{"id":56065,"date":"2024-06-01T21:33:39","date_gmt":"2024-06-01T19:33:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/?p=56065"},"modified":"2024-06-08T22:35:16","modified_gmt":"2024-06-08T20:35:16","slug":"more-than-a-beach-the-division-of-the-spanish-soldier-who-fell-on-d-day-returns-to-normandy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2024\/06\/01\/more-than-a-beach-the-division-of-the-spanish-soldier-who-fell-on-d-day-returns-to-normandy\/","title":{"rendered":"More than a beach: the division of the Spanish soldier who fell on D-Day returns to Normandy"},"content":{"rendered":"

On June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day, thousands of United States soldiers landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy.<\/p>\n

An excellent report on Manuel Otero, the Spaniard who fell in the Normandy landings<\/a><\/rel>
\nThe lonely remains of Sherman tanks that fought in the Battle of Normandy<\/a><\/rel><\/p>\n

The eastern half of Omaha Beach was assigned to the US Army's 1st Infantry Division<\/strong>, known as \"The Big Red One\", after the insignia of this unit. On that bloody beach 770 American soldiers lost their lives<\/a>, adding a total of 3,600 casualties including dead, wounded and missing.<\/strong> Many soldiers drowned before even being able to set foot on the beach.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Among those soldiers was a Spaniard: PFC (private first class) Manuel Otero Mart\u00ednez<\/strong>, a Galician native of Outes (La Coru\u00f1a) who was part of Company A of the 1st Battalion of the 16th Infantry Regiment of the aforementioned Division. You already knew his story here thanks to Tropa Guripa.<\/a> Manuel had emigrated to the United States after the Spanish Civil War and enlisted as a volunteer in the US Army on March 19, 1943. Manuel landed in the Easy Red sector. He died after passing an anti-tank ditch that was beyond the beach<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A Big Red One delegation has returned to Normandy<\/strong> to participate in the 80th anniversary of D-Day, which will be celebrated next Thursday, June 6. I've been following that division's Flickr account<\/a> for years. Today it published a series of more than 100 photos<\/a> in which he shows the visit of his soldiers to Normandy. The photos were taken by Sergeant Charles Leitner and Specialist Koltyn O'Marah.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In the photos we see the visit of these soldiers to Omaha Beach<\/strong>, to the Cemetery American of Normandy<\/a> and monolith that remembers the fallen of \"The Big Red One\"<\/a> near the aforementioned beach.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The name of the Spaniard Manuel Otero is inscribed on that monolith<\/strong>, as Tropa Guripa showed in a video<\/a> in June 2022.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

There is one thing that has caught my attention about these photos.<\/strong> Many of you will have already noticed it when you see them. I am referring, of course, to the look of the soldiers when they see the places where their compatriots fell<\/strong>, when they see their tombs and the monolith that collects their names.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These soldiers have grown up hearing the stories of D-Day.<\/strong> Perhaps they are grandchildren or great-grandchildren of veterans who fought in World War II. For them, Omaha is more than a beach: it is a sacred place<\/strong> that was watered with the blood of American soldiers.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

For them, those crosses and Stars of David are not just another tomb: they are the place where soldiers like them rest<\/strong>, even younger, who went to fight for Freedom very far from their homes.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I dedicate this entry to Manuel Otero and the other fallen members of \"The Big Red One\"<\/strong> and to all those who gave their lives fighting for Freedom on those beaches. Let us never forget their sacrifice. Rest in peace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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