"Cheering the American Liberators"
Sculpture, by Luxembourg artist Marie-Josée Kerschen

Our Mission . . .

. . . is to provide all who come on tour with us a meaningful, educational, and unique experience on the European battlefields of World War II, with the American perspective as the central theme. With more than 43 years of experience between us, access to areas and people not available elsewhere, and the assurance of secure, modern and comfortable accommodations, all that you, your family and friends need to do is come along, enjoy, and for all . . . to remember and share.

We take very seriously the fact that often "this is the trip of a lifetime," ensuring that our veterans are properly remembered at each place we visit. We have dedicated scores of plaques and other memorials, found the final resting places of buddies and loved ones, and enjoyed the gratitude of thousands of Europeans.

Sincerely,

Cristy and Ray Pfeiffer
Owners and Operators since 1981

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HISTORIC TOURS INVITES YOU TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.WW2TOURS.COM AND TURN ON YOUR SPEAKERS TO HEAR THE 1940’S MUSIC!


ANNOUNCING

THE NEW HISTORIC TOURS’ “D-DAY EXPERIENCE”
FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELERS

A NEW SERIES OF PERSONALIZED 3 AND 4-DAY PACKAGE TOURS OF NORMANDY PERSONALLY GUIDED BY RAY AND CRISTY

“IT’S NOT A TOUR – IT’S YOUR PERSONALIZED D-DAY EXPERIENCE”




Some things haven’t changed much in the 60 plus years since the invasion of Normandy. The sound of the sea lapping on the shores, the feel of the wind upon the faces of visitors high on the cliffs above the English Channel, the smell of the apple orchards in the hedgerows, the grazing of the cows, the ancient buildings and spectacular countryside.




PRESIDENT REAGAN AND VETERANS AT POINTE DU HOC
JUNE 6,1984

But other things have changed. This land once laid waste in now fertile, super highways connect Normandy with the rest of France and Europe and modern hotels and wonderful restaurants serve the visitor. The church steeples once destroyed to deny German snipers a safe haven now again chime with bells. The schools are alive with children learning and laughing and the cafes and homes bristling with conversation.

But the most dramatic change is the existence of the hundreds of monuments and plaques to the Allied forces. The people of Normandy have built most of these and they are lovingly maintained. Though most of the World War II generation is gone, their children and grandchildren have never forgotten the sacrifices made to liberate their region and nation.

This is the Normandy of today where the war’s memories will not die, but where life continues in the most traditional of ways. It’s a different time, a familiar memory but also a place to remember and to honor.

2006 is the 24th year of operations for Historic Tours and we realize that the market for Americans visiting Normandy is changing and we are changing with it. Many families and small groups are traveling together and they share an intense interest in D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. They wish to visit Normandy and see the area in detail with an American guide, but otherwise wish to explore Europe on their own. That is why we are offering our D-Day Experience programs, which will include personalized guiding by Ray on private tours and by both Cristy and Ray on group programs. The package will include 3 or 4 nights in a modern hotel in the Bayeux area, buffet breakfast daily and full day tours.

As you may know, we live in Normandy during the tour season and we truly love living there. Though most American only think of Normandy as it relates to the war, the area is breathtakingly beautiful, the towns are charming and the people are wonderful. So we are excited to offer this new concept and to show you magnificent Normandy.

Cristy and Ray

THE US NAVY NORMANDY MONUMENT IS OFFICIAL!

