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Source: Dave Hagen
31 Dec 13
Why would one combine a trip to Norway with a trip to Normandy, you might ask?? Well, there are many reasons: 1) Normandy was named after, and settled by people from, Norway. 2) If you travel via IcelandAir, they are both on their list of stopping off places from the home port of Reykavik. 3) My father, Arlyn Hagen, has forefathers from homesteads in Norway that we visited and he was also a major contributor to the Invasion of Normandy on D-Day 1944. We have owed him homage for both factors for a long time!!
We found very interesting and interested cousins in the Stavanger area, Gunnar & Solveig Varland, who very graciously volunteered to show us the Langland homestead on Fogn Island in the Stavanger Fjord.
While we were there we also drove to the Skogen homestead in Hemsedal. I had previously visited the Hagen and Grandalen homesteads in Eggedal and Sigdal, so we now have located the 4 major roots of Arlyn's Norwegian Ancestry!!
The second part of the trip was also scenic and interesting, but a lot more somber. We followed Arlyn's WW II Army experience in Normandy, which included landing on Omaha Beach Dog Red on June 9, 1944 in the largest military invasion in the history of the world. The impact of that sensation, from landing beaches to battle sites to cemeteries and memorials, along with praise, thanks and testimony from Native Frenchmen living near Omaha Beach made on feel humble, thankful and speechless!!
A contrasting architecture and history of the Peoples or Norway and France can be best appreciated by comparing the Stav Kirkes from ancient Norway to the majestic Mount Saint Michele that the Catholic Church built in Normandy, seen here:
Please go to Arlyn Hagen's Bio Site to get a deeper appreciation of the sacrifice that he made during the US Campaign in the European Theater of Operation (ETO):
[Arlyn Hagen Bio]Gunnar & Solveig hosted us
And Gunnar showed Torkel's Homesite
We visited Langland with present owner
Then rode the Flaam Cog Rail Line
We enjoyed the magestic Fleischer's
And the marvelous Kvickne's
We marveled at ancient Kirke
And magnificent Water Falls everywhere
First a stop in Giverny
To feel the aura of flowers and ponds
Then a visit to Hallowed Beaches
And the Bunkers that greeted Arlyn's arrival
Where US Rangers climbed the cliff
A Church Memorial at Graignes
Where Arlyn slept on wet ground
Near where French Royalty Played!
Roseau native Arlyn Hagen played a significant role in the Invasion of Normandy and the eventual defeat of the Nazi Army in Europe in WW II. But, because of the severe trauma that he endured and injury and illness that he sustained, he never talked about it after his return to 'Civilization'. Instead, he simply set out to make a life for his family on his dairy and grain farm supplemented with a career as a rural mail carrier. As his children, we would occasionally pick up a comment from others that mentioned that he had landed on the notorious Omaha Beach and fought in the famous Battle of the Bulge that were sanctified in films and documentaries. But we knew few details to give substance to his Army career. After his death in 2004, it slowly began to dawn on me that I had not captured this extraordinary family history for perpetuity, as it definitely deserved to be. So I brought my Son along on a business trip to Belgium and we visited the Bastogne memorial to the Battle of the Bulge. It was a heart-rending Gettysburg-like experience for us and it set up a craving for more knowledge of the super-human courage, strength and endurance that these young men had demonstrated during this most extra-ordinary military campaign. It was troubling to me to realize that the COPD that finally causes Arlyn's death at age 84 had plagued him throughout his life from its origins as Emphysema caused by living in Fox Holes during the Battle of the Bulge (Dec 44/Jan 45) and breathing exhaust from vehicle engines that could not be shut off in cold weather. I hired a military historian to research Arlyn's Army career and was surprised when he produced dozens of Company Reports that followed Dad from Enlistment in Milwaukee (Sep 1942) through to his passage to England, his crossing of the English Chanel to Normandy, his campaign across France through Paris to Belgium, his entry into Germany, his final (Post VE Day) assignment in Czechoslovakia, and his injury- caused return to a hospital in Colorado before being discharged (Oct 1945). It was a chilling and surreal sensation to read the details of those reports, particularly the sacred passages describing the Channel crossing and the Normandy landing, always with images of 'The Longest Day' and 'Saving Private Ryan' spooking you as you read: "June 3 Departed Margam Castle at 0300 for Fort Berry; Embarked for English Channel on Craft MT204 at 0930; Aboard MT204 approx. 2 miles off England awaiting crossing orders; June 5 started sailing for France at 1400 weather fair morale good; June 7 Aboard MT204 enroute to France with Enemy Attack at 2345 minor casualties weather fair morale good. June 9 All Personnel and Vehicles loaded onto landing craft, landed on French Coast, proceeded to Omaha Beach 'Dog Red', Enemy Air Attack 2300 minor casualties weather stormy morale good. Every time I read these reports I have to sit down, swallow hard and catch my breath! Omaha Beach was divided into sections labeled 'Charlie', 'Dog', 'Easy' and 'Fox' and each section was sub-divided ( as 'Dog Green', 'Dog White' and 'Dog Red'). The 'Dog Red' section of Omaha Beach where Dad landed on June 9th was the stretch called 'Dog One' in the movie "Saving Private Ryan" because that sounded better for the movie lingo. But one can easily manage the Carnage and Hell that awaited them as they waded ashore and unloaded their vehicles. The enormous magnitude of this history compels one to visit Normandy and my wife and I did so this past September, hiring a private historian to guide us to the places where Arlyn and his company (463rd Ordnance--who operated, repaired and modified Tanks & Heavy Eqpt) had fought. In addition to the full Beach exploration we focused on the Colleville hedgerows, Point du Hoc, La Cambe, Isigny, Aure River, Vaubadon, St. Lo, Domjean and Mortree. We also explored nearby battlesites at St. Mer Eglise, Carantan and Graignes. When we stood at Omaha 'Dog Red' with our private guide we attracted the attention of local Frenchmen who were curious because they were used to seeing this guide with large groups of a dozen people. When he told them that my Father had landed here during the Liberation of France they were humbled by our presence and offered us copious thanks to take back to family members from their families and countrymen. Although they were younger than me, they knew the history precisely to the minute as it's passed down from generation to generation among the local families who were so oppressed by the Nazis until the Yanks arrived like Saviors from the Heavens. The American Cemetery at Normandy, which is situated near Colleville-sul-Mer and just inland from Omaha Beach 'Dog' section, is the most sacred ground that I have ever stood on in my life. I challenge any American to remain dry-eyed, tight-jawed and to utter a meaningful word while standing among the rows of White Crosses (and an occasional Star of David). You find yourself so humble, speechless and insignificant and you truly understand President Lincoln's admission that mortals cannot possibly 'hallow or sanctify' these sacred grounds any more than the soldiers who are buried there have already done! Next June is the 70th anniversary of that Liberation and many people will get the chance to experience this feeling themselves. I have found it meaningful to re-create a display of Dad's Army medals and ribbons for all of us to remember him by. I had to get replacements by virtue of his Discharge Papers because he did not collect or save the originals that he was awarded. We have them on display in Thelma's room at Roseau Manor if any Veterans are interested in viewing them. They include Good Conduct, American Campaign, Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign, WW II Victory, and Occupation Medals as well as Bronze Arrowhead, Star of Valor, Marksmanship, Presidential Seal, Normandy Invasion and Battle of the Bulge Medals.