While working on Utah Beach the 519th Port Battalion camped in an apple orchard owned by the Duchemin family. The above photo comes from Bruce Kramlich from HQ. Back row: Mr. and Mrs. Duchemin, Ralph "Pop" Richard, and Mrs Duchemin's mother, Mme. Hamel. Front row: Marie, Corentin, Geneviève, Camille, and Andrée. If you know any of the Duchemin family, please let me know. I would like to learn where exactly they had their farm. I know it was about 1 and a half miles south of Ravenoville, Normandie.
Update December 2015: I got in touch with Corentin and with the son of Andrée. The Duchemin family still runs the farm!
In the background of the above photo you can see a line of huts built with dunnage (scrap wood from the cargo hold). A-frame roofs straddled their fox holes for better protection from the elements. See this post for a detailed description of their huts.
Above photo shows a GI using his helmet as a wash basin for a shave. Because the 519th was a non combat battalion the men had the time to take pictures of their daily life.
I am Related to the Duchemin because my grandmother was Marie Duchemin’ first cousin. I am so proud of my brave family and my norman heritage! Emmanuelle
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