On December 7, 2003 Ray was asked to be the guest speaker for the annual Pearl Harbor Day Commemorative Dinner for the Naval Order of the United States for the Jacksonville, Florida area. Being a Navy veteran himself, Ray was honored to have been chosen to speak and Ray made a slide presentation and of course concentrated on the Navy’s role in the battle and its aftermath. For many years Ray and Cristy have been trying to get a Navy organization to build a proper US Navy monument in Normandy. The authorities in Normandy had indicated that they would donate the land and maintain the monument if some organization would only build it. As a result of their presentation, The Naval Order decided to build the monument. A wonderful design has been agreed on and in January 2006 Ray and Cristy attended the Annual Symposium of the Surface Navy Association in Washington where the maquette (model) of the monument was unveiled. Fund raising is now underway and it is hoped that the monument will be dedicated on Utah Beach on June 6, 2008. The people of Normandy are thrilled and it is hoped that a tour will be built around the dedication of a monument in 2008. Ray is acting as a point of contact between the Naval Order and the French authorities. To read a summary of the efforts please click here: http://www.navalorder.org/

STEVE BOWMAN CHOSEN TO WRITE THE HISTORY OF
“THE BIG RED ONE” IN IRAQ

Col. Steve Bowman, Ph.D., USA (Ret.) who served as the final Deputy Commander of the U.S. Army Berlin Brigade and was the Director of the U.S. Army Military History Institute at Carlisle Barracks, PA. is one of the Tour Directors who works with Historic Tours. He is also an old friend of Cristy and Ray’s. We are delighted to announce that Steve has been authorized by the US Army to write the history of the 1st Infantry Division’s (The Big Red One) experiences in Iraq. Steve lives in Berlin and makes frequent tours to Normandy for active duty US forces stationed in Germany. Steve guided the Belgian and Dutch portions of our 2004 Easy Company 60th Anniversary Commemorative Tour.

“WILD BILL” GUARNERE AND COL. STEVE BOWMAN IN THE “BOIS JACQUES” ABOVE
FOY, BELGIUM (THIS IS WHERE BILL WAS WOUNDED)

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2005 GROUP TOURS
60TH ANNIVERSARY OF V-E DAY COMMEMORATIVE TOUR

V-E Day is a national holiday in France when the Allied victory over Germany is commemorated throughout the nation. Historic Tours was proud to have partnered with The History Channel and all of our tour members received VIP seats at the Arc d’Triomphe to participate in this final great commemoration of World War II in Europe. Though the commemorations will go on every year, the advancing age of the WWII veterans will limit the scale of the commemorations. Our tour members were thrilled to be in the center of the ceremonies, which featured President Chirac and other Allied representatives.

The tour visited Paris, Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge areas of Belgium and Luxembourg and the Rhine River crossings of Germany. Highlights included private receptions in Ste. Marie-du-mont, France and Clervaux, Luxembourg.

WWII VETERANS CHRIS RUDDER (2ND FROM RIGHT FRONT ROW) AND GEORGE PAPPAS
(2ND ROW 1ST ON RIGHT) AT V-E DAY CEREMONIES AT THE ARC D’TRIOMPHE




D-DAY VETERAN CHRIS RUDDER AND FAMILY AT THE SPOT ON DOG GREEN,
OMAHA BEACH WHERE HE LANDED




ANNE COUHLIG AND JOANNE PSZENNY UNFOLD “THE STARS AND STRIPES”
IN THE DOG GREEN SECTOR OF OMAHA BEACH

D-DAY COMMEMORATIVE TOUR FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELERS

AMY CHOATE AND BETSY MOORE IN THE GERMAN CONTROL BUNKER
AT LONGUES-SUR-MER

D-DAY COMMEMORATIVE TOUR FOR THE CREW AND CADETS
OF THE US COAST GUARD BARQUE EAGLE




CRISTY AND RAY IN FRONT OF THE US COAST GUARD
BARQUE EAGLE IN CHERBOURG




CRISTY WITH OFFICERS OF THE EAGLE AT THE WREATH LAYING CEREMONY
AT THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY




