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D-Day: Eisenhower and the paratroopers who were key to success
On the eve of the D-Day invasion, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower spent the remaining hours of daylight with the paratroopers who were about to jump behind German lines into occupied France. A single moment captured by an Army photographer became the most enduring image of America’s greatest military operation.
“It’s one of those images that just causes you to pause,” said James Ginther, the archivist of the Eisenhower Library in Abilene, Kansas. “There’s clearly something going on. There’s conversation. but we don’t know what it is, and it invites us in.”
What makes this picture so iconic (a cutout of the famous photo has even been turned into a selfie station at the library) is that it perfectly captures all that was at stake on D-Day – the burden of command, and the lives in the balance.
U.S. Army/Library of Congress
And the more you know about the picture, the more perfect it becomes.
Asked why it was so important for Eisenhower to visit the troops the day before Allied forces landed at Normandy, Ginther replied, “Because wars aren’t won by armies. They’re won by individual soldiers, and he knew the value of that.”
Wallace Strobel – the soldier in the helmet in that photo – passed away in 1999, but he recalled his brief encounter with Eisenhower in a 1994 interview with CBS News. “I was very young; it was my 22nd birthday,” he said. “We were really ready to go. We were all set, we had everything loaded. And someone came running down the street and said, ‘Eisenhower is here!’ Well, everybody kind of said, ‘So what?’ We had more important things!”
Nobody snapped to attention or fell into formation. But then, Strobel recalled, “You could hear the excitement as he came close. So then we turned and kind of looked out, and then he came over and at that point he stopped in front of me.”
Asked why Eisenhower, who was in command of two million Allied forces in Operation Overlord, chose to speak with paratroopers, Ginther said, “Because they’re the key to the whole operation.”
The Germans had flooded the areas behind the beaches, and the paratroopers were to jump in ahead of the main landing force to seize the causeways leading inland.
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Strobel’s mission was to knock out German guns that could turn those causeways into shooting galleries. He said, “They emphasized the fact, ‘Now, if you don’t get those guns out by H-hour the whole damn invasion’s gonna fail.'”
What Strobel didn’t know was that a letter stamped “BIGOT” had landed on Eisenhower’s desk. BIGOT stood for British Invasion of German Occupied Territory. “It was higher than a top secret classification,” said Ginther.
Air Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory, the officer in charge of the air drops, had written, “I am very unhappy about the U.S. Airborne Operations as now planned,” and warned that half the 13,000 paratroopers could be lost.
In a 1964 interview with CBS’ Walter Cronkite, Eisenhower recalled what Leigh-Mallory told him: “He was so sure we were making a bad error, that about a day or two before the attack, he came to see me down in my camp, down here, and he just was really earnest in his recommendations we must not do it.”
From the archives: CBS Reports (1964): “D-Day Plus 20 Years – Eisenhower Returns to Normandy” (Video)
It was a call only Eisenhower could make. His response to Leigh-Mallory, delivered by hand the next day, read: “A strong airborne attack … is essential to the whole operation and it must go on.”
It was, in Eisenhower’s words, “a soul-wracking” decision — but he gave no hint of that as he mingled with the paratroopers an hour before they were to board their planes.
So, what exactly did the general say to Lt. Strobel? “He said, ‘Where you from, lieutenant?’ And I said, ‘Michigan.’ He said, ‘Oh, Michigan, I used to fish there. Great fishing in Michigan.'”
Martin asked, “So, in that famous photo, they’re talking about fishing?“
“That’s what Wally Strobel says,” Ginther noted.
“That kind of changes my preconceptions of that photo. You look at it and you think he’s going, ‘Give ’em hell.’ Maybe he’s going just like he’s casting?”
Strobel told CBS, “It was as though he was trying to calm everyone down.”
Eisenhower later told Cronkite the paratroopers had tried to put him at ease as well: “They were all getting ready and all camouflaged and their faces blackened and all this, and they saw me and recognized me and they said, ‘Quit worrying, general, we’ll take care of this thing for you,’ and that kind of thing. It was a good feeling.”
A better feeling the next morning, when the main landing force went ashore on the beaches of Normandy. “All preliminary reports are satisfactory,” Eisenhower cabled in his first dispatch. “Airborne formations apparently landed in good order.”
It was too early to predict success, so Eisenhower closed by saying he had visited the paratroopers the night before, “and the light of battle was in their eyes.”
See also:
GALLERY: D-DAY – When the Allies turned the tide
For more info:
Story produced by Mary Walsh. Editor: Joseph Frandino.
