The Great Crusade

General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike) D-Day Message
Order of the Day: 6 June 1944
SUPREME HEADQUARTERS
ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

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 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 and 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.


SIGNED: Dwight D. Eisenhower

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They just don't write motivational messages like that anymore.
...-

Mod Edit - All Caps Title.




[edit on Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:15:26 -0500 by MemoryShock]

What stirring and timeless words to rally men and women to war.

Truly we forget that people still experienced this kind of call to honor just a few decades ago.

How much we have lost in honor and eloquence, and how much respect this speech shows for the sacrifices and heroism of those who go to battle, not for strategy, although it counts; not for resources, but for goodness, and right, and things any decent people would wholeheartedly agree with.

What we have today is a pale and mocking reflection of this man's noble words, which made those troops feel their sacrifices meant something.

Something worth dying for.



Thanks so much for this!

Bumped for today's anniversary.

Respect and remembrance.