America's involvement in World War Two had been active for over two years when my father, a seventeen year old from East Hartford, Connecticut, made his decision to volunteer for active duty. Lewis Dube enlisted in the Navy on February 9, 1944 (he passed his exams in '43 as a potential Army Air Corp aviation cadet, but found the prospects of Navy life more enticing). Shortly after introductory Naval basic training in Sampson, N.Y., Lew was shipped via Pier 72 in New York to Scotland to begin explosives and assault training, joining the members of NCDU (Naval Combat Demolition Unit) 127. Such began his preparation for the day in which he would participate, along with 156,000 troops from the US, UK and Canada, in the largest invasion force in history.

The NCDUs were developed from the Scouts and Raiders training itineraries, the nascent form of what is now known as Navy Seals (preceded by the UDTs-Underwater Demolition Teams or Frogmen) by Lieutenant Draper Kaufman, "the father of US Navy demolitions"(1). The enlistment qualifications were that one could swim and was preferably single. The main base was located at South Hutchinson Island, Ft. Pierce, Florida. It was crude by today's standards; the buildings largely comprised of temporary structures in 1944. But the training was intense with a heavy emphasis pushing physical limits. Diving methods, rubber rafting and explosives became the staples of a day's training. In addition to the taxing physical exercises, heat and sand flies severely reduced the hospitality of the area.

The NCDUs became assigned to the Joint Army Navy Experimental Test board, which was a group developed to test new explosives, and to learn about dismantling various types of mines. After several months of experimental work, the Unit was reassigned to the DRU (Demolition Research Unit), whose goal was to research the use of rocket propelled explosives in coastal invasions. One such study involved landing craft fitted with 7.2 inch rockets- the "Woofus Boat"(2), a craft capable of delivering a barrage of rocket fire.

In April 1944, original members of NCDU 127 were shipped overseas to the UK for demolition and assault training. The first destination was Scotland for indoctrination after a brief stopover in Wales. The team was augmented in May with the addition of seamen, including Lew,  recently trained at the Naval Training Station in Sampson, NY. Weeks later it was in the port city of Salcombe, England in May that Lew and NCDU 127 began practice for the destruction of beach obstacles. One of the methods of achieving this was the use of the newly developed "Hagensen Pack", which consisted of C2 explosives rolled up and then pressed into various containment methods such as canvas bags or socks. The Hagensen Pack was a product of the "necessity being the mother of invention clause", and was named after the man who brainstormed it's development; Lt. (jg) Carl Hagensen, USN (who would see his invention in use up front and personal as a commander of an NCDU at Normandy). A long length of Primacord was attached to the pack and this would in turn be ignited electrically. Multiple Hagensen packs would be tied together allowing groups of beach obstacles (which often were made of steel or wood) to be destroyed. A method of destroying the steel Nazi beach obstacles was the use of 16 such packs strategically located to cut through the metal and collapse the structure. About ten-thousand Hagensen packs were hand-made by the NCDU units and members of the Army. It was a sort of "roll your own" weaponry.    At right, Lt. Hagensen receives a commendation for his leadership in Normandy.

On June 1st, 1944, LST 47 was loaded with NCDUs 127 and 136, commencing the nervous wait for the invasion. By this time it was long apparent to all that something on a massive scale was about to occur, but most only knew that it was to happen somewhere in France, and not much more was said. The next few days were a mix of nerves, sea sickness, and boredom. The hours must have dragged like days as all aboard the LST (Landing Ship Tank) anxiously breathed in the diesel and vomit bouquet. Finally, on the fourth of June, the craft got underway into the English Channel. Lew's unit, NCDU 127, was officially part of Naval Task Force 125,  assigned to Force "U", the massive group that was to land on the section of beach code named "Utah".  Along with NCDUs 25, 26, and 136, they were to be referred to as part of the "Green Beach Demolition Party" under the command of Lt. (jg) E. P. Clayton.(3). Operation Neptune, the Navy's responsibility of what was then secretly referred to as "Overlord", was soon to begin.

LST 47 awaits in the River Dart on June 2nd. NCDUs 127 and 136 are aboard.

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