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what comes to mind watching reactions to this movie is (Shakespeare in love ) when the academy began to truly lose respect from movie goers around the world. Oscars have never been the same . The fact that future generations are still being blown away by this movie shows what a huge mistake it was choosing Shakespeare in love over this. they will never live this down
All that killing, but only 1 murder: Upham murdered that German solider in cold blooded for revenge for killing Captain Miller. All the other killing was soldiers killing in war. Not that I blame Upham.
This is a hard movie to watch but I force myself every year or two, just to remind myself what our grandparents did so we could live in a better world.
I am a social worker, and spent most of my career working with the elderly, I had a client about 25 years ago who had been there in the beaches of Normandy, He told me about his experiences. I remember sitting and crying with him. It was an honor and privilege to hear his words.
Ever since I saw this in theaters I've said Tom Hanks is not just talking to Private Ryan with his dying words. He's talking to YOU as you watch. We ALL should be living every day like we are trying to earn that.
The first time I watched this movie, I thought the point of the movie was whether or not they saved Ryan. But at the end, I realized I was wrong. The last 3 minutes or so of the movie was the true point of it. "Earn it." Live a good life. Be a good man or woman. So many Americans have suffered and died to give you that chance. It's not just Ryan who owes it to the ones who died for him. It's all of us.
While I was never in the military, I do have CPTSD and can confirm that the freeze response is very common. I've been stuck in "freeze" for years, struggling just to do everyday things. One of the best non-military on-screen examples I've seen of this behavior is in the beginning of Split when Casey sits in the passenger seat of the car instead of running while Dennis (Kevin) sprays the other girls in the face. Staring, trembling, tearing up, and sitting as still as possible. I've seen so many reactors question that scene because they don't understand why she doesn't run.
The portrayal of Upham is literally the only thing about this movie I don't like. It's like they made him a "villain" because he froze up and couldn't do anything during the last battle and most reactors I see for this react the same way, though I don't think I've ever seen anyone call him a piece of crap etc. before to be honest. As you said, some people just aren't made for war, and unfortunately this movie shows what happens sometimes in combat like this. Saying he chose to ignore isn't right, he didn't ignore anything. And anyone who had to live through that and froze up etc. would have to live with that for the rest of their lives.
Upham is there to show that war changes people and that war isn't a fairy tale. People fail when courage is needed. People die from personal failures. And in war being an idealist may save your soul, but it can also get more people killed. The fact that he shoots steam boat Willie (the nazi pow they let go) at the end because he was fighting against them shows so much.
This is why training is supposed to be psychologically hard. A lot of people are repulsed by basic training in Full Metal Jacket, but, Pyle broke BEFORE his battle buddies were relying on him in combat, because it WOULD have happened. Is that the "right" way? I don't know, but I am certain some of the people I went through with in 96 could not be relied on in combat.
The depiction of D-Day in this movie, is considered to be the most accurate ever put on film. So accurate that it caused WW2 veterans to leave the theaters from PTSD.
@@kennethcook9406Yup every expert in the us. I don't know about that last part. I knew a d day vet who probably would have hated this film. Sorry, gi joe didn't take out a platoon of tigers with his dirty socks.🤣
@@kennethcook9406 On the tiny beach with the magical machine guns that could place a thousand rounds in to a 6' radius at 500 yards and capturing the beach in 15 minutes, that sceen?
Awesome reaction as always! The scene where Medic Wade dies, is one of the most heart wrenching scenes in movie history. Few actors could've expressed the terror of imminent death quite like Giovanni Ribisi. He's one of my all-time favorite actors. That man deserves SO many more awesome roles!
True. I met him at Celebrity Center in Hollywood, where I was the line uniformed security guard. 1984-1986. He was known as Vonni Ribisi and he and his group of kid friends like calling me Flash Gordon
My Grandpa stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. We have his ribbons he earned from that day in with his flag from when he passed along with the rest of the ribbons he earned. I never got to meet him, he passed away 5 years before I was born. But my Mom and Grandma made sure that I got some of his things he brought back from the war. I wouldn't even exist had he died in the war because he was sent off before my Mom was even conceived. And watching that opening scene makes me realize just how lucky he truly was to actually make it out alive.
im an army vet, i feel Pvt Ryans sentiment about not wanting to leave the unit behind as they were the only brothers he had left. when i was in, my military family were some of the closest bonds i had in my life, some of whom im closer to than my actual siblings
The cinematography and sound editing is absolutely stunning! And I love the simple conversations outside of the fighting My grandfather fought the Japanese in the Pacific. Earned the Purple Heart. He still had nightmares 30 yrs after coming home. God Bless all the boys & men who fought and died in WWII so that freedom prevailed.
