Pointe du Hoc is a 100-foot cliff overlooking the English

Pointe du Hoc is a 100-foot cliff overlooking the English Channel on the coast of Normandy, located between Utah and Omaha Beach. It was a German observation point fortified with concrete casements and gun pits. On D-Day it was the objective for the U.S. Army Rangers; they assaulted and captured Pointe du Hoc after scaling the cliffs. Service Members of Joint Task Force D-Day 71 visited historic D-Day sites June 2, 2015, as part of the events to commemorate the 71st anniversary, one of which was Pointe du Hoc. Over 380 service members from Europe and affiliated D-Day historical units are participating in the 71st Anniversary as part of JTF D-Day 71. The Task Force, based in Saint Mere Eglise, France, is supporting local events across Normandy, from 2-8 June, 2015 to commemorate the selfless actions by all the allies on D-Day that continue to resonate 71 years later. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Saska Ball, USACAPOC(A) PAO)