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D-Day paratroopers honored by thousands, including CBS News’ Charlie D’Agata, reenacting a leap into Normandy
President Biden began a state visit to France on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the Allied Forces’ landmark D-Day invasion of Nazi-occupied France. That massive American, British and Canadian assault on the beaches of Normandy, in northern France, would prove a turning point in World War II, and American paratroopers played a key role.
This week, hundreds of re-enactors jumped from the sky to honor the bravery of those men, and the sacrifices made by them and their families.
In a bid to better understand their stories, CBS News foreign correspondent Charlie D’Agata made the very same jump the day before the June 6 D-Day anniversary — from a WWII-era plane, using replicated WWII-era equipment. What follows is his story from the hallowed ground of Normandy, and the skies above.
Normandy, France — Not much has changed in the training of American paratroopers since their predecessors risked — and lost — their lives storming into Normandy nearly 80 years ago.
The “parachute landing fall” is just the same: How to absorb the impact without breaking their legs. Learning how to pull out of the parachute if they’re being dragged across the ground after landing remains a similar, and vital maneuver.
We packed our own chutes. The slightest mistake could be lethal, so before we started, instructor Ian Marshall took us through everything that could go wrong.
Each nightmare scenario for us was there for the paratroopers eight decades ago, but with an added hail of gunfire. A blown or torn canopy, tangled cords, getting tangled up with another jumper, water landings, tees, power lines — they’re all real and present dangers.
The last resort: Pull the reserve parachute. You might not walk away, we were told, but you will live.
We headed to the Netherlands to put our training to the test.
With all the drills and all the training, it’s hard enough to remember what’s going on. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for the young people who were actually going into a war zone — having to remember all that and then face enemy fire from the moment they approached the beach.
Not for me, but the smile I wore before my first practice jump was still very much a nervous one.
The Cessna took to the air, packed tight with fellow jumpers.
No time now for second thoughts. We got to an elevation of 2,000 feet and it was go time. No turning back now.
I took the plunge. Freefall for five terrifying seconds, and then relief when I could see my parachute had opened properly.
It was a thrill. Jumping out of the plane was scary, but it’s quite peaceful up there afterward.
There were a couple of things I got wrong, but most of them I got right, and as one of the instructors said, you can make all the mistakes you want — as long as none of them are fatal.
Second practice jump didn’t go so well. Trying to land, I headed straight for a ditch and a fence. I turned with the wind. Bad idea. Just cleared the hazard, but I came in hard.
My third jump was even worse, sailing out of the drop zone completely. I’m starting to understand how so many paratroopers were left scattered all over Normandy that night. They were trying to hit their mark in pitch dark, under enemy fire, and the weather wasn’t friendly, either.
On the fourth jump, I overcorrected, falling short of the drop zone and almost hitting the runway.
Finally, it was jump five. I’d need this one to work to qualify for my license.
I got a knock on the back of the head as the parachute deployed violently, but I nailed the landing, inside the drop zone, finally.
I had earned my wings, qualified to jump round parachutes solo — and to make the jump into Normandy. For that one, I would not be dropping out of a modern Cessna.
It was as I got suited up in a replica WWII uniform and boarded the C-47 Dakota that I really started to imagine what it must have been like for those men on that day, bracing to jump into the unknown.
The vast majority of the men and women taking part in the wave of jumps this week were U.S. military veterans, including many current paratroopers from 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. More than 13,000 paratroopers spearheaded the initial D-Day assault, carried from British bases to Normandy on more than 800 C-47s.
For many, what would become known as “The Longest Day,” was actually the shortest. More than 9,000 U.S. soldiers died.
It gave me butterflies to imagine those young soldiers climbing aboard this plane on D-Day, not knowing what to expect, but knowing they were going to face the fight of their lives.
As we crossed the English Channel for the shores of France, aside from roar of the Dakota’s engines, you could hear a pin drop.
And then it was go-time.
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I was told to jump “with vigor” out of the door, as the slip stream along a Dakota’s fuselage can cause twists in a parachute.
Our aircraft led the way through the skies above Carenten, the heart of the D-Day drop zones in 1944. The paratroopers 80 years ago didn’t have time to think after they hit the ground, immediately setting to work to secure strategic bridges and roads, establishing a critical toehold for the Allies in occupied France.
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It took three days of heavy fighting for the Allies to wrest control of the territory, partly because so many troops had landed off target.