My father (I am 70 years old) served in Patton's 3rd Army 42-45 (687th FAB)....Thru Normandy, the battle of the hedgerows, Battle of the Bulge... One of his last duties in Europe was helping "clean up" Buchenwald concentration camp in the spring of 45....He brought back pictures he took there
My grandpa (passed away in 1996) also served with Patton... I was a teenager when he passed. It's 1 of my biggest regrets that I didn't listen to him more when he talked about what he did in the war.
If anyone reading this visits New Orleans in the future, I highly recommend visiting the National WWII Museum there. There's an exhibit show called "Beyond All Boundaries" in 4D that is awesome and is narrated by Tom Hanks. It really makes you appreciate the Greatest Generation even more and what they went through. I was weeping at the end. Torn between being grateful for what that generation went through and ashamed at how spoiled we have it now.
They also have a passageway from one part to another that is like a Higgins boat, with one of the famous beach photos blown up to life size at the end. Pamplin Park in Petersburg, VA is about where the Union forces broke through the Confederate lines. They had a section where you were looking at a line of advancing Federals who were firing at you, this being on some screens of course. The ground also shook from cannon fire and speaker that also had the snaps of bullets. Originally they had compressed air fire to simulate very close bullets. I think they shut that down though.
"ashamed of how spoiled we have it now". My grandfather was an injured combat US veteran in WWI, my father an 8 year veteran of both WWII and Korea. They both would have said that their sacrifices were so my generation (and others) didn't have to go through that. If you want to volunteer as they both did, by all means do so, but don't do it for them.
So that Upham scene... Not only does he have to live with the fact that he let a brother die, he also has to live with the knowledge that the enemy killed his brother, saw him on the stairs and then walked right passed him. He didn't shoot him, he didn't even take the rounds off his shoulder. But more importantly, he didn't even consider him a threat...
Upham fought to let the POW go and he shot the Captain in addition to the scene on the stairs. Twice he could have prevented the deaths of his team. And he STILL didn't learn because he let the rest of the Germans go.
I see things differently. Sure it would have been nice if Upham had overcome his fear fast enough to save his buddy from getting stabbed, and the other from getting shot. But mercy is not a mistake. It is part of what makes us human beings. How much more horrible would wars be. How many more Americans would never come home if every just shot everyone that tried to surrender. For all we know someone might have already had Captain Miller in his sights when they were called upon to surrender in an unwinnable situation. Upham didn't decide to let the POW go, Captain Miller did. It was not a mistake. It was mercy. You know why he did it. "Every time I kill, I feel further away from home". That says it all right there. Letting the others go: After all that Upham, had done, failed to do, seen and heard, at the end he could still look at the Germans and see the men inside the uniforms.
@Ceractucus Keeping your humanity is critical, but your bar is FAAAAR too high for that. If you ran the military for any country in most of history, we'd only know about the country from history books.
@@sifumode9460 The reason for training, training, and more training is to avoid situations like Upham found himself in. He wasn't a trooper. He was a war correspondent, and carried a typewriter. For all intents and purposes, he was still a civilian, and until the end, had never fired his weapon in anger. Soldiers in both WW1 and WW2 would often "miss" by aiming over the heads of the enemy - taking a life is never ,and should never, be easy. But we train. We shoot at silhouttes now, instead of targets. We teach soldiers to see the enemy as something other than human so they can function. I empathize with Upham. He froze... the usually forgotten part of "fight or flight". But billiebuffalo is right - he'll remember and have nightmares his whole life, if he didn't just take himself out, at some point.
All true, didn't really matter what they were saying. Taking prisoner would mean having a place to hold them and people to guard them. During the initial landing we didn't have either. You can't neglect the fact of justing watching your best friend die, the anger wouldn't be there for payback.
@@stevenwoodward5923 They were literally on the beach. They weren't far from their logistics. I've seen photos of German prisoners being held on Omaha and Gold Beach
@@MB-oc1nw Was that on the initial wave? or latter when the beach was far enough behind them and in a secured area to have room for prisoners. Who is going to take pictures of prisoners during active combat and not trying to stay alive with the enemy about 1600ft ahead of them on open beach.
