Chapter 23 Summary and Analysis

"Catastrophe Contained: Easy Red Sector, Omaha Beach" focuses on the territory that becomes one of the most crowded, confused and bloodiest. General Omar Bradley commands the 250,000-man, 1st Army on Utah and Omaha beaches. He recalls D-Day as "a nightmare," won "by the slimmest of margins." His command post is aboard the USS Augusta, where he is frustrated by low visibility and no news. Bradley's impression is that the Allies are suffering an "irreversible catastrophe," and he agonizes about how to organize a withdrawal. Diverting the circling reserves to another beach is not feasible and could jeopardize the invasion as a whole. His direct subordinate, Maj. Gen. Leonard Gerow, aboard the USS Ancon is initially as blind. He sends his assistant closer, but from 500 meters it is clear only that the beaches are jammed, under effective fire, and the exits remain...