Soldiers pose in front of the hulk of the LCI(L)-92 on Omaha Beach shortly after D-Day.
JAMES MATEYACK photos
This colorized photo shows Coast Guard Petty Officer John Mateyack aboard the ill-fated Landing Craft Infantry (Large)-92, which struck two mines and absorbed fierce German artillery fire on D-Day. Mateyack survived, but 27 of the 192 soldiers being carried into battle on the landing ship were killed. His son, James, has become a historian of the ship and interviewed numerous survivors.
American assault forces hurdle over the side of a Coast Guard LCI into a landing barge, which will bring them into the fight to liberate France, during the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944.
Landing Craft Infantry (Large)-92 was swamped on the Dog White sector of Omaha Beach early in the morning of D-Day, June 6, 1944, after hitting two mines and coming under intense German artillery fire. Of the 27 soldiers killed in the explosion set off by the first mine strike, only three could be identified.
Sgt. John Herrick of Bushong, Kan., was one of four soldiers from the town of 81 killed when a Coast Guard landing craft struck a mine off Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. His remains were identified last year. He’ll be buried at Emporia, Kan. Nov. 11 — his 100th birthday.
Sgt. Elmo Hartwick, 38, of Onaga, Kan., was one of 27 soldiers killed by the mine blast that struck LCI(L)-92, just off of Omaha Beach about 8 a.m. on D-Day. His remains were identified last year. He’ll be buried June 21 in his hometown.
A first wave beach battalion Ducks lays low under the fire of Nazi guns on the beach of southern France on D-Day. One invader operates a walkie talkie radio directing other landing craft to the safest spots for unloading their parties of fighting men.
American assault forces hurdle over the side of a Coast Guard LCI into a landing barge, which will bring them into the fight to liberate France, during the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944.
Landing Craft Infantry (Large)-92 was swamped on the Dog White sector of Omaha Beach early in the morning of D-Day, June 6, 1944, after hitting two mines and coming under intense German artillery fire. Of the 27 soldiers killed in the explosion set off by the first mine strike, only three could be identified.
Sgt. John Herrick of Bushong, Kan., was one of four soldiers from the town of 81 killed when a Coast Guard landing craft struck a mine off Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. His remains were identified last year. He’ll be buried at Emporia, Kan. Nov. 11 — his 100th birthday.
Sgt. Elmo Hartwick, 38, of Onaga, Kan., was one of 27 soldiers killed by the mine blast that struck LCI(L)-92, just off of Omaha Beach about 8 a.m. on D-Day. His remains were identified last year. He’ll be buried June 21 in his hometown.
This colorized photo shows Coast Guard Petty Officer John Mateyack aboard the ill-fated Landing Craft Infantry (Large)-92, which struck two mines and absorbed fierce German artillery fire on D-Day. Mateyack survived, but 27 of the 192 soldiers being carried into battle on the landing ship were killed. His son, James, has become a historian of the ship and interviewed numerous survivors.
