Private Steel's Bar in Normandy?
 

We are planning to go to Normandy in summer, 2001, and a friend told us recently that about 15 miles inland from the D-Day landing area (specifically the town where the 82nd airborn went in) there is a great bar that was started by one of the D-Day paratroopers. Evidently his unit was hit heavily by in-place German troops as they were parachuting in, and he escaped only by "playing dead" after his parachute got caught on the church steeple, making him a witness to the battle on the ground. Evidently he went back to the same town after the war and started a bar, Private Steel's Bar, in that same town. Anyone know the name of the town? Thanks!

We visited St. Mere-Eglise this Spring, in May. We found no such information, in fact the tourist office said Mr. Steel was back for the first time on the 50th anniversary of D-Day. The spire on which Mr. Steel got hung up now sports a parachute with a mannequin representing the jump. There are very interesting before and after photos throughout town, look for them.

Harry, <BR>See the following web site “http://www.normandy-tourism.org”. <BR> <BR>Select the Interactive Map and then select Sainte-Mer-Eglise in the left frame. <BR> <BR>The selection shows a picture of the paratrooper dangling from the church steeple. However, I have not found a reference for Private Steel’s Bar. <BR> <BR>Sainte-Mère-Eglise is to the northwest of the D-Day beaches on the main road to Cherbourg. It was the first French town to be liberated by the American troops parachuted into the area on 5 June 1944, the day before the D-Day landings on June 6th. <BR> <BR>Enjoy your trip. Rich <BR>

I believe you must be thinking of Saint Mere Eglise, inland from Utah beach. My next door neighbor was a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne during the invasion and I have heard all about this from him. Hope this helps you.

Thanks to all -- I heard about this from someone who had lived in Paris for 9 years, and swore there was a bar, but your info sounds awfully correct. Thanks for the help!

Harry, we visited Normandy and the American Cemetery in May. Sainte-Mer-Eglise is definitely the town you're asking about. <BR> <BR>We didn't notice a bar named after the paratrooper, John Steele, but we had a wonderful dinner at an inn named Auberge John Steele. They had a nice wine list or anything else you might like to drink. The food was delicious complete with a cheese and dessert course. The cheeses were all from Normandy and so fresh. As a matter of fact, it was the best dinner of our trip, including the restaurants in Paris. For dessert we had their Creme Brulee and it was the best. I still think about it. Enjoy your trip! Janis