European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 7, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Ass John Bohmer . Army rangers of the 2nd in 75th Ranger regt from fort Lewis wash., March into position for Honor guard duty at Pointe do hoc rangers made their Point again by Vince Crawley Normandy Bureau Pointe do hoc France a under Gray overcast and wind chill that recalled the weather of june 6, 1944, the world paid homage monday to . Army rangers who scaled 100-foot Cliffs to Knock out enemy guns overlooking the a Day beaches. A we were soaked sick and miserable even before we got there a said Len Lomell 74, who climbed the Cliffs with the 2nd Ranger in 50 years ago on a Day morning. Half a Century later Lomell and president Clinton escorted the two daughters of the battalion commander in the assault the late . James e. Rudder As they Laid a Wreath at the base of the craggy Monument on the Edge of Pointe do hoc. At the Point in 1944, a Small band of surviving rangers fought off German counterattacks for two Days before reinforcements arrived. As a Battlefield Monument the area around the site was turned Over to the american government for care and maintenance in 1979. During the ceremony Clinton called the rangers the a clip of a Spear the free world had spent years sharpening. To plunge into the heart of the nazi Lomell who was awarded the distinguished service Cross for destroying five of the six German guns downplayed his role. A we were psyched up to the Point we knew we were going to be successful and we did no to even know where the guns were a Lomell said after the 30-minute ceremony. Although military intelligence h3d reported that the guns were at the Point the rangers found empty artillery emplacements upon reaching the cuff tops. However within an hour Lomell and another Ranger found and destroyed the missing guns in an Apple Orchard about a mile Inland. Although the 225 men who scaled the Cliffs of Pointe do hoc Are the most celebrated of the a Day rangers hundreds of others landed on nearby Omaha Beach. Both groups suffered about 70 percent killed wounded or missing. A we did no to have any ammunition. The mortars were exhausted at noon a said John Munley 72, who fought with the 5lh Ranger in on Omaha Beach. A about 11 or 12 at night we were sending men Back to strip the dead of ammunition a said Munley who was a Corporal on a Day. A that was a 515 Ron fior j3 . Rangers stand at attention in front of the Ranger Monument at Pointe do hoc. Pretty sad emotional thing to the 5lh Ranger in led the drive through German lines at Omaha Beach. In the 8 30 . Ceremony Clinton asked the Ranger veterans to stand and a crowd of several thousand broke into applause a Many of you were not born yet but you must not forget the sacrifices that w Ere made Here so that others could enjoy Freedom said Ranger Veteran Dick Hathaway 73, who introduced the president Clinton addresses a Day veterans and others at Pointe do hoc Early monday. President. A we Are the children of your sacrifice a Clinton told the Ranger veterans. A we Are the sons and daughters you saved from tyranny a reach. The most difficult Days of your lives brought us 50 years of following the ceremony Clinton went to the Edge of the Cliffs accompanied by Ken Barg Mann a former Ranger Corporal who had celebrated his Zoth birthday in the English Channel waiting to hit Omaha Beach. Joe Ghilard a 4th inf div Veteran at the ceremony said he Hopes that mondays 50th anniversary remembrance of a Day helps a Young people to respect their Freedom and that you fight for it whenever you spec. Ted Runci a 20-year-old modern Day Ranger said the 50th anniversary was a just amazing i can to really describe it with Runci who a with the 2nd in 75th Ranger regt from fort Lewis wash., has spent the last several Days meeting world War ii rangers. A a they re rangers in a a Ranger. Its just unbelievable a said Runci who a from Whitman mass. A i just can to believe in a standing on Pointe do
