A savage enemy, a dark time of war, a need for hopes and prayers and a fight for liberty and security.
While these were the feelings of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower during World War II, we could apply some of that atmosphere to modern times, with our soldiers in peril overseas.
June 6, 1944, was D-Day, the culmination of an allied effort among American, British and Canadian forces to bring the war to an end. In those early morning hours, more than 5,000 ships and 11,000 airplanes crossed the English Channel, landing on the beaches of France, intent on forming a western front and driving the Germans back to Berlin.
Gen. Eisenhower commanded this invasion, code named Operation Overlord, unparalleled in its expanse.
Here are the words the general spoke to the forces preparatory to their invasion:
“Soldiers, sailors, and airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force, you are about to embark upon the Great Crusade towards 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 people 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, men to men. Our air offenses have 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 ammunitions 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.”
When the clouds of gunfire settled, blood of heroes soaked the sands at such places as Caen, Cherbourg, and Utah, Omaha and Juno beaches. There has never been an official casualty figure for D-Day, though it’s in the hundreds of thousands.
Let’s all take a moment to send up a prayer to those brave soldiers who fought for our liberties and may be known only to God.