COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France — On the morning of June 6, 1944, a simple yet profound diary entry by Louise Hamel captured the essence of a monumental event that would alter the course of World War II. Her words, hastily scrawled without perfect grammar or accents, read: “Les Americans débarque en France.” In English, this means, “The Americans are landing in France.” This entry signifies the beginning of an assault on Normandy by almost 133,000 troops from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and other Allied nations, marking a crucial operation to liberate Europe from Nazi occupation.
Louise Hamel was the wife of a French farmer imprisoned by the Germans in Czechoslovakia. Her diary entry succinctly documented the start of an invasion that would cost the lives of almost 4,500 soldiers but eventually turn the tide of the war in favor of the Allies. Hamel’s gratitude for the soldiers who sacrificed their lives was profound, and she dedicated herself to honoring their memory for the rest of her life.
In 1947, her family made a significant contribution by donating farmland to establish the Normandy American Cemetery. This cemetery now serves as the final resting place for over 9,000 fallen heroes, most of whom perished during the D-Day invasion and the ensuing operations.
What an incredibly poignant moment!
— Forces News (@ForcesNews) June 6, 2024
A lone piper in a landing craft lands on Gold beach 80 years to the day after the Normandy landings started#DDay80 pic.twitter.com/iWK41SO20k
On Thursday, as part of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, President Joe Biden and other world leaders will gather at this cemetery overlooking the English Channel for a commemorative ceremony. Among the attendees will be veterans who fought in Normandy, many returning for the first time since the war. For Louise Hamel, remembering and honoring these liberators was paramount. Her granddaughter, Stéphanie Le Bris, now an interpretative guide at the cemetery, reflects on her grandmother’s dedication. “Expressing gratitude to the liberators and remembering their contributions to our freedom was always crucial to her,” she said.
Le Bris, then 48 years old, found her grandmother’s diary after she passed away in 2006. The diary and other personal belongings were found in a sewing box on the family farm. Upon opening the diary, Le Bris was immediately struck by the entry marking D-Day and her grandmother’s succinct yet poignant account of the Allied landings.
For Le Bris, this diary is more than a historical document; it is a personal gift and a tangible connection to her grandmother. “It was the last gift from my grandmother,” she stated.
The Onset of Battle: Normandy
The fighting on D-Day commenced early in the morning. At 6:30 a.m., the first wave of Allied troops landed at Omaha Beach, near Hamel’s home in Colleville-sur-Mer. German forces unleashed a relentless barrage of bullets as the soldiers disembarked from their landing crafts and waded ashore. Despite the intense enemy fire, the troops pressed forward, enduring heavy casualties. Nearby, at Pointe du Hoc, rangers scaled cliffs under fire, facing machine gun bursts and grenades from the Germans above.
Louise Hamel, at home when the battle began, had been advised to avoid the beach and flee the village if possible. As the violence escalated, the 24-year-old mother fled with her daughter and mother-in-law to the safety of the countryside, not returning until the next day, June 7, after Colleville had been liberated.
Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away, her husband, Félix Hamel, yearned for news of his family. He had been mobilized by the French Army in 1940, captured shortly thereafter, and sent to Czechoslovakia to work on a farm due to his agricultural background. His letters to Louise reveal his desperation for news and his enduring love and concern for her and their child. In a letter dated August 2, 1944, he wrote: “My dearest, darling Lissette… What is happening to you? Still no news from you. I have written everywhere, Belgian, American, English and French Red Cross. As of today still no news… Seeing what’s happened there, I have to think positively. Me, my health is good. Hoping as always that I will soon receive a letter from you, receive from your Félix, a thousand tender kisses.”
Félix remained a prisoner until the final weeks of the war, finally returning home in May 1945. Upon his return, he discovered that their farmland had been transformed into a temporary morgue. Later, the French government approached him with a proposal to turn the land into a permanent cemetery and memorial for the fallen soldiers. He agreed, understanding the importance of honoring those who had fought for France’s liberation.
A Legacy of Remembrance: Normandy
Félix rarely spoke of his wartime experiences, but Louise’s gratitude for the Allied soldiers was a constant in her life. She participated in Memorial Day celebrations and placed flowers on soldiers’ graves, a tradition that began shortly after D-Day when the fallen were still in temporary graves.
A black-and-white photograph discovered by Le Bris in a museum decades later shows women, including her grandmother, decorating freshly covered graves. In 1999, the U.S. Army’s First Infantry Division, whose soldiers were among the first to land at Omaha Beach, honored Louise with their insignia, a shoulder patch with a red numeral “1” on a green shield. She cherished this symbol and requested it be placed in her casket upon her death, signifying her deep respect and gratitude for the soldiers.
Stéphanie Le Bris, who was 15 when her grandfather died, frequently accompanied her grandmother and other family members to the cemetery. “Every June 6, we went at 6:30 in the morning to see the reenactment on the sea,” she recalled. On the 50th anniversary of D-Day, the family attended commemorations and hosted veterans at their home, a gesture that deeply moved Louise.
Le Bris later worked as a travel agent in Paris but found her true calling in 2007 as an interpretative guide at the Normandy American Cemetery. This cemetery, managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission, welcomes over 1 million visitors annually. Le Bris leads tours in English and French, assisting families of fallen soldiers in locating their loved ones’ burial sites among the rows of white marble crosses and Stars of David.
Although she rarely shares her family history, she sometimes recounts the story of Louise and Félix to those curious about personal connections to D-Day. She often reflects on the bravery of both soldiers and civilians who played roles in the resistance and the liberation of France.
On Thursday, during the D-Day commemorations, Le Bris will honor her grandmother by wearing a piece of jewelry that once belonged to Louise: a gold Napoleon Bonaparte coin. “That’s the way for me to have her with me,” she said. Even in death, Louise Hamel continues to pay her respects to those who helped liberate France.
Enduring Legacy of Gratitude and Sacrifice : Normandy
Louise Hamel’s legacy is a testament to the enduring gratitude and respect she held for the soldiers who liberated her homeland. Her diary entry, a brief yet powerful record of D-Day, encapsulates the profound impact of that momentous day. The Normandy American Cemetery stands as a lasting tribute to the thousands who gave their lives for freedom, a piece of land transformed from a farm to a sacred resting place, thanks to the generosity of the Hamel family.
For Stéphanie Le Bris, working at the cemetery is more than a job; it is a continuation of her grandmother’s mission to honor the liberators. Each day, she walks among the graves, guided by a deep sense of reverence for the courage and sacrifice of the soldiers who fought on D-Day. The cemetery not only commemorates the past but also educates future generations about the cost of freedom and the importance of remembering those who fought for it.
As the world commemorates the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the story of Louise and Félix Hamel serves as a poignant reminder of the personal sacrifices made during the war and the enduring impact of their contributions. Their legacy lives on through the Normandy American Cemetery, a symbol of gratitude and remembrance for the heroes who secured the liberation of France and the restoration of peace in Europe.
For more information on the latest news content, please follow our website here.