Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Raymond B. Dierkes Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: 97th Naval Construction Battalion (NCB Seabees); 108th Naval Construction Battalion (NCB Seabees)
- Location of Service: Roseneath, Scotland; Tilbury, England; Plymouth, England; Nettley, England; Normandy, France; Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands)
- Highest Rank: Shipfitter Second Class
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/1697
One of the most important-and least known-aspects of the Normandy Invasion was the advance construction of giant artificial harbors through which men and materiel could be landed. The Germans never suspected that the Allies would be able to pull off a massive invasion by using the one existing port of Cherbourg, but thanks to men like Ray Dierkes and his unit of Navy Seabees, D-Day was only the beginning of a massive movement of troops and equipment that would spell defeat for the Nazis. In a handwritten note on one of his newspaper clippings, Dierkes proudly notes that he personally drove his unit to an April 1944 meeting in London with Winston Churchill to discuss final plans for the invasion.
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About this Item
Title
- Raymond B. Dierkes Collection
Names
- Dierkes, Raymond B.
Home State
- Missouri
Headings
- - Dierkes, Raymond B.
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: 97th Naval Construction Battalion (NCB Seabees); 108th Naval Construction Battalion (NCB Seabees)
- Location of Service: Roseneath, Scotland; Tilbury, England; Plymouth, England; Nettley, England; Normandy, France; Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands)
- Highest Rank: Shipfitter Second Class
- Dates of Service: 1943-1945
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [4 items] -- (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Clippings [1 item] -- (collected 1944)
- Manuscript: Memoirs [1 item] -- (collected unknown)
- Photograph: Mixed (Multiple types of photographs) [119 items] -- (collected unknown)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/1697
Cite as
- Raymond B. Dierkes Collection (AFC/2001/001/1697), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Nettley, England
- Normandy, France
- Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands)
- Plymouth, England
- Roseneath, Scotland
- Tilbury, England