The link below will take you to an archive of many of President Eisenhower's letters and other presidential writings. As we celebrate the unbelievable courage of those brave soles who led the charge on June 6, 1944, it is amazing to read some of the primary documents tied to this legendary offensive.
This link will take you to President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Order of the Day. The text follows, but the plain text transcribed to this blog is not nearly as imposing and awesome as the actual, original document.
"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 hopes 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 the 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 well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.
But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-1941. 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 all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.
Signed, Dwight D. Eisenhower"
Can you imagine reading this while contemplating the task before you? Can you imagine your country, and the free world, calling on you to participate in this "noble undertaking"?
President Eisenhower also penned a note to be read in case of failure. Thankfully, the sentiment on this note never needed to be expressed. However, it is somewhat refreshing to read President Eisenhower's last sentence, where he alone accepts full blame if the mission should fail.
On this, the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the law firm of McCullers, Whitaker & Hamer, PLLC, would very much like to offer our sincere thanks and appreciation to all those who served our country so aptly during World War II, and, or course, those men and women who continue to serve our county to this day.
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