D Day - Down to Earth - Return of the 507
As the population of World War II veterans continues to dwindle,D-Day: Down to Earthpays overdue tribute to some of the war's greatest unsung heroes. WhileSaving Private RyanandBand of Brotherspowerfully dramatized the events surrounding D-Day in a broader context, this moving one-hour documentary focuses specifically on the historic bravery of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which dropped into Normandy in June of 1944 and triumphed through some of the bloodiest small-unit battles in the history of American military combat. The worst of these was the battle of La Fiere in France, where the defense of a crucial bridge resulted in corpses piled so thick that soldiers could walk over them without touching the ground. Equally impressive--especially when you consider that these widely scattered soldiers landed as far as 20 miles from their intended drop zone--is the battle of Graignes, where French villagers valiantly supported the 507th liberators, only to be tragically executed by invading Nazis. Along with historical consultant Martin K.A. Morgan (who chronicled the 507th in his acclaimed bookDown to Earth), several 507th survivors recall their dramatic missions, and the film culminates with their return to Normandy in 2002, for the richly satisfying, deeply emotional unveiling of a memorial to their fallen comrades. Given the fact that some of the most prominent 507th veterans died shortly after this film was completed,D-Day: Down to Earthis a well-timed tribute, honoring men who faced seemingly insurmountable odds and lived to tell the tale.--Jeff Shannon