D-Day to the rhine and other historic places

Flight Journal, Aug 2002 by Drez, Ronald

June 6, 1944, is often regarded as the day that marked the beginning of the end of Nazi tyranny. From that day on, the Third Reich was in trouble; only the exact date of its collapse was in question.

For 20 years, Stephen Ambrose Tours has led military-history enthusiasts on the trail of the Allied Army from its gathering in England in 1942 to the crossing of the Rhine and the rest of the events that happened before the War ended in 1945. That path allows them to see and learn about the preparation and air offensive; the Channel crossing and massive "sky train" that dropped troops into France; the invasion of France and, later, the liberation of Paris; the offensive into Holland; and the Battle of the Bulge. Along the way, the story of the march to victory unfolds.

Instead of a tour where a guide points to a distant landmark while participants sit in a bus, these tourists often find themselves in remote places that were the sites of heroic actions; sometimes, they stand in the foxholes where soldiers fought. A nighttime walk across the "bridge too far" is a heady experience, and so is being in a "last stand" position in the Ardennes once occupied by gallant soldiers.

It has been my pleasure to lead these tours after many years of research with Stephen Ambrose and publishing my own "Voices of D-Day" and "Twenty-Five Yards of War." Ambrose specializes in history and heritage tours and also follows the path of other great events, including the Italian campaign and Mark Clark's Fifth Army, the Lewis and Clark expedition and the western battlefields of the Civil War.

For tour information, contact Andy Ambrose, Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours, 1515 S. Salcedo St., New Orleans, LA 70125; (504) 821-9283; Andy@stephenambrosetours.com. -Ronald Drez