Soldier learns more about D-Day and grandfather during staff ride

Photo By Staff Sgt. Dani Debehets | 1st Sgt. Omar Bond looks across Utah Beach after learning all the struggles Soldiers with the 4th Inf. Div. had to face during the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. Senior noncommissioned officers were taking part in U.S. Army Europe Command Sgt. Maj Rob Abernethy's staff ride to Normandy, France between Oct. 23-26, 2018.  

GERMANY

11.01.2018

Story by Sgt. Dani Debehets 

U.S. Army Europe and Africa     

WIESBADEN, Germany - “My grandpa came through on the first of July in 1944,” said Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Fulghum, after visiting Omaha Beach in Normandy, France during U.S. Army Europe’s Senior Enlisted Staff Ride tracing the history of the Allied operation to liberate France.
For Fulgham, the staff ride became not just a way learn about U.S. Army history, it was a way to connect with his family’s roots.
“I was able to walk in his footsteps. It kind of hit home for me personally.”
When Fulghum’ s grandfather, Pfc. Howard Masters, arrived on Omaha Beach with 80th Inf. Div. it was 25 days after the D-Day invasion. Fighting had not let up since the Allied Soldiers began their push into France from the coast. On that day, the German 1st SS Panzer Div. were attempting an offensive maneuver while other German troops were continuing to resist the advancing U.S. and other forces.
The mission, officially dubbed Operation Overlord, started on June 6, 1944 and lasted until August 25, 1944. It was the beginning of the end of the Nazi occupation of France and the end of World War II.
“You see movies, you see TV shows and everything fits on a screen. When you actually walk out and see the mass [and] size of the geography of the location … these guys had overwhelming odds to confront,” Fulghum said, “I think that one thing stuck with me.”
Perspective is the main purpose of a staff ride according to U.S. Army Europe’s senior enlisted leader.
“It gives you real perspective, because you can actually see it,” said U.S. Army Europe Command Sergeant Major Rob Abernethy. “It’s one thing to see it on a screen or read it in a book - and those are all valuable. But until you actually get on the ground, you can never really understand the complications involved doing fire-maneuver in a place like Normandy, you really can’t get a feel for it.”
With the help of the trip historian, Fulgham found the very spot his grandfather would have planted his water-logged boots into the dense French sand for the first time. From there, Fulgham connected with his mother via video chat so she could experience the moment too.
“I had a chance to FaceTime with my mom, she has never been out here,” said Fulghum. “She and I saw both saw the beach for the first time together and it was a very emotional moment for us as a family. It was really awesome to share that.”
Operation Overlord continued after the liberation of Paris, France beginning August 25, 1944 when Allied troops began to move out closer to the Belgium and Germany.
Casetti Gerard, just 7 years old when American troops marched through Paris, noticed the group of U.S. Soldiers visiting the American Cemetery as part of the staff ride and stopped them to share his memories of the day he first met his country’s liberators. The encounter made a lasting impression on U.S. Army Europe Geospatial Operations Sgt. Maj. Pedro Rivera.

• Date Taken: 11.01.2018
• Date Posted: 11.01.2018 13:07
• Story ID: 298505
• Location: DE