Raymond B. Dierkes
Dierkes
Raymond B.
MO
World War, 1939-1945
Navy
97th Naval Construction Battalion (NCB Seabees); 108th Naval Construction Battalion (NCB Seabees)
Shipfitter Second Class
Roseneath, Scotland; Tilbury, England; Plymouth, England; Nettley, England; Normandy, France; Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands)
Unknown
Veteran
“The secret of pre-fabricated ports was the secret of 'miracle' supply.”
One of the most important—and least known—aspects of the Normandy Invasion was the advance construction of giant artificial harbors through which men and materiel could be landed. The Germans never suspected that the Allies would be able to pull off a massive invasion by using the one existing port of Cherbourg, but thanks to men like Ray Dierkes and his unit of Navy Seabees, D-Day was only the beginning of a massive movement of troops and equipment that would spell defeat for the Nazis. In a handwritten note on one of his newspaper clippings, Dierkes proudly notes that he personally drove his unit to an April 1944 meeting in London with Winston Churchill to discuss final plans for the invasion.
Raymond Dierkes [detail]
Voices of War
Plymouth, England
1944
Irv Anderson, Minn, MN. & Ray Dierkes St. Louis, MO
108th NCB Pierhead #408 Crew D-Day Plus 16
108th N.C.B. Crew of 408-C Lobnitz Pierhead
Blockship on Gooseberry Under Fire
June 7, 1944
"Gooseburies" Code name for sunken ship for breakwater
At Omaha Beach
Training at Selsey
Training at Selsey (Close Up)
Our crew at Selsey Bill Before Leaving To Go Aboard PHOENIX
Heading Out To Board PHOENIX
Side view of PHOENIX under construction
Goods Wagon
Petrol piping went under the channel
1944
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Pierhead 401 is outfitted in Southampton, England. This is the first pierhead to be completed. That’s pierhead 404 alongside. (The battleships are British, and are training for their Navy.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: After being outfitted we are towed to Selsey Eng. to await D-Day. We are placed so that bombing will do the least damage. Two Bridge shore ramps are tied to the pierhead shown. Several Phoenixs (Breakwaters) are scattered about with one being pumped out (at rightcenter). Pontoon bridge can be seen a extreme right.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: The control board is located in a small cabin on the bridge. (See Photo 1). Gauges on wall are depth of hull in water. The ones on board register strain on cables. Buttons are for raising and lowering, and stopping spuds. At bottom the handles are to operate all four spuds at once.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: We leave for France. Note guide-wire to steady spuds. Another pierhead is seen in background. That armor-plating above our quarters where the chair is. Note; the washing.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Some of the crew and the equipment aboard. Note; Life jackets and helmets. Those are intertubes for pontoons the mates are resting on.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Cargo ship with French coast line in background. Note; explosion on shore at right.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: The harbor, positions of Phoenixs and LST unloading at right. Note; barrage balloons and 40mm's on Phoenix.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: These Blockships or code name "Goose Berries" were sunk because of shortage of the Phoenixs.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Reported to be hit by a German "88" was this Phoenix.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: We have our crane taken ashore. Lt. Newton is at left; Chief Vannett and Mates look on.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Up she goes! That's a British floating grane, said to be the largest of the Isles.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Protestant Church services. That's Commander of the Beach LCI at left. The "J" boat is being repaired by some of crew.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: The Chiefs "Madeline 11" ready for launching. It was a life boat, but motor was installed.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: The storm at its worst. Note; height of waves, it's about 38 feet from waters edge to top of Phoenix at marker at right.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: The storm at its worst. At center, Note; Tugs stack. It had lost Phoenix it was towing on ways over the channel
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Another view of storm. Top of Phoenix is all that's left of the one at top, right. The storm was D+19 to d+21.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: There was a complete line of Phoenixs as in photo 7. The Phoenix at left broke in two later (see photo 19)
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Some pierheads lost their spuds which broke in two. Spuds are steek 4 ft. square, 60 ft. high, and that gives you some idea how bad the storm was.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: (After the storm) Note; Phoenix broken in two.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Wreckage of pierheads and bridges. Exams with magnifying glass.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Another view of wreckage. Tug is doing salvage work.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: The bridge awaits salvage.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Tugs at right salvaging ships in beach.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Waves broke over top of this Phoenix. Wreckage of improvised shack can be seen in front of gun tower. Ships seen in background are aground.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: This view taken from German "88" pillbox shows wreckage of bridge, incidentally the cross fire of the gun. Pillbox was open at other side, too; closed in front.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Broken cables of 401 snapped just 4 hours before end of storm. This was the extent of the damage of this pierhead.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Close up of Rhino's and bridge. One Rhino rest atop of another at right front. An idea of the size of these Rhino's can be seen in the next picture.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Two loaded Rhino's wade ashore. At center right is amphibious Duck. Compare sizes of each.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Here's close up of a Duck to give you mores of an idea of force of storm.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: After the storm, the harbor 404, 401, at center with floating crane along side. 408 is at left with only one Spud, photo taken from top of French cliff.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Close up of previous picture #30. After the storm, the harbor 404, 401, at center with floating crane along side. 408 is at left with only one Spud, photo taken from top of French cliff.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: French fishing boat used for scouting, operated by two Frenchmen.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Used by Commander of Beach was this Coast Guard Cutter.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: The bridge before the storm can be seen center left from pierheads it runs into shore. Spare bridge sections can be seen on the other side of Phoenix. Note; absence road in this picture that can be seen at center of proceeding picture.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Closer view of where bridges leads. At center dust is from trucks using road.