@@stevenwoodward5923 Incorrect. Thousands of Germans became POW's and, in that scene, and the following one, it clearly shows German POW's being marched away. The yahoo who shot those surrendered, unarmed soldiers committed a war crime--it wasn't any exchange of fire, and after he murdered them he had a yuck about it. Our Army has rules, and shooting surrendered soldiers is not acceptable.
Spielberg has said that the message of this movie is to all of us. We all need to earn what they have done for us and live our lives as best we can, because like you said Freedom isn't free.
James missed the French flag we get a quick glimpse of, a clue to the location, at the beginning as Ryan walks through the cemetery with the flag in the background.
The best war movie ever made. Not sure it's even debatable. Saw it twice in the theaters back in 1999. People walking out of the theater crying and hugging like they were leaving a funeral. It was something.
Great reaction, my friend. I know you've said that you only do movies, no TV shows, but the 10-hour ministries Band of Brothers would totally be worthwhile for you to watch. It follows one company of the 101st Airborne division from their training days in 1942 through to the end of the war. Great stuff. You mentioned a couple of times in this reaction 'for what?' in response to casualties. There is an episode in Band of Brothers titled 'Why We Fight' that helps to show WHY WW2 was necessary.
June 6th 2024 is the 80th anniversary of D-Day. You should watch "The Longest Day" (1962) based on the book of the same name by reporter Cornelius Ryan. 42 big name stars, 25 of them veterans, several of whom were actually involved in D-Day. I think that you would also enjoy reading both of Cornelius Ryan's books: "The Longest Day" and "A Bridge Too Far" "A Bridge Too Far" was also adapted into a movie released in 1977 Also "Operation Mincemeat" (2021) based on the book "The Man Who Never Was" about British efforts to deceive the Germans before D-Day. A good complement to watch before "The Longest Day"
It is true that many viewers rush to judge Upham without knowing how they might react in the same situation. Not every person immediately become a first-rate soldier in the heat of battle and always performs perfectly and makes the best choices in all circumstances. Some soldiers (like the paratroopers in Band of Brothers) trained for two years learning a wide range of skills; but someone like Upham likely had a short training period without preparation for being in combat or on the front line since his assignment was not aimed for combat. And there were plenty of important roles and functions to fill besides being in combat. His story here is a journey of growth, becoming aware of his own weaknesses and strengths, and becoming more mature. So many WW2 enlisted men, and draftees, were extremely young, many like my own father went right from high school into boot camp, and no one could have predicted the horrors to come. Hindsight is powerful, and knowing how someone *should* have behaved in brand new situations, as well as having the advantage of being older, is rather unfair. There were so many who found unexpected strength, courage and ability while they served, but others took more time to get to that level and had lessons to learn, often the hard way. Most of Miller’s group were older, had already been in many battles, and had acquired experience that Upham did not yet have.
I've served. You don't become GI Joe from basic training, but if you didn't wrap your mind around the idea of shooting someone in the line of duty YOU DID IT WRONG. I suspect Spielberg wanted someone relatable for people who did NOT serve, but I'll continue to hate him if you don't mind.
The wartime of the 40s thru the 70s really took a toll on my family. I lost my grandfather in WWII, two uncles in Korea along with another having his feet amputated, and two cousins lost in Viet Nam and one having his stomach replaced. One of my departed cousins was coming home after his tour was complete. He landed in Miami on his way home. A broken signal at a train stop caused his demise as his car was destroyed by a passenger train. Go figure. We had a welcome home party set up when we got the news. War sucks.
This is at this time the most realistic war movie ever made. They hired a medical training equipment firm to make the corpses with realistic mutilations and even actors who were amputees for the scenes after the explosions. They also used CGI for the bullet travel and ricochet. The effect of the weapons is also realistic. A Bangalore torpedo is a tube that allows you to put explosives on the base of a fortification or to clean barb wire. The "sniper" is not really a sniper, he's a designated marksman, there was differences in the use doctrine between Germany and the US, American marksmen didn't have the modern sniper training the Germans had. Great movie, I'm glad you watched this.
Steven Spielberg's 3 great war movies are Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, and Empire of the Sun. I highly recommend you react to Empire of the Sun... it is a true story
I love your reactions, James - I laugh and I sob, right along with you. You are the whole package, no collaborations needed. Love watching films with you, James!
