S8 Ep980: Patrick K. O'Donnell describes how after destroying the guns, the Rangers of Dog, Easy, and Fox companies established a thin defensive line along the coastal road between Omaha and Utah beaches. Isolated and without the expected reinforcements from Force

Patrick K. O'Donnell describes how after destroying the guns, the Rangers of Dog, Easy, and Fox companies established a thin defensive line along the coastal road between Omaha and Utah beaches. Isolated and without the expected reinforcements from Force C, they faced immediate and ferocious German counterattacks. German doctrine emphasized immediate offensive response, and the Rangers soon found themselves fighting in shallow shell holes and hedgerows as hundreds of German troops charged their positions. The combat was brutal; several Rangers were captured or killed as the Germans overwhelmed portions of the L-shaped defensive perimeter. Ranger Elrod Petty, a tenacious combat soldier with a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), was instrumental in holding the line as men from other companies fell back in disarray. The situation was so dire that Lieutenant Colonel Trevor, a British commando observer, admitted he expected to be killed or taken prisoner by morning. The Rangers gathered any Americans they could find, including stray paratroopers from the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions, to bolster their defenses. Relief finally arrived on June 8 when the 5th Ranger Battalion and elements of the 116th Infantry broke through from Omaha Beach. However, the link-up was marred by tragedy; because the isolated Rangers were using captured German MG42s due to a lack of American ammunition, the relief forces mistook them for the enemy, resulting in friendly fire casualties. (4)