NORMANDY 2001
A Family’s Journey - (Continued)

By Carol (Parker) Schafer


NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY – UTAH BEACH
31 May 2001

Another incredible day.

We started off in St. Laurent at the American Military Cemetery. We visited Marion’s grave and the graves of the other 3 crewmen buried there, Herb Small (pilot), Russell Ulrich (waist gunner), and Roy Morris (co-pilot). They are buried near one another.

MARION L. PARKER

When they take you graveside, they take some of the wet, golden sand from Omaha Beach and rub it into the lettering on the cross so it will show up better. We saved some of the sand in a bottle. They also sanded the other crewmembers’ crosses for us.

Herbert Small, Pilot


Russell H. Ulrich, Waist Gunner

Roy J. Morris, Co-Pilot

Marion’s cross is in the last row of Plot “D”, 2nd one in. It’s easy to find and a bench is nearby. He is buried in the same plot, same row as Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.,




The cemetery is 175 acres and immaculate. All those rows of white crosses are something to see. It’s really overwhelming. There are over 9,000 of them.




Tracy had brought a silk flower arrangement, which Dad set on the grave. He knelt down to put it there and I heard him say “Here you go, Big Brother.” I always think of Marion as 20 or so. It didn’t dawn on me so much that Dad was the little brother and he still looks up to Marion. It was a moment for all time. I wished with all my might that we could trade this trip to Europe just to have my uncle alive and well.



A French woman came up and asked Dad if he was a veteran. I’m not sure he heard what she said, but he replied “yes”. She kissed him on both cheeks and said “Thank you for what you have done.” He’s not used to that, obviously, and it was amazing to him, as he felt he hadn’t done anything to deserve her gratitude. We keep trying to convince him that his service means something, and that it’s OK if he was too young to go into the War until 1945, when he went to sea with the Merchant Marines at 17 years old – just 7 days after graduating from high school

We stayed at the Cemetery for 3 or 4 hours. There is a lot to take in. The place is like Eden, beautiful, peaceful and honorable. As it should be. I wore my navy blue and white suit today. I was proud. I tried to show some respect.

Carol, Dad, Tracy

Later, we went to see the Omaha Beach Monument and Point du Hoc. I was okay at Omaha until I read the right-hand side of the monument on the beach, which is engraved:

“1st U.S. Infantry Division.
No mission too difficult
No sacrifice too great
Forced Omaha Beach at Dawn 6 June”.


Pt. du Hoc is amazing, full of craters (big ones!) from bombs. Much is left of the German concrete bunkers. You can’t go out to the monument now because the cliff is eroding and a big piece has fallen away. It’s mind wrenching to think of the US Rangers grappling up those cliffs. 255 started out, 150 made it to the top. By the time tanks came to re-enforce them (weeks later), only 90 remained.


UTAH BEACH – ARROMANCHES
01 June 2001

Today we went to Utah Beach and saw the monument and museum there. While there, Dad met a 101st Airborne guy who jumped on D-Day. It was incredible. His name is John McMullen. His wife’s brother, Edward Lane, was a 384th airman!! John was a paratrooper and jumped with Nyland, who is the real “Private Ryan.” Nyland is buried in St. Laurent. History comes alive here in this place, and it makes you wish everyone could have this experience.

Then we went to Arromanches and saw the cement caissons still there from WWII at Gold Beach. You can stand on the beach and see much of the artificial port that was built after the invasion. It’s an incredible accomplishment, to think they brought literally everything with them.

Dad at Arromanches

We met a gentleman there who was part of the French Army under General Le Clerc. He was there when they liberated Paris and Bastogne!!! He was standing there crying, remembering. He is 77 years old. Amazing. We took his and his wife’s picture with Dad and Mary. That was quite emotional, as you may imagine.

We also met a C47 pilot who dropped parachuters on D-Day. He was very cheerful and happy to talk with us for a few moments. Then we saw the Musee’ at Gold Beach. The beach is so awesome and peaceful. Anyway, the best thing of all is having the honor of meeting these veterans. Dad wants them all to know the story of his brother, which is so touching to me.

Whew. Tomorrow is the service for our family at the monument in Bricquebec.

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