The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-06-06
CANT STOP Us"
AYERS SERGEANT
Invasion Starts Very
Quietly and Without
Tension
BY SANDOR s. KLEIN
United Press staff COrreSDOndentl

united Press STAN correspondent
Washington, June 6-(UP)-An
American sergeant, packing con-
centrated destruction, peered into
the darkness toward France and
said, "They can't stop US"
His four words, from an 'inva-
sion front" dispatch to the War De-
partment, were uttered as the great
est military operation of history be-
gan Every quietly and without ten
sion" from a small British town
whose inhabitants had little idea
that anything unusual was going on,
From this town, the War Depart
ment dispatch said, the liberation
of Nazi Europe began in a small
way" as assault troops-relieved Of
practically everything but weapons
walked calmly aboard their blunt
nosed landing craft without at
tracing the slightest bit Of atten-
ton"
Thus started what in a matter OF
hours became a roaring, flaming,
crashing inferno as the battle was
Joined on the northern coast Of
France and Allied airplanes swarmed
against any targets, however small,
which might have "a bearing on
the strength of the armies :"
The men had been briefed care
fully. They knew exactly what their
mission was. At the last moment,
the ar Department dispatch said,
they were relieved Of practically
everything except their arms and
ammunition"
An officer explained: you are 60
ing to have a nice holiday by the
seaside. You won't have any KIP OF
fatigue details, or training, or any
thing. Just relax"
A headquarters report described
each man as "a walking arsenal"
Some carried their Garand rifles, 80
rounds of ammunition and three
grenades. Others bore grenade
launching Springflelds. Others had
Browning automatic rifles.
There were Bazookas, fame
throwers. Int pole charges land all
the other equipment necessary to
reduce fortified positions"
The sergeant who said they can't
stop us" added: we've got more fire
than anybody ever heard of before"
Another sergeant thought 1t was
a pity that they should take away
the mems overcoats before the last
minute" On reflection, he added:
Maybe this Is the last minute"
It was.
The men were equipped with other
things besides their weapons. They
had been taught. for example, to
say in German, "halt! Put up your
hands" And in French: (Which
way is the Boche?"
The assault units were assembled
not in divisions, regiments, batta-
lions or any of the other conven-
tional military units but in craft
loads"
Before the landing, these craft
loads were assembled so that the
men would drive on the beaches in
their normal tactical formations.
For the first day of operations
each soldier was issued one days
emergency rations. Tomorrow. the
War Department said, they viii be
served hot food from field kitchens
In France.
For a week before the invasion,
the troops had been kept close to
quarters in the marshailing towns,
forbidden to talk to civilians or
yet unbriefed soldiers.
When the time came to jump on
they were ready. Overhead stream
ed warplanes covering the opera
ton.
Targets for the Ninth Air forces
Mustangs, Thunderbolts and Light
nings." the War Department dis
patch said, were concentrated in
a relatively narrow but important
urban area Of Northern France and
Belgium, criss-crossed with roads
and rail lines from Germany, lead
ing to the first line Of piliboxes and
trenches. dotted with strategic air
bases and cities"
mo target Is too small" the dis
patch said.
Still employing the present tense.
the headquarters report added that
the Ninth Air force is now flying
more flghter-bombe missions with
more aircraft than any air force
in history"
"a