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Normandy #2 -Tourism in Sainte-Mère-Église & church

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a425couple

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Apr 22, 2017, 7:34:03 PM4/22/17
to
Tourism in Sainte-Mère-Église today centers on its role in the D-Day
invasion.
Another Normandy church of interest can be seen at:
https://www.google.com/search?
Ok, gets rejected for line length.
Go Google Images, and try things like
Pvt. John Steele
church+steeple+at+Carentan
Sainte-Mère-Église & church

"Return to Normandy - Stripes
Stars and Stripes1500 × 1001Search by image
An effigy of Pvt. John Steele, an 82nd Airborne Division soldier, hangs from
the steeple at the Ste.-Mère-Église church. Steele's parachute got caught
on.."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Steele_(paratrooper)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-M%C3%A8re-%C3%89glise
"A well-known incident involved paratrooper John Steele of the 505th
Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), whose parachute caught on the spire
of the town church, and could only observe the fighting going on below.
He hung there limply for two hours, pretending to be dead, before the
Germans took him prisoner. Steele later escaped from the Germans and
rejoined his division when US troops of the 3rd Battalion, 505 Parachute
Infantry Regiment attacked the village, capturing thirty Germans and killing
another eleven. The incident was portrayed in the movie The Longest Day
by actor Red Buttons."

Yes, the parachute and the manequin are hanging from the side
of the church, just as depicted in the movie.
All true enough, except Steele was on the other side, and
movie producer felt that was less well photographed.

Plenty of nearby food establishments have various murals
about the D-Day landing painted on their windows.
No doubt about their patriotism!!,,, or love of tourism dollar?

> Carentan
> As we progress in to the heart of the American Paratrooper drop zones, we
> need to explain the significance of the small town of Carentan. This was
> the strategic link up point for forces landing at Utah and Omaha beaches.
> You will understand the geographic location of this town and why it was
> vitally important to the American forces.

a425couple

unread,
Apr 22, 2017, 8:32:55 PM4/22/17
to
"a425couple" <a425c...@hotmail.com> wrote in message...
> Tourism in Sainte-Mère-Église today centers on its role in the D-Day
> invasion.
> Another Normandy church of interest can be seen at: ---
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Steele_(paratrooper)
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-M%C3%A8re-%C3%89glise
> "A well-known incident involved paratrooper John Steele of the 505th
> Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), whose parachute caught on the spire
> of the town church, ----

Another tourist in Normandy who is much more willing to type,
and display photos, than I am wote a bit of his trip.
You can read and view it here:
http://highdreams.livejournal.com/103665.html

About half way down it shows the church with the
Pvt. John Steele manequin & Parachute.
And modern stained glass windows.

About 1/3 of the way down he shows pictures of the
church I described in #1, where the medics worked on all.
But, he does not show/have photos from inside of that
one's modern stained glass window with military parachutist.

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