D-Day: Eisenhower’s Speech

Against a tense backdrop of uncertain weather forecasts, disagreements in strategy, and related timing dilemmas, Eisenhower decided before dawn on June 5 to proceed with Operation Overlord, D-Day. Later that same afternoon, he scribbled a note intended for release to those 175,000 men and women of the expeditionary force.

Polished and printed this became “Order of the Day” for June 6 1944.