D-Day Gallery: Remnants Left in the Sand

Modern Omaha Beach

Obvious traces of the Allied attack on German-occupied Normandy 68 years ago are long gone. Modern Omaha Beach, where American troops lost many lives, is shown above.

(Image credit: dynamosquito)

On June 6, 1944, American troops landed on Omaha Beach, in Normandy, as part of an Allied offensive against German-occupied France. Obvious signs of the bloody battle that ensued are long gone from the beach itself, but geologists have found remnants of it among the sand grains.

Omaha Beach Map

Omaha Beach was one of five Allied landing points along a 50-mile (80-kilometer) stretch of French coastline.

(Image credit: Earle McBride/Dane Picard)

Omaha Beach was one of five Allied landing points along a 50-mile (80-kilometer) stretch of French coastline.

Omaha Beach Sand

In 1988, geologists Earle McBride and Dane Picard collected a sample of beach sand from Omaha Beach. Back in the U.S., after an initial examination under a microscope, they put aside the Omaha Beach sand as other projects took priority. But about a year a

(Image credit: Earle McBride/Dane Picard)

In 1988, geologists Earle McBride and Dane Picard collected a sample of beach sand from Omaha Beach. Back in the U.S., after an initial examination under a microscope, they put aside the Omaha Beach sand as other projects took priority. But about a year ago, they completed their analysis. The sand, as seen through a binocular microscope, is shown above. Rust coated grains of shrapnel are visible in the center of the photo.

Left Behind in the Sand

When they examined the sand, McBride and Picard found angular, metallic fragments, which they believe to be the remnants of shrapnel from the battle. They also found iron and glass beads created by the heat of mortar explosions. Above, a scanning electron

(Image credit: Earle McBride/Dane Picard)

When they examined the sand, McBride and Picard found angular, metallic fragments, which they believe to be the remnants of shrapnel from the battle. They also found iron and glass beads created by the heat of mortar explosions. Above, a scanning electron microscope image of shrapnel grains and an iron bead.

Glass Bead

A scanning electron microscope image of a glass bead with divots and scratches. The heat of the explosions during the battle appears to have melted iron and even quartz in the sand, creating beads like this one.

(Image credit: Earle McBride/Dane Picard)

A scanning electron microscope image of a glass bead with divots and scratches. The heat of the explosions during the battle appears to have melted iron and even quartz in the sand, creating beads like this one.

Earle McBride

Earle McBride, above, one of the geologists to discover shrapnel and other microscopic relics from the D-Day invasion on Omaha Beach. He and colleague Dane Picard collected the sand sample in 1988.

(Image credit: Marc Airhart)

Earle McBride, above, one of the geologists to discover shrapnel and other microscopic relics from the D-Day invasion on Omaha Beach. He and colleague Dane Picard collected the sand sample in 1988.

Allied Invasion

LSTs (Landing Ship Tanks), landing vehicles, and cargo on a Normandy beach, June 1944.

(Image credit: US Navy)

LSTs (Landing Ship Tanks), landing vehicles, and cargo on a Normandy beach, June 1944.

D-Day Casualties

US Army soldiers recovering remains of comrades at Omaha Beach, Normandy, France, 6 Jun 1944.

(Image credit: U.S. Library of Congress)

US Army soldiers recovering remains of comrades at Omaha Beach, Normandy, France, June 6, 1944.

Wynne Parry
Wynne was a reporter at The Stamford Advocate. She has interned at Discover magazine and has freelanced for The New York Times and Scientific American's web site. She has a masters in journalism from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Utah.