My father-in-law was there---0630, Omaha Beach, First Wave.
When the film first came out, I saw it in the theatre, and later recommended that he see it. He said he's see it "when he was ready".
Three years later, he borrowed our copy of the DVD and whatched it alone, then again with my mother-in-law.
He was very struck by the accuracy.
He had seen "The Longest Day" years before, but liked the accuracy of SPR better.
He was one of those who while loaded down with gear, lost his M1 in the surf coming on shore and was ordered by some lieutenant to "go find one".
After charging up the escarpment with the others...helping to clear a bunker...pulled back the bolt on his M1 only to find...that it wasn't loaded.
That night he slept in a ditch.
Later in the week he was the last foxhole on the extreme US left...the next foxhole over were the British forces.
He later became a medic, earned three bronze stars, and was wounded at Huertegin Forest and shipped back to Paris where he was the Seargent At Arms for the Paris US Hospital.
Yes, Oogly....see the movie.
Most younger folks are being taught literally nothing in their history classes about 1900 - present.
68ROX