SOME OF THE CREW AND CADETS OF THE EAGLE WITH RAY ON OMAHA BEACH

The US Coast Guard played key roles in the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy that are little known by the American public. Therefore Historic Tours is particularly proud to have been chosen to have been selected to operate a day-tour for the crew and cadets of the Barque Eagle – the “tall ship” of the Coast Guard -- while it was in Cherbourg during a “tall ship” international race around Europe. Cristy and Ray met the crew at the pier in Cherbourg and took the two buses first to the Normandy American Cemetery where a commemorative service was held. A wreath was laid to the casualties of the Coast Guard and the entire group was taken to the “Wall of the Missing” where the single Coast Guard MIA of the D-Day landings was honored and then to the graves area where each of the six Coast Guard Fallen were honored with flowers. Ray explained the critical role of the Coast Guard as we toured Omaha Beach. The Coast Guard was ordered personally by President Roosevelt to play a live-saving role on D-Day and it is estimated that they rescued about 1,500 men from the English Channel. On Utah Beach local officials from Ste. Marie-du-Mont joined us as we laid a wreath at the Coast Guard plaque. Upon returning to Cherbourg, Ray related the epic story of Captain Quentin Walsh (USCG) who received the Navy Cross while fighting on land with the 9th I.D. as they stormed the city. Captain Walsh then commanded the incredible clearing and reconstruction of the vital harbor. He traveled with Historic Tours in 1994 on the 50th Anniversary of D-Day.

RAY PFEIFFER – GUIDE OF CHOICE FOR CONGRESS
AND THE WHITE HOUSE

PRESIDENT BUSH’S DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF JOSEPH HAGIN AND RAY
AT THE “IRON MIKE” MONUMENT AT LA FIERE, NORMANDY

RAY GUIDES REAR ADMIRAL BYRON FULLER USN (Ret.)

One of the most outstanding Americans who Ray has had the privilege to guide in Normandy is Rear Admiral Byron Fuller. Following a year of active enlisted service in the Navy at the end of World War II, Rear Admiral Fuller entered the U.S. Naval Academy and was commissioned an Ensign in 1951. The Jacksonville, Fla., resident was designated a Naval Aviator in 1952 and had multiple tours at sea.

On July 14, 1967, Rear Admiral Fuller, while leading an air strike over North Vietnam on his 110th mission, was shot down. He was held as a prisoner of war until his release in March 1973.

After returning to duty, Rear Admiral Fuller served as Commanding Officer of USS Detroit and the USS America; Director of the Joint Reconnaissance Center on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Battle Group Commander embarked in the aircraft carriers USS Eisenhower, USS Nimitz and the USS John F. Kennedy.

Rear Admiral Fuller's decorations include the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legions of Merit with Combat "V", four Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars with Combat "V", two Purple Hearts, The Vietnamese Air Gallantry Cross with "Silver Wings" and the POW Medal. Ray had a great day with Admiral Fuller and of course focused on the Navy’s role in D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.

R-ADM. BYRON FULLER USN (RET.) AND RAY
AT POINTE DU HOC

RAY’S PRIVATE TOURS OF NORMANDY

Ray had a highly successful season of private tour guiding. Aside from the Admiral Fuller and Joe Hagin who are mentioned above, Ray guided Ed Scheu – a US Navy D-Day veteran --- on Ray’s final tour of the 2005 season. Ed traveled to Normandy with his sons and spent two days with Ray. Before they arrived in Normandy, Ray and Cristy had researched Ed’s role in D-Day. The LCT, which Ed served on landing British troops on Gold Beach in the British sector. Following the successful landing of the troops, Ed and some other members of the crew were ordered to take small arms and join the British troops as they advanced inland. This was done more or less to avoid having the crew being targeted while the LCT waited for the high tide to come in to refloat the vessel. Ray was able to bring Ed and his sons to the exact spot on Gold Beach where he had landed and guided them to Ver-sur-mer where Ed had been fired on by a sniper. Ed located the alley from which the sniper had fired! It is experiences like these that Ray finds the most gratifying.

US NAVY D-DAY VETERAN ED SCHEU AND SONS
IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY

We look forward to you and your family joining Historic Tours in 2006 or in future years.

All our best,
Cristy and Ray

All photos and text © Susan M. Erickson (unless otherwise noted)
who assumes all responsibility for newsletter s.
Contact: vethonor@aol.com