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Close up of road. This is return road for empty ducks and trucks, other road is at left. Ducks bring supplies as far as cranes at center. Load is transferred to trucks, and empty Ducks go back for another load at right.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: A country road in France leads to German gun implacements.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Looks like the house isn't damaged just the shell is left though; Damaged by shells from our warships. Note; Beach Marker to of cliff.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: French town taken from German lookout tree, Note; distance of view.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Another view from tree showing extent of view, road curving from beach is supply line into interior. Road leading to 108th camp is between brick walls in foreground.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Peaceful country side of France.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Catholic Church in ruins.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: The interior where mass is still said.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: The architecture can be seen here.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: View of French village east of harbor. Sea wall is in foreground. Buildings are just shells, although they seem to be undamaged.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: German snipers hole. Below the beach and the human targets.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Attention Mines! The sign warns in German and in French. The Germans left too much in a hurry to remove their markers.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: German personel mine lies in waiting here among the rocks on the beach, it would be covered at high tide.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Look closely (bottom center) for land mine.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: A German searchlight was knocked out by our guns. Located at one end of the beach it flooded entire area. Look closely and you can find Leonard Schmidt and C. Shubert.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: With French harbor as background, Chief Vannett and Arlo Mula are shown in "J" Boat.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Old Glory flies high as a French boat enters harbor of French town. Leonard Schmidt is in foreground while Eddie Blaszak is pilot.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Here's Joe Andriola, Leonard Schmidt, Jimmie Johnson, Bob Hupp, Ed Blaszak, and two gun.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Leroy Olson pilots Madeline II leaving pierheads and French shore behind.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Two vicious looking characters and a mean looking German gun, Sam Tulipane and Jimmie Johnson look over pill box.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Jimmie Johnson and Bob Hupp riding Duck at 108th Camp France.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Camp life in France. Back row: H. Renzi, Ed Meszarous, George Vanecko, and Paul Lanardi. Front row: L-R : Amera Mula, Jimmie Johnson and Joe Brice
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: L-R : Kermit Belieau, Leonard (Pop) Schmidt, Howard Rasmussen, Ed Wuerst and Commander Johnson.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: German operated French 75 MM in pillbox. Kermit Bealieu, Jimmie Johnson, Howard Rassmussen and Leonard Schmidt ready for action.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Rough, the same bunch with Shubert from right.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: War is HELL
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Wonder if this belonged to a German or one of our mates
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Deep in thought is this 108th mate.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Relaxing at Heathfield, England are Jimmie Johnson, Bill Donohue, Bob Hupp and Howard in the rear.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Bill Donohue at Heathfield England.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: At Tilbury, England a mean looking weapon and three mean looking characters, Eddie O'Blocki, Ted Leidy and Jimmie Johnson.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Frank White, Leon La Plant (The Tattooed Man) and Wilson at Tiegnmonth, England.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Werst poses by cannon at Edinburgh, Castle.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Part of camp at Tilbury, England. Wash day for many.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: A trio pass the time of day.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Train station at Edinburgh at center and Red Cross building at left.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Just one of the many monuments of British Isles.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Government buildings, statue is great Scottish statesman, Note figures on roof.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: The Gateway. A draw bridge was here.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: A view from one of the cannon ports.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: The view from the Gateway.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: In the days of yore, woe to the enemy.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: This is ruins of a castle of Mary Queen of the Scots.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Another view of her hideaway.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: An old Church of Scotland.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Typical gateway to an English estate, Bob Hupp, Jimmie Johnson and Bill Donohue take it easy.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Another view, note Monk at entrance.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Ness Rock landmark of Tiegnmonth.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: A game of softball is watched by Britishers. Some of hotels we stayed in, the theatre and the chow house is shown too.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: An English locomotive at a station. Huge isn't it?
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: One company departs for train. Happy Day.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: More parade by, note lawn bowling.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: Another company traveling light. In the background is Ness Rock, Tiegnmonth, England. A 10 day rest area.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: On board the New Amsterdam relaxing on voyage home.
The Secret Mulberry Operation Portable Harbor, Omaha Beach, France: The forward deck as we approach Boston, MA. Looking for the first glimpse of land.
Letter of Commendation 6/1/44
Letter of Commendation [6/1/44]
Japanese Surrender announcement
Japanese Surrender announcement
Unit history of the 108th Naval Amphibious Battalion
Unit history of the 108th Naval Amphibious Battalion
Article: 108 Seabees Briefed For D-Day Role, clipping from "The Bulldozer" 10/27/44
Article: 108 Seabees Briefed For D-Day Role, clipping from "The Bulldozer" 10/27/44
Liberation of Normandie "Diplome"
Liberation of Normandie "Diplome"
Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.01697/
DLC-AFC
2023-06-02
loc.natlib.afc2001001.01697