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Rudder returned from the war believing as he wrote, “I was saved for a purpose.” As before, people gravitated to him and now even more so. These are qualities that Prussian General and military philosopher Carl von Clausewitz calls “the moral factors,” which Rudder, as their leader, demonstrated in spades.Ĭushing Memorial Library and Archives How did Rudder’s military service and his reputation as a war hero help shape his postwar career as a leader in government and higher education? They were extraordinarily brave and daring, but less obvious qualities were required - devotion, courage, intellect, boldness, determination, perseverance and willingness to die for each other and a cause. I encourage my companions to contemplate the qualities, both physical and mental, that were required by Rudder’s lightly armed Rangers to overcome their entrenched and well-equipped enemy. What stands out to you when you see that place in person?įor the casual visitor at Pointe du Hoc, the bomb craters and the dramatic views of the sea create the strongest impressions. You’ve made regular visits to Pointe du Hoc for many years now. He had proven himself good all the way through, mentally and physically. After Pointe du Hoc, Rudder would never have to explain himself to anyone, least of all to himself.

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Ten years later, when Rudder went back the first time, he wondered aloud almost to himself, “How did we do this? It was crazy then and it’s crazy now.” Civilians visiting Pointe du Hoc stand in awe while professional soldiers study it as a metaphor for special operation - a precarious attack by a group of highly trained soldiers intent on destroying an enemy target for the sake of achieving a larger goal: the landing on Omaha Beach. Army history and is related to the motto, “Rangers, Lead the Way.” In comparison to countless acts of heroism by American soldiers on D-Day, the valiant actions by those Rangers stand above all the others by the mere fact that they were so daring and conspicuous.

What happened at Pointe du Hoc is a significant event in U.S. Mike McKeown/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Rudder sat beside Nancy Reagan during the president’s famous speech. That’s why several of our presidents have gone there, notably Ronald Reagan for the 40th anniversary of D-Day when he talked about “the boys of Pointe du Hoc” - touching words that still resonate around the world. The captivating scene is one of the great photo-ops of the world. The scene looking down the cliffs, over the narrow beach below and out to sea captures the imagination, leaving an image that is forever memorable.

The successful assault up the 100-foot cliffs of Pointe du Hoc by Rudder’s 2nd Rangers has become enshrined in legend. How did the story of Rudder and his Rangers capturing Pointe du Hoc become so legendary, and why do you think it continues to resonate today?

Hatfield, director and senior research fellow at the Briscoe Center for American History and author of “Rudder: From Leader to Legend.” As Hatfield explains, there’s a lot more to the story of this legendary soldier-turned-educator. To mark the anniversary of D-Day and the birth of Rudder’s enduring legacy, Texas A&M Today spoke with Dr. This assault solidified Rudder as a hero of the D-Day landings and the war at large, setting the stage for the rest of his life. As Allied forces launched a campaign to liberate France from Nazi occupation, some 150,000 troops landed on the beaches at Normandy the morning of June 6, 1944.Īmong them was future Texas A&M University President James Earl Rudder, a lieutenant colonel at the time, who led his group of Army Rangers up the steep cliffs at Pointe du Hoc to capture a Germany artillery position. Seventy-nine years ago, the world was at war.