14-032 garand Picture of the Day

[Snafu]

Swimming through a rough surf swept by machine gun and mortar fire, Coast Guardsman carried a guide line to the beach of Normandy on D-Day and survived heavy Nazi fire that mowed down many soldiers following the line to the beach. This photo depicts how the soldier wrapped the end of the line around his middle and served as a "human anchor" in the midst of enemy fire. Of the 36 invaders who attempted to follow the line ashore, only six made it. Meanwhile, the ramp of the Coast Guard-manned LCI had been shot away by shellfire.

Information

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[CINDERS]

Just pure guts the whole lot of them not saying they were not fearful but they over came the fear to press on with the job from a free person I thank you all for having done your bit.

[browningautorifle]

Coast Guardsman carried a guide line to the beach of Normandy on D-Day

Well done that man! But this must be a different landing...

[gtodan]

Jim, I stand with you. This picture does not speak combat.

[browningautorifle]

Perhaps a training photo just before. The drill was to use a human anchor. Your job crewman...here's the line. That would be the worst, knowing your job was to head out...nothing but your d*ck in your hand and stand steady. The whole while with your back to the MG 34/42 fire...2inch mortars...105mm...let's see what else?

[AZPhil]

That first guy coming ashore looks like he is smiling for the camera

[browningautorifle]

Bit of an after thought...here's some info about these... Lt. Alec Guinness RNVR ? Interesting... Landing Craft Infantry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

---------- Post added at 07:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:23 AM ----------

smiling for the camera

I was thinking he's chucking sh*t at the anchor man...

[RT Ellis]

LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
Laid down, 3 April 1944, at George Lawley & Sons, Neponset, MA.
Launched, 12 April 1944
Commissioned USS LCI(L)-675, 19 April 1944
During World War II USS LCI(L)-675 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaign:
Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
Campaign and Dates:
Invasion of Southern France, 15 August to 16 September 1944

As was previously mentioned this image not likely taken during Normandy landing, which LCI(L)-675 didn't participate in, but more likely an exercise or the Southern France assault landing. The apparent lack of motivation by the soldiers, and absence of any other ships suggest a training exercise.

The information provided states one of the ramps was damaged which is clearly not the case in the image provided. On the other hand apparently the information was written as generic to the "human anchors" which I doubt were intended to anchor the vessel, but likely more a guide and safety line for the infantry. Two men in the water could hardly "anchor" a vessel as large as an LCI(L), although they may have helped stabilize the orientation of the bow. FYI this type vessel usually dropped an anchor off the stern that was used to assist in extracting the vessel off the beach.

The caption also states that the vessel was Coast Guard manned and commanded by a Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) officer, which was unlikely.

[browningautorifle]

We understood the anchor line is for men so they don't get swept in the water...those ships grounded for dismount. Sometimes they would stay too long and they would need bulldozers to assist the stern anchor to pull them off.

[Bob Seijas]

No wonder we won... 9 days from laying the keel to launch, commissioned 7 days later!