UTAH was less deadly than OMAHA
The first day of the landing on UTAH BEACH was less deadly than on OMAHA (« Bloody OMAHA ») with "only" 197 killed in action and 60 missing soldiers.
The shore landing at UTAH BEACH was a success with 20.000 GI's, 1.720 vehicles, and 1.695 tons of supplies arriving on french ground.
UTAH BEACH becomes an impressive artificial harbour
On june 5th 1944, the allied fleet was making it's way towards the coast of Normandy. As well as the warships were 13 old ships especially conveyed to be sunk in a demi-circle between the Saint Marcouf Islands and the coast, forming a solid wavebraker.
On june 6th even before the beach was completely safe, men from the US Navy were hard at work constructing the artificial harbour of UTAH BEACH, which was known under the code name « GOOSEBERRY ».
Other soldiers were busy building metalic jetties to allow the transportation of vehicules, men and supplies 24.00 a day.
The 1st Engineer Special Brigade built in only 5 days a road called « the allied road » boarded the coast between UTAH BEACH and SAINT MARTIN DE VARREVILLE. The number of these men had now passed from 23.000 to 70.000 soldiers. Their missions were to install and to manage the harbour.