The Bangalore Torpedo was a pipe filled with explosives that were carried in sections and put together and run under the barbed wire with detonators to pull at the end.
The greatest War Movie of all-time (in my not-so-humble opinion), and a personal favourite overall. It's real, brutal, and heart-breaking, but with moments of levity that remind us of the humanity involved and the point of the story. This amazing film losing Best Picture to "Shakespeare In Love" forever cured me of any interest in The Oscars.
That's the only thing about the movie I don't like, and it's not really the movies' fault, more the reactions we get from reactors nowadays. Like he's some sort of bad guy for freezing up like that, and as you said he's supposed to be us basically.
I served. Thank God I never had to shoot anyone, but have had a round locked and loaded, safety off, finger on the trigger, ready to do what I had to for my team, so Upham is not me. I get your point, in a sense, but I'll continue to hate Upham if you don't mind.
I worked in the movie theater when this movie came out and I remember how many people left the theater shortly after the beginning. So many veterans would be so stricken with their memories, that they couldn't handle watching it because it was so well depicted on D-Day. Steven Spielberg push these men so hard to grasp the understanding what those men went through. The camaraderie that comes with more is something only soldiers can understand. I'm so glad you had an opportunity to watch this film because it is perfect. I highly recommend you watch movies like this. I recommend Men of Honor, the Tuskegee airmen, or Windtalkers. All phenomenal films.
The line "Tell me I have lived a good life." absolutely crushes me every time. The older I have gotten, the more it resonates. I watched this when it came out in the theater and interestingly enough was watching it w/a John Miller who also served. Not a captain though. I make a point of watching this on June 6th each year, and in a similar vein, Band of Brothers is a phenomenal series you should also consider.
At the end, when his wife walks up to him, she asks, "Who was he?" Implying that for his entire life, he likely avoided talking about his time in the war, to his wife, or family. The littlest detail like this line speaks to the undertone that recalling these memories was very distressing to the character, and he didn't want to talk about them when he got back, so he never did. Even when she asks, the thing on his mind is what he responds with. "Tell me I'm a good man. That I've lived a good life."
Usually I leave a comment saying it, but you said it brother...freedom is not free. In fact, it's probably one of the (if not THE) most expensive thing this side of heaven. Thanks for a thoughtful and touching reaction (from the guy who recommended you watch The Abyss early on in your channel). Keep it up, James.
When word broke out that Stephen Spielberg was making a movie, and what's more, a movie about World War II everybody who was anybody signed up to take part in it given his work on Schindler's List. Aside from Tom Hanks most of the veteran actors were given bit parts in the film and Spielberg sourced a lot of new and lesser-known talent. Matt Damon actually was recommended for the role by Robin Williams after they worked together on Good Will Hunting. A lot of people still cite this movie as being based on a true event when it is in fact not. There is a policy that was instated known as The Last Survivor wherein the lone surviving sibling serving in the military would be rotated out of any combat position they may be serving in and brought to work stateside so as to avoid family legacies from being wiped out, but there would not have been a squad of soldiers sent behind enemy lines to find such a person whose status was unknown. Still, for the sake of the film it poses a nice ethical question in the midst of all the chaos. In terms of when the movie takes place the Airborne divisions were still largely scattered around Normandy. The idea was to drop para-troopers behind the fortifications at the beaches and cut off any potential reinforcements ahead of the beach landings. The outfit that Ryan had hooked up with would have been isolated from the chain of command. It was said in the film that a Colonel had been gathering troops to safeguard the bridge but by the time Captain Miller's squad arrives the highest ranking soldier is a Corporal so it is clear they've had some hefty losses. Suffice it to say they would not have likely had the means to call for air support, nor had any expected time frame for reinforcement.
Yeah, I've always said that they wouldn't have sent out a team to find him. Far more efficient to just spread the word to the commanding officers in the area so that when (or if) he showed up at a rally point they would have just ordered him to stay in place.
One my favorite movies and an all time great. I heard when released in theaters a lot ppl left during the invasion scene they just couldn't handle the brutality and veterans said it was very authentic. Definitely hard to watch but so damn good. Awesome reaction!
