Corpse Man

Normandy, France. June, 1944. An American soldier leaps over the side of his landing craft once the German shore batteries begin to fire. He loses his rifle in the process and nearly drowns in the five-to-six feet waves. The soldier makes it to shore, however, by swimming beneath the water. Then, rather than walking up onto the beach, he stays in the water—amidst the floating bodies of dead American G.I.s. As Americans troops swarm past, under relentless attack from German guns, the American soldier places himself between two corpses, holding on at each side. For much of the long day, he remains there as best he can, in a kind of holding pattern, and plays dead. After the beach is finally taken and the Germans driven back, the American soldier goes to shore, takes a rifle off a dead G.I., and starts to drag dead bodies from the English Channel, placing them side by side on the beach. Shouting American troops surround him as they move equipment and supplies off landing vehicles. But no one says anything to the American soldier or assists him as he does his work. Taking a break, he sits down atop some corpses, looks around, and waits for help or direction. He eats some discarded rations and smokes. Then the American soldier stands up and resumes his role as guardian of the dead, as his fellow G.I.s continue to move equipment and supplies off landing vehicles.