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June 6th, 1944 - 22 year-old Frank L. Kennard lands on Omaha Beach

D-Day Journal includes letters from Lieutenant Frank L. Kennard who wrote home before and after he led a Ranger cannon platoon and landed on Omaha Beach the morning of D-Day, June 6th, 1944.

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A first-hand account from the second Ranger Battalion

The 2nd Ranger battalion was the first American unit to achieve its mission on D-Day. Despite their equipment and half their men being wiped out that day, the seven remaining men, including Lt. Kennard, made it to their objective at Pointe du Hoc. Read their story, shared for the first time in D-Day Journal.
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"It was hard to believe that there was a war on."

“… the shore was all lit up from explosions; it rather seemed like the 4th of July. Then 88s started landing around my boat and all of us got scared. We just had to sit there and take it!”
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D-Day Journal

The Untold Story of a U.S. Ranger on Omaha Beach

At the age of 22, Lieutenant Frank L. Kennard led a Ranger cannon platoon and landed on Omaha Beach the morning of D-Day, June 6th, 1944. His equipment and half his men were wiped out that day. Improvising with seven remaining men, Kennard made it to his objective at Pointe du Hoc.

“D-Day Journal” is a fresh firsthand account of Normandy invasion training and D-Day combat experiences written in a journal and in letters home by Kennard. It includes rare, unpublished oral histories with new revelations including vivid descriptions of events from four other heroic D-day soldiers in the 2nd Ranger Battalion.

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About the Author

John Kennard is the son of 2nd Ranger Battalion Lt. Frank L. Kennard whose letters are the subject of “D-Day Journal.” Kennard was commissioned a Lieutenant in the US Army Armor Corps. He served in Germany, rose to Captain and went to Vietnam in 1970. In Vietnam, Captain Kennard was a Special Security Officer (SSO) working for five General Officers and one US Ambassador managing their backchannel messages also known as “Eyes Only” messages. He also handled highly classified information from the DIA, CIA and State Department. Kennard earned a BA in English Literature from the University of Virginia. After military service, Kennard earned a Masters in Business Administration from the Darden School at the University of Virginia.

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Praise for D-Day Journal

"Just when readers think they have seen the last of authentic first-hand accounts about the D-Day assault on Omaha Beach, along comes another book based on previously unpublished letters written by a soldier who was there."

Thomas M. Hatfield, Ph.D.
Author of Rudder: From Leader to Legend, College Station, Texas A&M University 2011

 

 

2018-12-06T13:49:52+00:00

Thomas M. Hatfield, Ph.D.
Author of Rudder: From Leader to Legend, College Station, Texas A&M University 2011

 

 

"Just when readers think they have seen the last of authentic first-hand accounts about the D-Day assault on Omaha Beach, along comes another book based on previously unpublished letters written by a soldier who was there."
"Told in his own words through personal letters and contemporaneous journal entries, we get the candid views of a combat soldier...the fear and apprehensions, occasional humor, factual first­ person observations, and many important, still relevant, lessons from difficult times so long ago."

General Peter J. Schoomaker, USA Ret.
Chief of Staff, United States Army

2018-12-06T13:47:06+00:00

General Peter J. Schoomaker, USA Ret.
Chief of Staff, United States Army

"Told in his own words through personal letters and contemporaneous journal entries, we get the candid views of a combat soldier...the fear and apprehensions, occasional humor, factual first­ person observations, and many important, still relevant, lessons from difficult times so long ago."
"D Day Journal is unique in that it relates one man's actual experiences in a fascinating journal which captures the terror and yet courage of soldiers who served in the famous 2nd Ranger Battalion from D-Day to the end of the war... it is a terrific book on one of the most critical moments in our Country's history."

C. Roland (Rollie) Stichweh, West Point graduate, 1965
twice named Most Valuable Player in the Army-Navy game; Decorated Combat Veteran

2018-12-06T13:52:48+00:00

C. Roland (Rollie) Stichweh, West Point graduate, 1965
twice named Most Valuable Player in the Army-Navy game; Decorated Combat Veteran

"D Day Journal is unique in that it relates one man's actual experiences in a fascinating journal which captures the terror and yet courage of soldiers who served in the famous 2nd Ranger Battalion from D-Day to the end of the war... it is a terrific book on one of the most critical moments in our Country's history."
A vivid first hand account by a valient young Ranger leader. A story of battle, hardship, valor and victory.

Col. Robert W. Black author of "The Battalion", "The Ranger Force" and "Rangers in World War II"

2018-12-11T15:11:10+00:00

Col. Robert W. Black author of "The Battalion", "The Ranger Force" and "Rangers in World War II"

A vivid first hand account by a valient young Ranger leader. A story of battle, hardship, valor and victory.
An enthralling read, which illustrates Lt. Kennard’s qualities of character, perseverance, and genuine courage as a selfless US Army Ranger  who on D-Day charged off his landing craft onto Omaha Beach into the most violent, deadly and chaotic world anyone could imagine.

Chris P. Weggeman, Lt Gen, USAF

2018-12-12T22:05:45+00:00

Chris P. Weggeman, Lt Gen, USAF

An enthralling read, which illustrates Lt. Kennard’s qualities of character, perseverance, and genuine courage as a selfless US Army Ranger  who on D-Day charged off his landing craft onto Omaha Beach into the most violent, deadly and chaotic world anyone could imagine.