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How to watch the Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Dallas Cowboys will face off with the Washington Commanders today. With a record of 3-7, the Cowboys have had a tough season so far and will be looking to recover after a five-game losing streak. The Commanders, who have racked up a record of 7-4, will be trying to snap a two-game losing streak on the heels of last week’s 26-18 loss against the Eagles.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Cowboys vs. Commanders game today, whether or not you have cable.
How to watch the Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders
The Cowboys vs. Commanders game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Experience NFL action with Fubo’s comprehensive sports streaming platform. From Sunday showdowns to primetime matchups, catch every NFL game across major networks including CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. Choose the Pro package to unlock 200+ channels and limitless DVR storage, or elevate your game-day experience with the Elite with Sports Plus package, featuring NFL RedZone’s commercial-free scoring highlights and stunning 4K quality.
Test drive the service with a no-commitment seven-day free trial, and share the excitement with family and friends — Fubo supports simultaneous streaming on up to 10 devices, so everyone can watch their favorite teams.
Catch today’s game by subscribing to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which features 46 channels, including ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox, covering local and nationally broadcast NFL games. The plan also includes 50 hours of DVR storage for added convenience. To expand your NFL coverage, consider pairing it with Paramount+ for CBS games or enhance your lineup with the Sports Extra add-on, which offers channels like NFL RedZone, NBA TV and Golf Channel.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? Then the NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Just note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.
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How to watch the San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The San Francisco 49ers will take on the Green Bay Packers today. With a split record of 5-5, the 49ers will be looking to secure a win against the Packers after last week’s tight 20-17 loss against the Seattle Seahawks. The Packers, who have racked up a winning record of 7-3 so far this season, could be tough to take down as they look to lock in their second win in a row.
Here’s how and when you can watch the 49ers vs. Packers game today, whether or not you have cable.
Here’s how and when to watch the San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers
The 49ers vs. Packers game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 4:25 p.m. ET (1:25 p.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the following options.
Dive into NFL action with Fubo, the ultimate sports streaming platform. Watch every game from Sunday kickoffs to primetime battles on CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. Upgrade to the Pro package for 200+ channels and unlimited DVR, or level up with the Elite + Sports Plus package for NFL RedZone’s nonstop scoring highlights in stunning 4K. Try Fubo risk-free with a seven-day trial, and enjoy the excitement on up to 10 devices simultaneously — perfect for sharing the game-day experience with family and friends.
Catch today’s game by subscribing to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which features 46 channels, including ESPN, ABC, NBC and Fox, covering local and nationally broadcast NFL games. The plan also includes 50 hours of DVR storage for added convenience. To expand your NFL coverage, consider pairing it with Paramount+ for CBS games or enhance your lineup with the Sports Extra add-on, which offers channels like NFL RedZone, NBA TV and Golf Channel.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the way to go. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.
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How to watch the Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Arizona Cardinals will face off with the Seattle Seahawks today. The Cardinals have a 6-4 record so far this season and will be looking to add another win to their four-game winning streak when they take on the Seahawks. They could meet their match with the Seahawks, though, who have racked up a record of 5-5 so far this season and are coming off of last Sunday’s 20-17 win against the San Francisco 49ers.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Cardinals vs. Seahawks game today, whether or not you have cable.
How to watch the Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Cardinals vs. Seahawks game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 4:25 p.m. ET (1:25 p.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the these options:
Dive into NFL action with Fubo, the ultimate sports streaming platform. Watch every game from Sunday kickoffs to primetime battles on CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. Upgrade to the Pro package for 200+ channels and unlimited DVR, or level up with the Elite + Sports Plus package for NFL RedZone’s nonstop scoring highlights in stunning 4K. Try Fubo risk-free with a seven-day trial, and enjoy the excitement on up to 10 devices simultaneously — perfect for sharing the game-day experience with family and friends.
Catch today’s game by subscribing to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which features 46 channels, including ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox, covering local and nationally broadcast NFL games. The plan also includes 50 hours of DVR storage for added convenience. To expand your NFL coverage, consider pairing it with Paramount+ for CBS games or enhance your lineup with the Sports Extra add-on, which offers channels like NFL RedZone, NBA TV, and Golf Channel.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, the NFL+ streaming service may be the best bet. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.
How to watch the Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders NFL game today: Livestream options, more
How to watch the San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers NFL game today: Livestream options, more
How to watch the Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks NFL game today: Livestream options, more
How to watch the Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders NFL game today: Livestream options, more
How to watch the San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers NFL game today: Livestream options, more