Gen. Eisenhower’s D-Day message

[fordson]

Gen. Eisenhower's storied D-Day message to the troops - his order of the day:
"Full victory - nothing less"

" Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is will-trained, well-equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!

Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking."

 

[dasnake]

Wow

Thanks for this.

 

[crazyphil]

I like Ike. That was a great speech. Very appropriate for that day and time.

 

[PeterJ]

I miss Ike,,, hell, I even miss Harry.

 

[fordson]

Some more messages from Gen. Eisenhower. This one is a 0800 hrs SITSUM D-Day message.

 

[fordson]

Gen. Eisenhower's "In Case of Failure" message. He wrote this by hand in draft form, so the original is difficult to read. This is what it said:

" Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that Bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone."

Edit: added copy of hand written draft message

 

[Greyman50]

Saw Ike when he was President, will always remember that. Never understood how he put up with Montgomery during the war......

 

[Sistema1927]

All of those brave men will soon be gone. The youngest would have to be about 94 now.

 

[norm]

If you like ike google operation wetback

 

[crazyphil]

March of 1955 to March of 1956 I was attached to the NSA, which at that
time was in Arlington, VA. Our barracks were in Suitland, MD, and we
commuted every day. Occasionally Ike's motorcade would go roaring
out to Andrews AFB, or in on the Suitland Parkway. A couple of times
I was able to catch a glimpse of his limo and motorcade going by.

In the presidential election of 1952, Ike ran on the promise that he would
get us out of the mess in Korea, which he did. He defeated Adlai Stevenson
in a landslide.

Today is the 77th anniversary D Day. In Operation Overlord, over a
million Americans and our allies invaded, and eventually conquered
the German stronghold in Europe. Eisenhower was in charge of, probably
the most complex operation in military history.

"I think that people want peace so much that one of these days government
had better get out of their way and let them have it."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

 

[PALADIN85020]

I am proud to have seen Ike before he became President. His campaign stopped in Phoenix, and he appeared at Phoenix Union High School's stadium (the largest then in Phoenix) to give a speech.

My mom told me to skip school, and she'd write an excuse note for me. She said it was way more important for me to see and hear General Eisenhower than anything school could offer that day. She drove me to the packed stadium, and we saw Ike deliver his speech. I remember it was a windy day, and his hair was blowing in the wind. I felt very privileged to have seen and heard him in person. Ike was probably the most admired man in the country at that time.

Here is a picture of him when he arrived in Phoenix, with his motorcade leaving the train station going to the stadium that day.



On that same day at the stadium, Ike is shaking hands with Barry Goldwater, with AZ Governor Paul Fannin at his side. As for me, I'm in the far background in the stadium stands. I'm the curly-headed 13-year old.

John

 

[NYlakesider]

Saw Ike when he was President, will always remember that. Never understood how he put up with Montgomery during the war......

Possibly it was because Monty was such a sharp dresser!

 

[crazyphil]

PALADIN's post reminded me that in the presidential election of 1948,
President Truman came through Idaho Falls on a whistle stop tour.
The train stopped, and he spoke from the back of his railroad car.
I was in Jr. High at the time, and they let us out to go see him.
"I never did give anyone Hell. I just told the truth and they thought
is was Hell." Harry S. Truman

I don't remember the year, but Nixon came here to Boise campaigning.
I took my daughter to see him. We stood in a line and shook hands with
him.
"People have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well,
I'm not a crook..." Richard M. Nixon

Somewhere around here I have a picture of me standing next to
Ronald Reagan, with my hand on his shoulder. I don't know how
secret service let me get away with that.

 

[Absalom]

Today is the 77th anniversary D Day. In Operation Overlord, over a
million Americans and our allies invaded, and eventually conquered
the German stronghold in Europe. Eisenhower was in charge of, probably
the most complex operation in military history.

During the budget battles among the service chiefs in the 1950s, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, relatively recently established as its own branch, kept badgering Eisenhower with his insistence on how absolutely essential the Marines were.

Reportedly, Ike finally had enough and told him "Listen, I commanded the largest amphibious landing operation in military history and there wasn't a Marine involved. I wonder how I managed?"

(No offense intended to any Marines on the forum. While there were the Marine contingents on US warships off Normandy, the first Marine Corps units landed in continental Europe during the invasion of Southern France in August 1944.)

 

[crazyphil]

PALADIN - That looks like Barry Goldwater shaking hands with Ike.

 

[7shooter]

Ike drove right by my house in a white Cadillac convertible. He had driven from the dedication of the Garrison dam to Bismarck. Exciting day for a little kid.

 

[PALADIN85020]

PALADIN - That looks like Barry Goldwater shaking hands with Ike.

That IS Barry, and I referred to him in the text. At the time, I believe he was on the Phoenix city council fighting corrupt politicians and organizations. He was beginning to establish himself as an up-and-coming Republican. I never met him, but corresponded with him fairly often in the '60s. I attended his funeral services and shook hands in condolence with his second wife - his first preceded him in death. Barry always had my immense respect. Besides being the father of modern conservatism, he was also an accomplished photographer, and I treasure his book of photographs, mostly taken in Arizona.

John

 

[Sam McCord]

During the budget battles among the service chiefs in the 1950s, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, relatively recently established as its own branch, kept badgering Eisenhower with his insistence on how absolutely essential the Marines were.

Reportedly, Ike finally had enough and told him "Listen, I commanded the largest amphibious landing operation in military history and there wasn't a Marine involved. I wonder how I managed?"

(No offense intended to any Marines on the forum. While there were the Marine contingents on US warships off Normandy, the first Marine Corps units landed in continental Europe during the invasion of Southern France in August 1944.)

Not to let facts get in the way of your post but the U.S. Marine Corps was established as "it's own branch" on July 11, 1798 by Presidential Order signed by President John Adams. No offense taken, just setting the record straight.

 

[Absalom]

Not to let facts get in the way of your post but the U.S. Marine Corps was established as "it's own branch" on July 11, 1798 by Presidential Order signed by President John Adams. No offense taken, just setting the record straight.

Imprecise phrasing on my part indeed.

However, the uncertainties involving the Marine Corps after WW II (and the Army's and Navy's efforts to have it eliminated and folded into their respective structures) did originate from its lack of legal protection as an organization; not until the National Security Act of 1947 was it provided with such, and the law giving the Commandant an equal voice with the other service chiefs in the JCOS did not pass until 1952.