 On D @-@ Day , the untested 29th Infantry Division , along with nine companies of U.S. Army Rangers redirected from Pointe du Hoc , were to assault the western half of the beach . The battle @-@ hardened 1st Infantry Division was given the eastern half . The initial assault waves , consisting of tanks , infantry , and combat engineer forces , were carefully planned to reduce the coastal defenses and allow the larger ships of the follow @-@ up waves to land . 
