,” he told The Associated Press in Carentan Shay’s lone presence is all the more poignant as the number of survivors of the epochal battle dwindles Only one veteran now remains from the French commando unit that joined U.S Canadian and other allied troops in storming Normandy’s code-named beaches While France is planning to open up to vaccinated visitors starting next week that comes too late for the D-Day anniversary most public commemoration events have been cancelled A few solemn ceremonies have been maintained are coming in greater numbers than last year as France started lifting its internal virus restrictions last month Some French and a few other World War II history enthusiasts from neighboring European countries gathered in Normandy dressed in old uniforms or joyfully eating at the newly reopened terraces of restaurants they're contributing to revive the commemorations' special atmosphere — and keeping alive the memory of June 6 they kept them close to their heart,” Shay said And I don’t think the French people will ever forget.” gathered in a field in Colleville-Montgomery to parade down the nearby roads along Sword Beach to the sounds of a pipe band dressed in a vintage uniform including an aviator hat and glasses said she used to come every year from the southern city of Marseille except for last year due to virus travel restrictions “We were afraid that we might feel a bit alone but in the end we were happy to do even small gatherings.” a member of the Remember Omaha Beach 44 group and also being able to pay tribute to all the veterans He was a young boy and was hidden in his family home in Sainte-Mere-Eglise when more than 800 planes bringing U.S paratroopers flew over the town while German soldiers fired at them with machine guns Describing an “incredible noise” followed by silence he remembers crossing the town's central square in the morning of June 6 paratrooper stuck in a big tree that is still standing by the town’s church The first thing I do is look at that tree,” he said “That’s always to that young guy that I’m thinking of He was told: ‘You’re going to jump in the middle of the night in a country you don’t know’.. He died and his feet never touched (French) soil More than 12,000 soldiers were buried temporarily in Sainte-Mere-Eglise during and after the Battle of Normandy before being moved to their final resting place local people were allowed to go to the cemeteries people had adopted a grave because they had seen a name they liked .. They were a bit like friends,” Renaud said especially at the beginning when there were no coffins yet They had become the Normandy soil,” he added more than 150,000 Allied troops landed on beaches code-named Omaha The Battle of Normandy hastened Germany’s defeat that single day cost the lives of 4,414 Allied troops Kevin Sharp came with a delegation of three other U.S military officers from the 101st Airborne Division to attend Friday’s commemorations in Carentan — the same division that took part in the D-Day operations there last-minute permission to come to France despite virus restrictions military “really values the legacy of the soldiers and the paratroopers who came before us," he told the AP “It was important enough to send a small representation here to ensure that our appreciation for their sacrifices is made known.” This work, Remembering "Big Red One" Heroes of D-Day, by SSG Agustin Montanez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright One of the most iconic and beloved maps from Call if Duty franchise which made appearances in the original Call of Duty and Call of Duty 2 will feature in Call of Duty: WWII Carenten has been remodelled for the new game Players will be able to fight through the destroyed buildings and fortified streets of this war-torn French town in an all-out battle for a strategic German stronghold Carentan will be made available at launch as a Bonus Map for all Season Pass holders Call of Duty: WWII will release on 3 November 2017