D-Day: The FIRST Man on the Ground in Normandy | History Traveler Episode 178

Part 4 of the "Normandy 1944" Series

Before Omaha Beach, before Pegasus Bridge, before the airborne assaults, there were the Pathfinders. On D-Day, these men were charged with dropping in ahead of the main assault force and setting up beacons to guide the rest of the paratroopers into their drop zones for the Normandy invasion. Thousands of Allied soldiers would step foot on French soil that day, but the first was a cigar chomping paratrooper by the name of Frank Lillyman.

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[TheHistoryUnderground]

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[ivanlowjones]

As a former 82nd Airborne paratrooper, I'm always drawn to any mention of soldiers jumping out of perfectly good aircraft with a parachute strapped on their back. Back around 2002 after Band of Brothers came out, I was at my local post office and saw an older man wearing a 101st "Screaming Eagle" baseball cap. I approached him and after we exchanged the obligatory 82nd vs 101st trash talking (we can do it, but you "legs" better not think about it...lol), we talked for awhile. Turned out he was in Baker Company, 2/506 and made the Normandy and Holland jumps as well as fighting at Bastogne. He and his wife had gone back to Normandy in 1994 for the 50th D-Day anniversary and he was able to find an old farmhouse which was his unit's rally point on D-Day. I'm sure he's long since passed by now but men like him are why I'm proud to have "stood in the door". Airborne All the Way!

[narcanninja]

As a young teenager living in the middle Georgia area when I was in 8th grade, I got to have the opportunity of speaking with and exchanging letters and phone calls with a Normandy veteran from Toccoa, Georgia. We quickly became friends and I made plans to go and meet him. Unfortunately, he passed away before I got the chance to meet him, however, I had no idea that this man was the first American officer to land in Normandy, Lt. Reed Pelfrey. He was larger than life, and a joy to learn from and listen to. And it wasn’t until I watched your video that I realized who he actually was, so thanks JD!

[goldgeologist]

You bring tears to my eyes because it made me think of my father and what he went through. He landed on the first wave of D-day. He rarely talked about it until I became a combat vet and even then he the conversations were far and few.

But he told be he crawled up the beach pushing a dead GI in front of him like a shield feeling the bullets impacting that man’s body but acting as a shield to keep him alive until he could get cover and engage.

Miss you dad.

[stevenwiederholt]

"We're not lost private. We;re in Normandy."
Love that line!

[jetsons]

Always love a story about the "Greatest Generation'" My Uncle, now passed, went the Europe on the Queen Mary and was part of D-Day. After the war he came home again on the Queen Mary and went back to his small town in Maine. It must have been very horrific as he told me he gave away all his guns and never hunted again. He was a Great Man. Thanks for this video

[jasonarcher]

I was in the 82nd, the 2/504 to be specific. Thanks for making this video. Those old timers had some giant brass balls. For "all American week" the ww2 vets would come visit and tell their tales. I always loved hearing their stories.

[jonmulack]

I love the history and stories told by History Underground. No disrespect to any one, but I had to chuckle when he mentioned that Mr. Lillyman "Knocked on the door, waited for an answer". The begining of the end of WW2 is just starting, and he had to wait for the door to be answered. One of so many moments that are just incredible.

[luskimo]

really enjoying this series...my dad was in the 1st wave at Omaha Beach on D Day..thank God he survived it all

[roadlizardcu]

Your telling the story of the first man to land on that fateful day nearly taking out a cow reminded me of one of the stories that my wife's father shared. They were working their way through the country side and had stopped for a short period and Elton was on night watch. He woke up everyone when he opened fire thinking the enemy was working their way through some small saplings and it was only the swaying of a small tree in the breeze. From that point until he was injured just before the battle of the bulge he was known as Eagle Eye. He was a teenager and understandably jumpy, thrown into war. Thank you for sharing the "Human Factor" of the war, these were boys and girls yes girls in the resistance dealing with so many emotions, fighting and dying for us. Thank you to all of you whom have served.

[Chiller]

Pathfinders really had to be some of the most courageous men in Normandy at the time.

[philliplum]

As a brit.. Thank you so much for keeping the history alive, and in such a interesting way too

[MjrCarnyx]

Again a fantastic episode, I love to watch them very much. Thanks for sharing.

[keithrayeski]

This was an exciting episode for me. The Lt., on the picture board next to Lillyman, Reed Pelfrey, was a most memorable man. I had the honor many years ago, of accompanying Lt. Pelfrey, in Toccoa, Ga., where he lived. I was there as part of a reenactment unit that had acquired some items recovered from the crash site of the plane carrying Lt. Meehan on d-day and we were presenting those items to the museum on the day of the dedication of the new building containing the stable that housed troopers of Easy Company. Programs had been set up at the schools and again, I had the honor of being picked up by Lt. Pelfrey, driving to the school with him, spending a good part of the day with him and, having those memories still with me today. He took me out to the former camp site and talked about the training and his memories of the most crucial period of his life. Then, there was very, very little remarkable about the camp remaining. It’s changed a great deal since then and, Reed has gone on to his final jump with his brothers in heaven. I can still hear his voice today. That was in 2005, and he was still driving. He was very humble and though he spoke of his experiences, he did not do so in a braggart manner, but as matter of fact…as if telling a story. I had the privilege of meeting and speaking with many, Jake McNiece was the most animated an colorful!!😁 but it was his wife Martha was the more alluring!! She was just sweet! What great men we had! Thank you for sharing this site…it felt that much more appreciative of Reed and what a truly great man he was.

[Mike]

I, and many others, can never thank you enough for your WW2 history.
Though your stories are accurate, thank you, Allied troops were actually on the Normandy beaches prior to D day.
These tiny groups were landed on moonless nights, in total darkness, on every beach, to collect sand or soil samples, and memoriize beach and water and gun defenses, to be drawn out later.
The beach samples were later analysed by experts in Britain. This had to be done to prevent a tank, jeep, or any other heavy vehicle landing disaster as occured at Dunkirk.
On every beach, including Omaha, a few safe paths were found and marked. They operated sometimes within a few hundred feet of patrolling soldiers and guard dogs.
The bravery of those few troops is beyond your and my imagination.
They all made it back to their tiny blacked out inflatable crafts, or maybe other small boats, or maybe a submarine, safely.
This operation was so secret that it has not, at least until recently, been reported on the Internet.

[lthom]

Those were amazing men that God put in the right time and place! Thanks for another great video!

[bluejeans]

So many owe so much to these brave and courageous warriors. 🇺🇸

[psychofan]

I am binge watching your WW2 stuff in honor of the 78th anniversary of DDay

[jdon]

Doing what these men did is mind blowing, doing it with 1940 technology is even more impressive. These men really were the greatest generation... watching this makes me proud of what my grandparents were part of . Now if we could repay their sacrifice with peace what they did would not be for nothing.

[harryfaber]

The plaque on the pedestal of the statue of the Virgin Mary holding her son, Our Lord, reminds us to remember 'Our Lady' for her protection, given to many on 6th June 1944.