6
On Sundays, the troops were permitted to visit NEWPORT, CARDIFF and BRISTOL. During
the week, only NEWPORT was within pass range. The people in these towns were fairly friendly, but
had a peculiar habit of closing all amusement centers and pubs on Sundays.
June 1st and the entire camp was restricted to area for security reasons. Final preparations were
made with Battalion being divided into 33 boat groups. On June 4, 1944 the entire Battalion ? less
motors ? moved out to a nearby railroad station. Following an hour ride which took us through
NEWPORT, we detrained just outside of CARDIFF harbor. Here the Battalion boarded the Liberty ship
SS Bienville. That same day the ship moved out into the Bristol Channel and dropped anchor. It was
here that on the afternoon of June 6 we were informed that this was it ? D-Day. Utilizing huge map
blowups and detailed defense charts, the Battalion was briefed on the part it was to play. Everyone was
very much excited and eager to land and get this over.
During June 7 the SS Bienville crossed the English Channel and moved into position off Utah
Beach, arriving there early on the morning of the 8th. Then followed some anxious hours of waiting on
landing craft to debark the troops, Some Jerry planes could be seen trying to strafe the beach north of us.
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