The Letter Eisenhower Wrote the Day Before D-Day... In Case He'd Lost the Battle

A picture of the brief note at the link; here's what he wrote:

"Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that Bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone."

If President Obama had been in command of the D-Day operation, it would have obviously failed catastrophically, and this note would have contained the phrases "Just read about it from the newspapers," "a few rogue front-line soldiers," and "spontaneous demonstration due to an anti-Nazi 'talkie.'"

Our leaders have gone from having iron at their cores to having a cheap sheen and some glitter at their surface.

Best Detail: JPS notes that Eisenhower didn't hide behind the "mistakes were made" passive voice.

My favorite detail: He originally wrote "and the troops have been withdrawn." Then he struck that out and wrote, "and I have withdrawn the troops."

posted by Ace at 07:16 PM

| Access Comments