75 Years Ago, D-Day: 156,000 Stormed the Beaches

11.  MORE THAN 156,000 ALLIED GROUND TROOPS STORMED THE BEACHES.

In wave after wave of  thousands of landing ships, more than 156,00 Allied  infantrymen stormed five beaches.  Facing them were 50,000 Germans.  Stormy seas made the landings incredibly difficult, with many regiments coming ashore far from their target destinations.

At Omaha Beach, only two of  the amphibious tanks even made it to land on their own power (three were later transported to the beach).  At Utah Beach, the American troops included 14 Comanche "Code-talkers" who relayed critical tactical messages  in their Native American tongue.