The Biggest Impact
The USS Texas Left One of the Biggest Craters in Normandy, but the War Left a Bigger Impression on Charles, My Guide
“They say that everything is bigger in Texas,” said Charles, our guide, as he pointed to the horizon around Omaha Beach. During D-Day, battleships provided cover which left behind a pockmarked landscape full of craters. “One of the biggest was made by the USS Texas,” as he described the gun used on the ship.
Charles served in the French Air Force until an injury ended his service. His grandfather was a history professor in Bayeux, but his love of history came from reading comic books about the war as a child.
Knowing I was practicing French, he was kind enough to hang out for another hour after our tour ended to chat in French and give me pointers.
I told him his English accent was really good and asked if he had spent time in the States. He told me he learned English by watching American tv shows, most notably Stargate, which was popular there. I laughed since I learned English as a kid watching Knight Rider.
Before Covid happened, Charles learned through research that he had a possible relative that served for America during the very battles he gave tours on. His family was originally from Italy. His grandfather came to France while another part of the family went to America. He had tracked down some possible family in the US and started a correspondance with them. They were to meet and do some DNA tests to see if they were in fact family until the pandemic skirted everyone’s plans.
“I’m not a religious person, but it’s like the Blues Brothers, I feel like it’s a mission from God,” as he laughed. The dream is to do a three month road trip around the US and see all the places he spent so much time talking and wondering about and pay his respects for those who had liberated his home. He also hoped to find a way to raise money for veterans through talks or some other endeavor, to give the trip some sense of purpose.
As we parted he wished me a good rest of my trip and told me, “You know, the USS Texas is outside of Houston. I want to go and see the gun that made the biggest crater here.” Laughing, I told him it’ll just be a matter of time.
Continue the Crawl
La Liberté éclairant le monde, Liberty Enlightening the World
Earlier in the year, I went to watch Folarin Balogun play in Ligue 1. I took a side trip to Monaco to watch him play against Angers SCO at Louis Stade II.
A Run Through the Pyramids at La Grande-Motte
Waterproofing is a nice concept until you begin to sous vide from underneath your poncho.
A Warm Meal Before the 2026 Olympics Closing Ceremony
“Is the taste good?” asked the man in Olympic gear as I was eating a bowl of polenta and pork.
