Eisenhower tentatively set May 31, 1944, as D-Day for the Normandy Invasion.

The official invasion order from the Combined Chiefs of Staff in Washington came on February 9, 1944 and read as follows:

“You will enter the continent of Europe and, in conjunction with the other United Nations, undertake operations aimed at the heart of Germany and the destruction of her armed forces. The date for entering the Continent is the month of May, 1944. After adequate Channel Ports have been secured, exploitation will be directed towards securing an area that will facilitate both ground and air operations against the enemy.”

By the time this order was received, Ike and his planners and logisticians were already in motion to plan and execute the many elements required to make D-Day successful. He requested 47 landing ships, 144 landing crafts and 24 additional destroyers and 5 cruisers just to name a few.

Troops were continually being transported from the United States to England to ready for the Overlord assault. GIs are shown in the photo as just arriving by ship in January 1944 and boarding a train at Liverpool’s Princes Dock. The next photo shows the soldiers onboard the train feasting on Red Cross donuts and coffee.

“Americans, indeed all free men, remember that in the final choice, a soldier’s pack is not so heavy a burden as a prisoner’s chains.”
~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

My 101st Airborne father was there and participated in D-Day, Carentan, Holland and the Battle of the Bulge. Perhaps your father or grandfather was there too. We would love to hear your stories and share them on Comes A Soldier’s Whisper facebook, website blog and twitter.

COMES A Soldier’s Whisper remembering our history, one day at a time.

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Photo/Text Source: America In WWII Magazine Feb/2014