This magnificent oil painting by noted artist Dwight Shepler depicts the eastern sector of Omaha Beach on the morning of 6 June 1944. He accompanied the landing force to Normandy and completed this piece upon stateside after the invasion.
The destroyer at right is USS Emmons (DD-457). This gallant ship provided direct support to the 1st Infantry Division during the Normandy invasion. The Colleville draw (about mid-picture) was a critical egress point off the beach and was the scene of fierce combat on D-Day. In the distance, the spires of Colleville-sur-Mer can be seen on the left side of the painting.
Following Overlord, Emmons sailed to the Mediterranean, where she provided fire support for the Operation Dragoon landings in August 1944. She then transited to the Pacific, where she provided support during Operation Iceberg, the invasion of Okinawa.
Prior to L-Day, Emmons and her crew performed the dangerous duty of clearing mines. She was then assigned to the fateful picket line that gave early warning of enemy air attack to the invasion fleet. On 6 April 1945, she and her sister ship USS Rodman (DD-456) were attacked northwest of Okinawa by a massive wave of incoming Kamikazes.
Rodman was hit first at 1532 by an aircraft that crashed into her bow. Immobilzed, her crew worked desperately to get underway while Emmons circled for anti-aircraft protection. Both ships put up a wall of Flak, but the Japanese attackers swarmed Emmons.
Emmons’ gun crews splashed at least five attackers (the exact number was never accurately determined). Kamikazes swarmed on the ship, scoring at least five direct hits within two minutes. Explosions wracked the tough little ship, destroying at least 30 feet of her stern. But she refused to die.
Damage control teams struggled desperately to slow down the fires, but more and more ammunition cooked off. Finally though, the ship listing heavily and down by the stern, the order to abandon ship was passed at 1800. 60 of Emmons’ 208 crew were dead, and 78 wounded, many with severe burns.
But still, Emmons would not die. She was mortally wounded, but stayed afloat until the next day. Finally, another of her sisters, USS Ellyson (DD-454), put her out of her misery. USS Emmons received the Navy Unit Commendation for her crew’s courage under fire off Okinawa.
Never forget, Mark
Author’s note: USS Emmons and her sister ships were redesignated as destroyer minesweepers prior to Okinawa. I have retained their original designations in the text.
Image credit: US Navy Art Collection