After the Great War
"Eisenhower was the best clerk I ever had." After many years of shifting jobs throughout the military Eisenhower was appointed to be a Military Assistant to General Douglas MacArthur in 1930. In 1935, MacArthur was sent to the Philippines (then a US territory) to be a military adviser, naturally as his personal aide Eisenhower accompanied him, and relocated his family there for the next four years. During this time, Ike learned much abut politics and government, having many conversations with the President and other high ranking politicians in the Philippines. After his time oversees Eisenhower and his family moved to San Antonio and he was given the title Colonel.
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World War II
"on December 7, 1941 he [Eisenhower] took a nap in the afternoon and asked not be be disturbed. One of his officers [General Conner], however, called him on the telephone, 'the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor...' Conner believed another major war was coming..."
-D. Clayton Brown, US Presidents, Dwight D. Eisenhower
Eisenhower flew to Washington a few days later to speak with the Army Chief of Staff, George Marshall. Marshall asked Ike to prepare a strategy to fight the Japanese, and within three hours, he had an outline that served as our plan of fighting the Japanese until their surrender. Marshall was so impressed with all Eisenhower did for the war effort both in Europe and in Asia, that he had him promoted to Major General in 1942. Eisenhower planned the attack on the Germans in North Africa in November of 1942. In 1943 the Allies had made it through Italy and were prepared to attack France. Ike was doing so well in his military expeditions in Europe that he was named Supreme Allied Commander in Europe by President Roosevelt.
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"General Eisenhower's rise is surely without parallel in American military history. From colonel to supreme commander and full general in two years - from the 'mock' war maneuvers in the delta country of Louisiana to the real maneuvers that face him now as he must figure out the when and how of the attack that must drive to the very heart of Nazi Europe - that is his story." -Yank Magazine Journalist prior to interview with Ike
"The Allies had to drive the Nazis out of France before the Eisenhower forces could invade Germany. The invasion of France started with the most greatest battle of WWII for the United States -- D Day, the famous landing of troops on the Normandy coast of France. June 6, 1944 is now recognized as a special day in American History. It was one of several fierce battles that eventually ended the war in Europe." |
Transcript of Eisenhower's D Day Speech
"Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Forces:
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 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 all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking."
-Dwight D. Eisenhower, D Day Speech