The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, on a cliff overlooking the coastline in Colleville-sur-Mer, contains the graves of 9,388 fallen soldiers, most of whom died in the D-Day landings and the operations that followed.
CBS News producer Steve Berriman contributed to this report.
CBS News
How to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Minnesota Vikings will take on the Chicago Bears today. The Vikings are currently 8-2, an impressive run so far this season, and will be looking to add a fourth win to their current streak after last Sunday’s 23-13 win against the Tennessee Titans. The Bears, on the other hand, are entering this game on the heels of a four-game losing streak after a tough 20-19 loss against the Green Bay Packers last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Vikings vs. Bears game today, whether or not you have cable.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
The Vikings vs. Bears game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Fubo offers you an easy, user-friendly way to watch NFL games on CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, plus NCAA football channels. The Pro tier includes 200+ channels and unlimited DVR, while the Elite with Sports Plus tier adds NFL RedZone and 4K resolution. New subscribers get a seven-day free trial and all plans allow streaming on up to 10 screens simultaneously.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.
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How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Detroit Lions will face off against the Indianapolis Colts today. The Lions enter this game as top contenders with a near-perfect record of 9-1 so far this season. The Colts, who are 5-6 this season, could have a tough game on their hands against the Lions but will be looking to rack up another win after prevailing over the New York Jets in a tight game last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Colts vs. Lions game today, whether or not you have cable.
Here’s how and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Lions vs. Colts game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Experience NFL action like never before with Fubo’s comprehensive sports streaming platform. From Sunday showdowns to primetime matchups, catch every NFL game across major networks including CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. Choose the Pro package to unlock 200+ channels and limitless DVR storage, or elevate your game-day experience with the Elite with Sports Plus package, featuring NFL RedZone’s commercial-free scoring highlights and stunning 4K quality.
Test drive the service with a no-commitment seven-day free trial, and share the excitement with family and friends — Fubo supports simultaneous streaming on up to 10 devices, so everyone can watch their favorite teams.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games, and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.
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How to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The New England Patriots will face off against the Miami Dolphins in a game today at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The Patriots have had an uneven season so far, coming into the game with a record of 3-8, including a 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on November 17. The Dolphins, however, haven’t fared much better this season as they enter the game with a record of 4-6, although they are coming off two wins in a row, the latest against the Las Vegas Raiders last weekend.
Keep reading to find out how and when to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins game today, even without cable.
CBS, Paramount+ and CBS Essentials are all subsidiaries of Paramount Global.
How and when to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins game today
The New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). The football game will be shown on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ and the platforms noted below.
How and when to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins game without cable
While CBS is available with many basic cable packages, you’ll have other viewing options, too for the Patriots-Dolphins game. Just understand that the below streaming options will require the use of an internet provider:
Paramount+: Watch CBS-aired NFL games without cable
With Paramount+ you’ll have multiple viewing options to choose from. You can catch NFL games on the Paramount+ Essential tier for just $7.99 each month or you can watch college football with a Paramount+ with Showtime subscription for $12.99 monthly. In addition to live streams of NFL games airing on CBS, you’ll get to watch additional live sporting events including NCAA college football, PGA Tour golf, soccer and more.
Get started with Paramount+ here today.
Amazon Prime Video: Add Paramount+ to your existing subscription
Already have an Amazon Prime Video account? Simply add Paramount+ to your current subscription to watch all the CBS-aired NFL games in addition to Paramount+ originals. The same prices from above apply, depending on which tier you choose. Not sure which is best for you? Don’t worry. Both options come with a free seven-day trial that can help you decide.
Watch the Patriots-Dolphins game on Amazon Prime Video.
Fubo: Watch the Patriots-Dolphins game for free
Looking for an inexpensive way to watch football? Fubo could be the best way to do so. The live TV streamer is currently offering a seven-day free trial and $30 off of your first month’s subscription. Once subscribed, you’ll gain access to all of their live sporting events immediately. And there will be a lot to choose from. Not only does Fubo come with access to NFL games airing on your local CBS channel, it also includes Fox Sunday NFC games, “Sunday Night Football” on NBC, “Monday Night Football” on ABC and ESPN and all of the games that air on the NFL Network. So don’t wait.
Get started with Fubo online now.
How to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears NFL game today: Livestream options, more
How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts NFL game today: Livestream options, more
How to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins NFL game today: Livestream options, more
How to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears NFL game today: Livestream options, more
How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts NFL game today: Livestream options, more