My grandfather died in 1982 of lung cancer. His kids (including my Dad) knew he fought in World War II, but he wasn't fond of talking about it and never told stories. I never met him, but by all accounts he was an amazing man: kind, funny, soft-spoken, just thoroughly good.
In the late 1990s my dad learned through his father's old letters that he had been in the First Division around the time of D-Day. We requested his service record (just separation record, since most of the records we wanted apparently burned) and got some more detailed info. It seems his company was part of the early invasion. Unfortunately, we're having trouble combing information about the movements of different companies at Normandy, so we're still curious about exactly where he was, or what a soldier with his experience might have been doing. Basically, how can we see it through his eyes?
I never met my grandfather, who was the only servicemember in my immediate family, but the Army has become a part of my life anyway. Five years ago I met my future husband, who was between two deployments to Afghanistan at the time. He inspired me to join the culture that shaped who he is, and I commissioned as an officer two years ago. The more time I spend with soldiers, the more curious I am about the grandfather I never knew, the one who apparently experienced one of the most terrible days of the war, and who came home and built his family and wanted to leave his service in the past.
I'm hoping there are some D-Day experts who would be able to give my father and I some idea what a soldier in my grandfather's company, with his kind of MOS/experience, would have been doing specifically on that day. (Not to say we're not interested in the other parts of his record; I just hoped to narrow it down.) If you can refer me to another subreddit or something that's fine. Also, I wish I had his platoon info or the name of anybody he served with, but I don't. My grandma passed away several years ago, and didn't know very many specifics either.
Here is what we know.
Service:
Jul 1942 - Nov 1942: Co B 2nd QMRTC, Fort Frances in Warren, WY (Basic)
Jan 1943 - Nov 1943: Co F 16th Infantry. Position: Crewman (also listed: ammo carrier, asst. gunner, gunner, acting squad leader)
Nov 1943 - Jun 1944 (post D-Day): HQ Co 16th Infantry. Position: Military Police (not sure what circumstances would have caused big duty switch so soon after invasion, unless lots of men were doing it)
Jun 1944 - Jun 1945: HQ Co 16th Infantry, Clerk
Jun 1945 - Oct 1945: B Co. 18th Armed Inf Bn, Clerk
BONUS: Recently we found a speech my grandfather gave to his church when they asked him to talk about his experience as a returning soldier. Here is some: "Fellows, I'd like to have you remember this: no matter what the pulp magazine and the movies would have you believe, there is nothing glamorous about war. It's about the dirtiest, filthiest thing there is. War is hell. Pure unadulterated hell. There are no dashing, slick-haired heroes on the battlefield -- just tired, haggard, unshaven men, shooting, crawling, and living and dying. ... Although there's many men on the battlefield, a person never feels quite so lonesome. It's just as though he were out in the middle of a desert with not a soul within a hundred miles. That's when it's an awful comfort to know there's a God watching over me. I'll say in all sincerity, that I've never been as close to God as over there in Africa."
The other thing to do is try and talk to someone from the 16th Infantry Regiment association. https://16thinfassn.org
Regimental Associations are veteran's groups who often field this type of inquiry.
I don't know if you have these links already: from the National Archives on the 16th. It looks like he might have been an MP while they were quartered in Bridport (no G), Dorset.
As for D-Day:
" 6 June 1944 At approximately 0345 hours, the 2nd Bn and 3rd Bn debarked from the USS Henrico and the HMS Empire Anvil, respectively, to assault Beach OMAHA, north of Colleville sur Mer, Normandie, France, at 0630 hours. Heavy seas, numerous underwater obstacles, and intense enemy fire destroyed many craft and caused high casualties even before the assault battalions reached shore. Most supporting weapons, including DD tanks, were swamped. The 2nd Bn., landing from one hundred to one thousand yards from its scheduled points, were pinned down on the beach by extremely heavy fire from concrete fortifications, machine gun emplacements, and sniper nests, which remained intact through severe naval and air bombardment. Casualties were extremely high. 1 The 3rd Bn. landed on the left of Beach OMAHA in the vicinity of Beach Exit E2 and despite heavy fire, fought inland up the E3 draw and destroyed many enemy beach fortifications in its sector. 2 The 1st Bn. landed on the same beach on which troops of the 2nd Bn. and supporting organizations were pinned down, as the reserve battalion, at approximately 0730 hours. 3 This caused severe intermingling and confusion on the already crowded beach. Reorganization was accomplished under continued heavy fire. Much equipment was lost and casualties mounted. One group had blown a gap in the wire and started moving inland through the minefields to take the ridge line overlooking the beach.
"The 1st and 2nd Bns. cleared Colleville sur Mer and by 1100 hours, a general movement inland was underway, meeting stubborn resistance. By night, the 1st and 2nd Bns. had reached positions about 1500 yards to the West and North of Colleville sur Mer, where they dug in and repulsed enemy counter attacks during the evening and night. The 3rd Bn. seized le Grand Hamel and moved eastward along the ridges toward Port en Bessin, digging in during the night and consolidating their position."
This gives you some particular locations to research more on the actions his unit was in.
Your grandfather may have been involved in the first heavy contact with the Germans in the whole war!
The Afrika Korps Assault Group began moving along the Hatab River valley towards Haidra and Tebessa in the early afternoon of February 21 and advanced until they met defenders consisting of the US 1st Infantry Division's 16th Infantry Regiment and Combat Command B of the US 1st Armored Division at Djebel el Hamra. The German-Italian force was halted and despite heavy pressure, including air attacks, failed to dislodge the American defenders.[31] Having brought the Axis drive towards Tebessa to a halt Generals Robinett and Allen now turned their attention to planning a counterattack that was to take place the next day, February 22. Plans made by both sides were upset by the ongoing battle, and the Axis forces launched another assault on the US position on the morning of the 22nd. Although the American defenders were pressed hard, the line held, and by mid-afternoon, the US infantry and tanks launched a counterattack that broke the German and Italian force. More than 400 Axis prisoners were taken as the counterattack was pressed into the Afrika Korps position.
Considering your grandfathers job description at the time there's a good chance him and his crew were being that immovable wall of resistance using either a BAR, .30cal, or .50cal to hold the line. Amazing.