The A

The Attack On Utah Beach

Sawyer Eggen

Eric

Julie

Charles

Penny

Daniel

Michael

Jeff

Stacy

Angie

Christin

Amy

Jennifer

Family Tree

Author’s Note

This story is about my great grandfather who valiantly fought in World War 2 D-­‐-­‐-­‐Day. The plan was to take control of all the major beaches and work their way in from there. It was 1944 and the war had been going on for a while now. My great grandfather drove a tank and was on Utah Beach. It was not originally on the battle plans until they decided to get a major port. It was a dreadful day for all of us, but he fought for the country he loved.

The Attack on Utah Beach

Sawyer Eggen Humanities Historical Narrative Nov 2

“Creak!!”

Up went the hatch on my tank; we were only a couple minutes from the battleRield. I realized that it was a possibility that death come to me, but dying to Right for my country would be worth it. It seemed like countless hours coming up with a plan to take down the enemy. Glancing to my friend on the left. He looked as if he had just seen his life pass before his eyes. If returned, I would feel the warmth and comfort of the ones I loved back home. I gazed to my right and there it was, the signal to proceed. Within seconds I heard a thundering boom it was then when I realized I was in a battleRield!

Driving the tank took a lot of tedious work, but it is easier once you get the hang of it. It was Rive years since the war started and, I had no idea if it will ever end. It seemed as if the Nazi’s had an endless supply of soldiers to Right the war. All I wanted is for there to be peace and for everyone in the world to feel brothers and sisters, one family, together.

“Boom!” The Rirst tank Rires.

It was all coming too quick, my mind was racing because of the loud crackles coming from the guns and I felt as if I standing with my arms tied on either side of to boxers while

ropes are slowly pulling harder. I grimaced with the thought of death and I Rired off my Rirst round. Out of nowhere a downpour of gunRire came at us. The safe conRines of my tank protected us. The defenses were not the problem for us.

It was the terrain. Boulders the size of houses scattered the ground like you were walking through Times Square.

One after the other, we Rired rounds at the defenses. So much smoke covered the battleRield, that even if we did break through the enemy’s defenses, we wouldn’t even know ourselves. I wasn’t even supposed to be in this battle plan. That was, until they decided to put Utah Beach in because they needed a major port to ship supplies into the war.

All of a sudden we got the signal to stop! It seemed like hours that we were waiting for the smoke to clear out and then we saw it! We had completely demolished the Nazi’s defenses and there was nothing left to destroy. This gave me hope that the Nazis weren’t invincible. They can be defeated, and I was able to help in the process.

World War 2 Great Grandfather What event were you in during World War 2?

• The D-­‐-­‐-­‐Day AttackWhat did you do during that period?

• Drove a tank What beach were you on? • Utah beach

How did you feel as you drove the tank into battle?• Excited to Right for his country What was the scene during the battle?• Very bloody many bombs destroying homes Did you have any friends in the war?

• Yes but forgot namesWhat rank were you during the war?

• CaptainWhat did it look like after the battle you were in?

• Everything was destroyed many dead bodies How did you feel when you returned home?

• Overjoyed to see everyone that loved him Sawyer Humanities Interview Oct 15

Research Notes

Happened June 6 1944Germans occupied France and the allies occupied englandPeople were parachuted down to clear paths for the main army to go through Allied troops were put onto 5 beaches in FranceThe Germans thought the attack would be at Calais but, it wasn’t.

Re\lection

This project has been a fantastic source for me to learn about my family. I have never had a chance to learn an interesting event that my family was in. It was also interesting that if he did not do this, my life would be completely different. My story was about my great grandfather who fought bravely in the war. I felt honored to know that someone in my family fought valiantly for the country he loved. That is why I thought that doing this project really helped me connect with my family roots.

Photos

Citation List

D-Day -- June 6, 1944. n.d. Web. 9 October 2012. <http:// www.army.mil/d-day/>. D-Day, The Norman Invasion, 6-25 June 1944. n.d. Web. 9 October 2012. <http://

www.history.navy.mil/faqs/ faq109-1.htm>.

World War II: D-Day, The Invasion of Normandy. n.d. Web. 9 October 2012. <http:// www.eisenhower.utexas.edu/ research/online_documents/d_day.html>.