Naval Combat Demolition Unit (NCDU) Omaha Beach

[Kadet]

I thought this photograph might be of interest to the membership, as it contains some interesting uniform and helmet details. These are some of the survivors of the NCDU crew that cleared Omaha Beach on 6 June 1944. It was taken behind Omaha Beach after the landings, and I'm sure these guys were just happy to be alive. Many of their comrades perished. The man squatting lower left has an especially odd look on his face. The mix of Navy and Army-style uniforms is interesting, as are the helmet markings. I believe these are the uniforms they actually wore on 6 June. Also note that there is an Army NCO in the photo as well.

[jonesy1275]

Any names for the men in the photograph? I met Ernie Corvese in Normandy during the 70th anniversary.

[Kadet]

Kneeling second from right is Jerry N. Markham, third row on the right with his helmet cocked back is Francis X. Darcy. I could probably ID the rest of them with some digging...

[Garandomatic]

Pretty cool. Foxy 29 men wore a lot of army uniforms as well.

[Sequatchiee]

Very interesting photo ! Thanks.

[Bluenoser352]

Very interesting photo - thanks for putting it up.

I was really fascinated to see the very small 'USN' marking on the front the guy's helmet who is kneeling far left, grinning with spectacles and Thompson resting on his arm. I have an original M-1 just like that and always wondered what unit it was from. I assumed it was an LCVP crewman. The USN on mine is barely visible now, but its small like his and in dark lettering. I'll post a pic soon so you can take a look. Would be interested to hear your thoughts.

[Bluenoser352]

Here's a pic of the M-1 I mentioned earlier. As I say, the USN is barely visible but it's there and looks very similar in size, shade and positioning as that guy in your picture. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

 

[Kadet]

Unless it is named, probably impossible to know exactly what unit it comes from. Great looking helmet though!

[Steve1and2]

On 12/2/2017 at 1:07 PM, Kadet said:

I thought this photograph might be of interest to the membership, as it contains some interesting uniform and helmet details. These are some of the survivors of the NCDU crew that cleared Omaha Beach on 6 June 1944. It was taken behind Omaha Beach after the landings, and I'm sure these guys were just happy to be alive. Many of their comrades perished. The man squatting lower left has an especially odd look on his face. The mix of Navy and Army-style uniforms is interesting, as are the helmet markings. I believe these are the uniforms they actually wore on 6 June. Also note that there is an Army NCO in the photo as well.

 

[Steve1and2]

Hi Kadet,

I am contacting you about an old post, the members of the NCDU behind Omaha Beach photograph.

Please can you identify more of the men in the picture? I am carrying out research into the NCDU and Army teams

who landed on D-Day for a museum in Normandy.

Regards, Steve

[Kadet]

I’m sorry but I don’t have their names. The image came from the UDT/SEAL museum so might ask them. 

[sigsaye]

I had a friend, years ago. He enlisted in 1942, at 17. He was assigned to a new unit and was in the communications section of Beach Parties. He trained for 2 years to land in Normandy. His job was to carry a backpack radio. He said all his gear and field uniforms were issued by the Army. He mentioned that he weighed 125, and his gear and weapon weighed 175. Anyway, he hit the beach, took maybe 10 steps and “Hit in the back by a truck and the lights went out”. He woke up in a hospital in England. A shell had exploded behind him. His radio and all the gear he was carrying absorbed most of the blast. The backs of his legs were peppered with shell fragments, and his back hurt for the rest of his life.   He was not returned to his unit, but sent to the Pacific on an LCI   

[Steve1and2]

On 2/28/2023 at 3:48 PM, Kadet said:

I’m sorry but I don’t have their names. The image came from the UDT/SEAL museum so might ask them. 

We have a colourised version of the picture now and so far have had no luck with any more names. 

The mixed NCDU and Army Engineer teams swapped uniform items as they worked together and bonded ahead

of their D-day missions.

[isaiaygrat27]

Has there been any other progress concerning the identification of these men? I'm also curious simply because I want to have a deeper understanding of who exactly landed there at Omaha on the 6th.

[Guest POGO 1028]

Steve1and2 that is my father standing with no helmet. Stanley Pogozelski

[Guest POGO 1028]

He is listed on the plaque in the Seal museum at Fort Peirce Fl

[binthere]

Some details, if anyone is interested.

 

Markham was in NCDU 46, which was part of Gap Assault Team 11, which landed on Fox Green.  Of the 6 NCDU men and 2 attached sailors, there were 4 KIA (3 of the NCDU,1 attached sailor).

 

Darcy was in NCDU 138, which was part of Gap Assault Team 15, which probably landed near the border between Fox Green and Fox Red. Of the 6 NCDU men and 2 attached sailors, there was only one casualty, an attached sailor KIA.

 

Pogozelski was in NCDU 44, which was part of Gap Assault Team 9, which landed near the middle of Easy Red.  The gap they made is clearly visible in Coast Guard cameraman Robert Sargent's famous photo "Into the Jaws of Death". https://media.defense.gov/2019/Apr/15/2002116659/-1/-1/0/190415-G-G0000-7001.JPG  You can see tank dozer # 9 in the middle distance (which was part of GAT 9), one of the rubber boats on the left at the waterline (used for floating in demo supplies), and a very clear lane through the obstacles.  Troops landing are from Co. A, 16th RCT, hitting the beach at 0740 hours.  Of the 6 NDCU men and 3 attached sailors, 1 was KIA and 1 WIA (both NCDU).

 

I know there are a ton of conflicting casualty numbers, but these come from a contemporary casualty summary, which is held at the UDT Museum.

 

All three of these GATs (and their NCDUs) were part of the gap clearance effort on the 16th RCT's half of Omaha Beach, though by the time the group photo above was taken, the GATs had probably been deactivated and the NCDUs were working under a Navy beach battalion. 

[Steve1and2]

On 1/23/2024 at 1:29 AM, Guest POGO 1028 said:

Steve1and2 that is my father standing with no helmet. Stanley Pogozelski

Hi Pogo 1028, sorry for the delay but can you be more specific about which man with no helmet please? Is he the one with the knitted hat? I ask because the bare-headed man standing in the back row, fourth from the left is currently listed as Herman Munson NCDU 138, Team 15.

Many thanks, Steve