Leonard Lomell
Leonard G. Bud Lomell was a highly decorated former United States Army Ranger who served in World War II. He is best known for his actions in the first hours of DDay at Pointe du Hoc on the coast of Normandy, France. Pointe du Hoc was the site of the German Armys largest coastal weapons, five 155millimeter German guns with a 25kilometer range that endangered the tens of thousands of troops landing on Omaha Beach and Utah Beach, and thousands of watercraft in the English Channel supporting the Normandy invasion. Unbeknownst to the Allied intelligence, the Germans had concealed the guns in an orchard, but left them operational and ready to fire. Through skill, courage and pure luck, Lomell found and quickly disabled all five guns. Lomell was recognized by historian Stephen Ambrose as the single individual other than Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower most responsible for the success of DDay. Six months later, in the Battle of Hrtgen Forest, he would again distinguish himself, earning a Silver
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Source: Wikipedia