Message to troops as they prepare for the assault at normandy. [video clip] soldiers, sailors and airmen of the allied expeditionary force, you are about to embark on the great crusade. Eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In companies with our brave allies and brothers in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the german war machine, elimination of snazzy and security for ourselves in a free world. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped in battle hardened and he will fight savagely but this is the year 1944, much has happened since the nazi triumphs since 19401941. They inflicted upon the germans great defeats in open battle man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced them in the air and those to wage war on the ground. Our home front have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war and placed at our disposal great fighting
Ranging from the 17th century up to the present. My group, though, is here this weekend to discuss the 75th anniversary of the normandy invasion, which is taking place this summer, and we thought it certainly fitting to commemorate that event and us putting on these old uniforms, wearing old equipment, it certainly gives us a better perspective and appreciation of what the greatest generation went through. And if we can impart even a small inkling of that to passers by and families who come visit this place, this enwe feen we f weve done a fairly good job. The unit that we portray is the fourth Infantry Division, and its a unit thats sometimes overshadowed in the realm of world war ii history, but nonetheless, it was one of the spearhead units that was involved in the normandy invasion. It was some of the first am fs you amphibious troops who were ashore, and they waded ashore on utah beach. Unbeknownst to many of them at that time, they had actually landed on the wrong sector. They ha
Soldiers, sailors and airmen of the allied expeditionary force. You are about to cru embark upoe great u crusade toward which we have striven these many months. O the eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march r with you. Ring a in company with our brave allies and brothers in arms on other o fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the german war machine, the elimination of nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of europe and security for ourselves in a free world. Your task will not be an easy i, one. E. Batt your enemyle is well trained, wl equipped and battle hardened. T s he will fight savagely. But this is the year, 1944, much has happened since the nazi triumphs of 194041. The United Nations have le, ma inflicted upon the germans great defeats in open battle, of mantoman. Our airs offensivese hasri ser reduced their strength inn the r air and their capacity to wage h war on theel ground. Our homefronts have given us an
Spent the hopes and prayers of people everywhere march with you. In company with brave allies and brothers in arms you will bring about the destruction of the german war machine, the illumination over the oppressed people of europe and security in a free world. This is not an easy one , the enemy is well trained , equip and battle hardened and will fight savagely. In bedford to virginia owned by alex kershaw, the author of nine books including the dday warriors who led the way to victory in world war ii, alex kershaw, thank you for joining us this morning. Whats the significance of you being there in bedford and the memorial you are sitting here this is the one place in america gave more than 3000 in 1944 died in the first wave on the beach. So virginia gave more than any other allied community on dday and thats why the National D Day memorial is here and im happy to be sitting here right in front of it. . By 1944 they would be in the first wave in the critical assault in u. S. History
The to a defeats in the open battle. Man to man. Our air offensive has sowersly their strength in the air and their capacity to wang 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 freemen of the world are marching together to restrictry. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory. Good luck appear let us all beseech the blessing of al mighty god upon in great and noble undertaking. This morning on washington journal, and American History tv, we are the National Dday memorial in bedford, virginia, joined by alex kershaw, the author of nine books, including his lafrt, the first wave, the dday war ners who led to victory in world war ii. Thank you for joining thus morning. Whats the significance of you being there in bedford and the memoryual youre sitting