80th Anniversary of D-Day: South Baldwin's Role
News Staff • June 6, 2024
Coastal Alabama's military contributions
Today is the 90th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion that helped to end World War II in Europe. The Normandy landings and associated airborne operations on Tuesday, 6 June 1944. Many lower Baldwin residents contributed to the war efforts over the six years of battle.
In January of this year, The National Park Service has named Foley the American World War II Heritage City for Alabama.
Eleven communities nationwide have recently received the designation, and only one community can be selected to represent its state or territory as the designated American World War II Heritage City.
“Foley played a critical role in this history, and we are pleased to recognize your jurisdiction as an American World War II Heritage City through the program,” a statement from the National Park Service read.
One of the roles Foley provided was hosting and providing services to Barin Field. Barin Field was established by the Navy in 1942 as an auxiliary training center for the Pensacola Air Station. The field had a major impact on Foley. The town had a population of less than 900 in the 1940 census.
In Barin Field’s first 24 months of operations, 5,795 students were entered in the field log. By 1945, 1,886 enlisted personnel and 165 officers were assigned to the field.
In 1944, the owner of the Grand Hotel in Fairhope turned over the property to the Army Air Force for use as its Maritime Training School under the guidance of Colonel Thompson. The basic seamanship, marine, and aquatic training became known as Operation Ivory Soap. Courses taught on the property included swimming, signaling, ship orientation, sail making, amphibious operations, and more. In total, 5,000 Army Air Force servicemen were trained at the Grand Hotel.
The largest contribution Coastal Alabama provided were the brave souls that lost their lives during the conflict of World War II. The County, along with local VFWs, has placed a marker to remember those who gave everything to protect our freedom. Below is an archive list of the Mobile and Baldwin County Soldiers who lost their lives.
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