Montgomery in Command of U.S., British and Canadian Invaders
SUPREME HEADQUARTERS, Allied Expeditionary Force, June 6 — (AP) — Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s headquarters announced today that Allied troops began landing on the norther coast of France this morning strongly supported by Naval and air forces.
Text of the communique:
Under the command of Gen. Eisenhower Allied Naval forces supported by strong air forces began landing Allied armies this morning on the northern coast of France.
The Germans said the landings extended between Le Have and Cherbourg along the south side of the bay of the Seine and along the northern Normandy coast.
Parachute troops descended in Normandy, Berlin said.
Berlin first announced the landings in a series of flashes that begin about 6:30 a.m. (12:30 a.m. eastern war time).
The Allied communique was read over a Trans-Atlantic hookup direct from General Eisenhower’s headquarters at 3:32 E.W.T., designated “communique No. 1.”
A second announcement by Shaef said that “it is announced that Gen. B.L. Montgomery is in command of the army group carrying out the assault. The army group includes British, Canadian, and U.S. forces.”
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Eisenhower Tells Europe Of D-Day
NEW YORK, June 6 — (AP) — The OWI reported today this statement by Gen. Eisenhower was broadcast by allied radios in London:
“People of western Europe! A landing was made this morning on the coast of France by troops of the Allied expeditionary force. This landing is part of the concerted United Nations plan for the liberation of Europe, made in conjunction with your great Russian Allies.
“Although the initial assault may not have been made in your own country, the hour of your liberation is approaching.”
PRESIDENT TO LEAD NATIONAL PRAYER AT 9 P.M.
A community-wide prayer service will be held at the First Baptist church at 9 o’clock this evening. A radio will be installed that the assembly may join with President Roosevelt in prayer for success of the armed forces.
WASHINGTON, June 6 — (UP) — Following is President Roosevelt’s prayer for success of our arms in their task — a prayer in which he asks all to join when he utters it by radio at 9 p.m. CWT tonight:
My fellow Americans”
In this poignant hour, I ask you to join me in prayer:
Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness to their faith.
They will need thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. The enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.
They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest — till the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men’s souls will be shaken with the violence of war.
These are men lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.
Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home — fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters and brothers of brave men overseas — whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them — help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of Great sacrifice.
Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.
Give us strength, too — strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and material support of our armed forces.
And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.
And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment — Let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.
With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unhold forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace — a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.
Thy will be done, Almighty God.
Amen!
The Abilene Reporter News – Jun 6, 1944
YesterYear Once More 