From the S&S archives:
In D-Day address, Reagan renews peace call

POINTE DU HOC, France — President Reagan, in his D-Day address at this World War II battlefield, called for renewed cooperation between the United States and the Soviet Union, saying that the countries must band together to reduce the chance of war.

"There is no reconciliation we would welcome more than a reconciliation with the Soviet Union, so together we can lessen the risks of war, now and forever," he told a crowd of several thousand, including 70 veterans of the 2nd Ranger Bn who scaled the Pointe's 100-foot cliffs on D-Day.

Reagan added that it is fitting to remember the 20 million Russians who died during World War II, and he issued a call to "wipe from the face of the Earth the terrible weapons man now has in his hands."

"We are ready to seize that beachhead, but there must be some sign from the Soviet Union that they are willing to move forward, that they share our desire and love for peace, that they will give up the ways of conquest."

The president called NATO "a great alliance that serves to this day as our shield for freedom, for prosperity and for peace," and said that the United States must never forget the bitter lesson learned from prewar isolationism.

"It is better to be here, ready to protect the peace, than take blind shelter across the sea, rushing to respond only after freedom is lost. We learned that isolationism never was and never will be an acceptable response to tyrannical governments with expansionist intent," he said.

Reagan flew to Pointe du Hoc after attending a ceremony at Utah Beach with French President Francois Mitterrand, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Queen Elizabeth of Britain and the heads of state of Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.

More than 6,000 invited veterans and military units from eight participating countries were also on hand at Utah Beach. The USAREUR Band provided music for the ceremony, which was covered by more than 7,000 journalists.

Earlier, Mitterrand laid a wreath at a D-Day memorial in nearby Bayeux, the first major French city liberated in the invasion.

In his address at the Pointe, Reagan hailed the living and dead men of the 2nd Rangers. The unit captured the bluff under the command of Lt. Col. James Earl Rudder. With Rudder's widow, Margaret, the president unveiled plaques bearing the names of the men who died there. A bugler played taps.

Reagan said that he had come to mark the day in history when Allied armies joined in battle to reclaim the European continent for liberty. "These are the boys of Point du Hoc," he said, pointing at the Ranger veterans sitting on the stage with him. "These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end the war."

Following his address, the Reagans went along the line of Ranger veterans, shaking hands and speaking briefly with each man.

Frank South, a former Ranger sergeant, was delighted to meet Reagan. "He said 'Thank you,' to me and I said, 'Thank you, sir.' "

South, from Newark, Del., recalling his experiences on D-Day, said, "I was frightened, yes, but more frightened of not living up to what was expected of me by my comrades. What made the Rangers so special was their intense loyalty. I knew that, if I had a difficult time or had a fight with one of the guys, he'd come through in combat."

Reagan finished his one-hour visit to the Pointe with a short tour of the German bunkers there, as the USAFE Band Played the Battle Hymn of the Republic and Auld Lang Syne.

The Reagans departed Pointe du Hoc by helicopter a short while later to attend a ceremony at Omaha Beach.

Staff writer Bucky Fox contributed to this report.