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THE NORMANDY INVASION
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World War II -
Until June 6, 1944, Adolf Hitler had conquered most of Europe, maintaining his tyrannical grip, ever seeking to fortify himself in his quest for world
domination. The
invasion of the European
continent at
Normandy was the largest naval invasion in history with more than 5,000
vessels leaving southern England, headed for the coast of France.
At just about H-Hour,
while seeking to
evade the intense fire from the Saint Marcouf battery and other batteries, the Corry suffered direct heavy-caliber
artillery hits in her engineering spaces amidships below the water level.
The jarring explosion jolted the ship, causing men to be thrown violently from
their positions. Steam hissed and roared profusely from behind the bridge. With her rudder jammed
the Corry went around in a circle
before all steam was lost. Still under heavy fire, she began
sinking rapidly with her keel broken and a foot-wide crack across her main
deck amidships. |
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USS Corry (DD-463) |
USS Corry D-Day Flag |
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Below is the speech by President Clinton at the 50th anniversary of D-Day. This speech was given aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington above the spot where the Corry was sunk off Utah Beach. |
Below are the words of the Honorable Hansford T. Johnson, Secretary of the Navy (acting) September 2003 |
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One of the most stirring tales of D-Day is that to which the Secretary of the Navy has already referred—the tale of the USS Corry. Ripped...while blasting enemy positions on Utah Beach, the Corry began to go under. But one man stayed aboard. He climbed the stern, removed the flag, and swam and scrambled to the main mast. There, he ran up the flag. And as he swam off, our flag opened into the breeze. In the Corry’s destruction, there was no defeat. Today, the wreckage of that ship lies directly beneath us—an unseen monument to those who helped to win this great war. Thirteen of the Corry’s crew rest there as well, and these waters are forever sanctified by their sacrifice. |
The CORRY and its crew, two dozen of whom were lost at the Normandy landing on D-Day, is an inspirational story of the sacrifices of few to protect many. The story of raising the flag on the sunken CORRY is a testament to the courage and commitment of the Greatest Generation in their devoted service to our Nation and freedom. [USS CORRY] shipmates set the standard for courage and devotion.
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Heavy Front-Line D-Day Action
While bombarding
enemy targets, the USS Corry maneuvered in |
![]() Two near misses off Corry bow from shore batteries [National Archives film footage shot from PT-507] |
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![]() Second destroyer passes to the rear of sinking USS Corry. [Still image from D-Day newsreel - NARA ref #: 111 ADC 01319]
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![]() Settled wreckage of USS Corry June 6, 1944. [National Archives film footage shot from PT-507] |
The main mast and upper superstructure remained above the surface of the shallow water, thus the American flag that was raised up the mast proudly waved in the breeze. |
*** View D-Day Film Footage of USS Corry
and Listen to Edward R. Murrow Interview ***
| BELOW: WATCH 9-MINUTE VIDEO INCLUDING USS CORRY D-DAY COMBAT FOOTAGE,
NARRATED NEWSREEL, AND JUNE 9, 1944 EDWARD R. MURROW
CBS RADIO INTERVIEW OF
USS CORRY
COMMANDING OFFICER GEORGE DEWEY HOFFMAN ON THE SINKING OF THE CORRY
BY GERMAN SHORE BATTERY FIRE. (video on
youtube.com)
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![]() Saint-Marcouf Battery (a.k.a. Crisbecq Battery) |
Click here to learn about the sinking of the USS Corry and view American and German D-Day reports regarding sinking |
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READ USS CORRY
SURVIVORS' FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTS OF D-DAY
Click here to read survivors' first-hand accounts of the Corry on D-Day
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[National Archives photo]Destroyer USS Fitch (DD-462) rescued many Corry survivors. After the Corry was hit, for more than an hour, the Fitch repeatedly fired on the Saint-Marcouf (Crisbecq) battery, which had scored the fatal salvo on the Corry amidships. CLICK
HERE TO READ USS FITCH |
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ON D-DAY, PT-199 WAS COMMANDED BY LT. WILLIAM LIEBENOW, WHO A YEAR EARLIER HAD RESCUED THEN NAVY LIEUTENANT JOHN F. KENNEDY IN THE PACIFIC AFTER KENNEDY'S PT-109 WAS CUT IN HALF BY A JAPANESE DESTROYER. CLICK HERE TO READ PT-199 CREW MEMBERS' FIRST-HAND D-DAY ACCOUNTS, INCLUDING COMMANDING OFFICER'S. |
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![]() DESTROYER USS HOBSON (DD-464) RESCUED SEVERAL CORRY SURVIVORS. |
[National Archives
photos] USS BARNETT (APA-5) TROOP SHIP THAT BROUGHT CORRY SURVIVORS AND K.I.A. BACK TO ENGLAND. |
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CLICK HERE TO READ USS HOBSON D-DAY ACCOUNT |
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MAPS AND
REPORTS: USS CORRY'S FIRING POSITION ON FRONT LINES Click Here to View Maps and Reports of Utah Beach Enemy Targets and Warships' Bombardment Stations |
USS Nevada,
USS Tuscaloosa, USS Quincy, USS Hobson, USS
Fitch, USS Butler, PT-199, USS Barnett |