Into the Jaws of Death, 1944

Colorized by Jordan J. Lloyd, based on an original photographic print by Robert F. Sargent

Taken June 6th 1944, Omaha Beach, Normandy, France (US National Archives and Records Administration)

Taken at 0740 on June 6th, this action marks the commencement of Operation Neptune, more commonly known as D-Day. Depicting a Higgins LCVP launching from the USS Samuel Chase, soldiers of the 16th Infantry Regiment, US 1st Infantry Division wade onto Omaha Beach. It's hard to conceive what it must have been like wading into oncoming enemy fire.

Original caption reads,

"Into the Jaws of Death - U.S. Troops wading through water and Nazi gunfire. American invaders spring from the ramp of a Coast Guard-manned landing barge to wade those last perilous yards to the beach of Normandy. Enemy fire will cut some of them down. Their 'taxi' will pull itself off the sands and dash back to a Coast Guard manned transport for more passengers."