“D-Day At Pointe-Du-Hoc” tells the remarkable story of the U.S. Army’s 2nd Ranger battalion. Led by Lt. Col. James Earl Rudder, the soldiers scaled the 100-foot cliffs of Pointe du Hoc in Normandy on June 6, 1944 to destroy six German cannons situated halfway between Omaha and Utah Beaches.
Many believed it was a suicidal mission for the men involved.
![“D-Day At Pointe-Du-Hoc” chronicles the dangerous and daring mission undertaken by U.S. Army’s 2nd Ranger battalion during World War II. Led by Lt. Col. James Earl Rudder, the soldiers scaled the 100-foot cliffs of Pointe du Hoc in Normandy on June 6, 1944 to destroy six German cannons situated halfway between Omaha and Utah Beaches.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/9869bc0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/800x493+0+68/resize/880x542!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fimg%2Fphotos%2F2020%2F05%2F22%2FPointe-du-Hoc-2-c.jpg)
Narrated by actor David McCallum ("The Man from U.N.C.L.E." and NCIS) and featuring interviews with surviving veterans from the Pointe-Du-Hoc assault, the documentary chronicles the dangerous and daring mission.
![U.S. Army’s 2nd Ranger battalion resting at Pointe du Hoc, Normandy, France.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/885d44f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/800x493+0+15/resize/880x542!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fimg%2Fphotos%2F2020%2F05%2F22%2FRangers-resting-at-Pointe-du-Hoc.jpg)
Weaving together the first-hand accounts, striking drone footage of the English Channel approach and imposing Pointe cliffs, and rare archival footage of the 2nd Rangers preparing for action, “D-Day At Pointe-Du-Hoc” shares an incredible story of adversity and courage from World War II.
Credits:
Presented by WNED. Distributed by American Public Television.
![Drone footage of the English Channel approach and imposing Pointe cliffs. Pointe du Hoc, Normandy, France.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/6235984/2147483647/strip/true/crop/800x493+0+21/resize/880x542!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fimg%2Fphotos%2F2020%2F05%2F22%2Fdday39_sjpg.jpg)