Barry Pepper, who played Jackson the marksman, also did great performances in the true stories: "We Were Soldiers" (2002) "Flags of Our Fathers" (2006)
the X shaped metal things on the beach were called 'hedgehogs'. They were designed to tear the bottom out of the landing craft if the assault came at high tide. The higgins boats were actually manned by canadians and were made of wood. preparation for this was among the first missions carried out by UDT, now SEALs where they did shore and under water cartography to map the beaches, channels and possible obstacles.
Nice reaction. I agree. This is a hard movie to watch for the brutal realism of war. It’s also a testament to the heroes who gave their lives for our country and the freedoms we enjoy today. I feel this is an important film to watch for the younger generations to understand a small glimpse of the sacrifices made in WWII. It’s like passing a baton to new generations about freedom and fighting against evil in the world. Or else it will expand by allowing evil and hate to exist and thrive.
That comment you made in the opening scene “why open it from the front?” You’ll be happy to know that the amphibious vehicles were redesigned to deploy from the rear after the war, presumedly because of similar experiences to those depicted here.
Some of them were redesigned even before the war was over...the Marines learned the lesson about bow ramps, and well before the end of the war were using new LVT-4 model amphibious tractors with the ramps mounted in the REAR of the vehicle. But some amphibious craft even to this day have ramps in the bow...both the LCAC and the LCM-8 have bow ramps...of course neither of those is ever expected to land under fire like the LCVPs and LVTs of WW2.
So, the thing about Upham. Basic Training in WW2 was 8 weeks, after which you'd get assigned to a unit. Once you arrive, any further training is... discretionary. If one joins the US Army now, there's 10 weeks of BCT, followed by specialist training (22 weeks in the case of Infantry School, so the greenest, rawest mudroller has had 32 weeks of training) before joining your very first unit. If Upham wasn't the worst choice to assign to Miller for this mission, the other translators who speak French and German must be a sorry bunch.
For those angry with Upham, it was found that 30% of American combat troops never fired their weapons during battle due to freezing up from fear, just as Upham did. The banner with the 4 blue stars signified 3 family members in that house were serving in the armed forces during WW II. If a service member was klled in action/while serving in the armed forces, the blue star would be replaced by a gold star. Thus was born the tradition of the "Gold Star Famly".
The troops were landed heavy, carrying 80 plus pounds. They were loaded down with assault gear and what they needed to hold the beach. Planners had been told that they should send the first waves as light as possible because they would need speed. Later elements could bring things like mines, big shovels, etc. Units were also sent in whole, with some staff, etc. They were again advised to send in combat troops only and leave the rest for later. The blimps were called "barrage balloons". These were designed to deter aircraft from strafing or making low bombing runs. The balloons were dangerous, but the real threat was the cables below. These were steel cables and could wreck propellers or even rip off wings.
There was also a lack of training and instruction given in the use of the "life belt" flotation devices issued to the troops. They were meant to be worn high up around the chest under the arms to hold the head and shoulders out of the water, but troops took the name "life belt" too literally absent other info and wore them like a belt, and when they went into the water the flotation device caused them to upend and kept their heads under water.
In cities and towns with high populations of military retirees, many theaters hired medics to be on standby. Many military and their spouses had strong reactions, some medical. Yet, despite that, it was universally loved and recommended to one another. The beach scene is considered one of the most accurate depictions of any action ever put to film.
the really sad part about the mother, they hadn't even got out of the car and she was collapsedn on the porch. she knew what was happening, but she didn't know it was three of her sons
The opening scene takes place at the U.S. Cemetery in Normandy. Bangalores short for Bangalore torpedoes are a type of explosive device connected end to end. It is a shaped charge designed to destroy light obstructions like barbed wire.
Dude, the opening scene with the old man in the cemetery... that's Arlington Cemetery.... where solders killed in action are buried. I don't think you were listening.... he knew they were in Normandy, dude.
Relax. I've been to Arlington Cemetery, and it looked like it. Then, I saw the French flag. He may have missed that detail. He also said that he had never been to Arlington National Cemetery before, and for all he knew, it could have been organized in such a way that there are sections where every American who lost his life is buried based on the country where he fought and died. It is impossible for one person to know everything, and not many people know about the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer. Also, Capt. Miller didn't die at Normandy. So even if James knew about this cemetery, he might assume it was actually a different cemetery. Most of the American soldiers buried there died in Normandy, but not all of them.
Love the suspense before the Tiger and Panzer tanks come into view. You hear the creaking and rumbling for what seemed like forever. Reminded me of the creaky bones and machines of the damned....
