Recently, I saw a really interesting documentary called "Bloody Omaha".
They spoke of the recently discovered German battery at Maisy.
I re-read the letters I have from Mike and I am pretty sure he was part of the Rangers who were re-directed to Charlie Beach (Omaha Beach) when they thought the assault at Pointe-du-Hoc had failed.
There was always a gap in the story he told me in his letters and the course of the fightings in that sector.
But with the discovery of the German battery, it all falls in place.
So, I presume this is what happened;
Mike was part of the follow-up group of the 2nd or 5th Rangers destined for Pointe-du-Hoc, reinforcing the 225 Rangers there.
At some moment, this follow-up group gets the message that the assault failed and that they had to re-direct to Charlie Beach which is on the right side of Omaha Beach (Vierville).
There, they stormed out of their landing craft and climbed the bluffs, passing the so-called "German villa" (no longer there unfortunately) and hit the German defenses on top of the bluffs from the rear.
They - taking stragglers from the 116th Infantry Regiment and other units - then went on towards that battery at Maisy and finally linked up with the surviving Rangers at the Pointe-du-Hoc area.
This would make sense.
But I am open to remarks and suggestions.
Erwin