Eighty one years ago today, Dwight D Eisenhower sent the following message to allied soldiers preparing to descend into Normandy, France, for the greatest amphibious landing in he history of the world.
SUPREME HEADQUARTERS
ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCESoldiers, 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 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 1940-41. 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.
On June 6, 1944, there was moral clarity. There was sterling leadership. There was remarkable unity amongst the key allies nations, their generals and leaders. There was an understanding of the existential nature of the fight. There was no ambiguity about the diabolical nature of the enemy or the failure of appeasement policies.
Bring those propositions back today, and the world will once again be safe in the face of the hegemonic authoritarianism of Russia, Iran, China and North Korea. .
Abandon those principles and we disgrace the legacy of our WWII fathers and mothers, and reduce the future of our children to a world of slavery and barbarism.
DW Phillips
Director/Producer
Below is a heartwarming clip from my WWII television show filmed in St. Mere Elise, Normandy. Listen to the amazing coherence of and gratitude of modern day French as they remember DDay.
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