I remember watching this in theaters when it first came out. When it was done, nobody spoke. Nobody even moved for a couple of minutes. Everyone just sat in the quiet, with a lot of sniffling sounds. BTW, if you'd noticed the French flag flying over the cemetery at the beginning, you would've realized it was an American veterans cemetery in France. And with the ocean nearby, likely in Normandy. Not Arlington.
I believe the cemetary at the beginning and end was in Normandy, or one of the many war veteran cemetaries in Europe. Many allied soldiers who died, especially from the D-Day invasion from U.S. and Canada didn't make it home for burial.
The amount of people that watch this movie and think the guy died because he took his helmet off amazes me lol those helmet s dont stop bullets.. especially rifle rounds... Its for flying rocks.. ect..
I know it doesn't fit the theme of your channel, but maybe you can watch "Das Boot" (1981) sometime... It shows WW2 from the perspective of a German submarine crew...
This torpedo consists of several cylinders (connectable to each other) 1.5 meters long and 5 centimetres in diameter each consisting of 3.85 kilograms of TNT. M1A1 Bangalore Torpedo The original Bangalore torpedo was designed in 1912 by Captain McClintock, an engineer who worked for Bengal, Bombay and Madras Sappers and Miners. Developed in Bangalore, India, the original design was not intended for warfare, but to clear pre-existing barbed-wire obstacles leftover from the Boer War and Russo-Japanese War. The World War II era M1A1 Bangalore Torpedo was a pipe-shaped Class V anti-personnel mine-clearing charge capable of blasting a ten- to 20-foot wide path through a minefield or section of barbed wire. TUBE LENGTH: 5' WEIGHT: 13 lbs. (9 pounds of explosives) EXPLOSIVE TYPE: TNT. Peace out.
I don’t know, at this point (3:30), if you self corrected or not but, the opening is in Normandy, France, not Arlington Cemetery. The French flag is the giveaway.
The insane D-Day landing scenes were filmed on a beach in Ireland, which ironically was neutral ground during WW-II, except for Northern Ireland (part of the U.K.)
This movie lost the Best Picture Oscar to Shakespeare In Love and I will never forgive the academy for that! This is unquestionably one of the best things ever put on film!
This, and Schindler's List, should be mandatory viewing for every American. Both are very realistic and therefore very hard to watch. But, as you said, necessary.
It's not a movie, but maybe you can make an exception for Band Of Brothers. A mini series with 10 episodes. Produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. About American soldiers in WW2.
BOB is Absolutely the BEST! You will be hooked after the first episode and engrossed in every episode! Apparently the budget by the end of the 3rd episode had equalled the budget for SPR. BOB is one of tv’s greatest achievements.
The "blimps" are barrage balloons- They're tethered down with steel cables intended to knock the wings off any low flying planes who try to strafe the beach.
American cemetery in Normandy, not Arlington. It’s maintained by the French in appreciation of the sacrifices made. A Bangalore is used to breech obstacles.
That is not Arlington national cemetary. It is the cemetary at Colleville-Sur-Mer, France. It honors the Americans who died during the Normandy invasion.
The first time I saw this in the cinema (here in Canada) I thought Upham was a double agent given his fluency in German, that would explain his reticence to help his buddies.
You’re right. Everyone should watch it. It is important as you said. How many hard decisions have to be made at a moment’s notice. Great reaction. Everyone gets really outdone with Uppum. SMH. 😢 It hits you in the feels. 😢❤
Great reaction as usually James 💚💚💚If you want to continue with Steven Spielberg's movies, I highly suggest "Schindler's List". I am curios if it's on your son's Top 5 😉
Not Arlington but the Normandy American Cemetery above Omaha Beach . . . The government of France granted use of this land, in perpetuity, as a permanent burial ground without charge or taxation. “Time will not dim the glory of their deeds.”
Greetings James, The boats they landed in, Higgins boats, the only other alternative would have been Amtracs which they used a lot in the Pacific. It wouldn't have made much difference, the weight of fire from the German machine guns was lethal, they were christened buzz saws for a good reason. The beach obstacles they were sheltered behind were called hedgehogs. Best wishes from Wales.
Not sure if you know, but all the Rangers on D-Day were actually carried ashore on Royal Navy operated LCAs. Of course, it still had a bow ramp, but at least the LCA had a pair of armored doors at the front of the troop compartment and behind the bow ramp to provide at least some protection when the ramps went down.