We don't have people like Dwight Eisenhower anymore, which is a shame. It's hard to imagine what went through his mind when he sent thousands of mainly young men into battle in the D-Day invasion.
Any commander faces the fact that even in victory, there are losses. The death toll was tremendous on that French beach, and family after family in America was devastated to find that their soldier, sailor, or Marine was not going to be coming home, having traded their life in the effort to defeat fascism. Thank God that effort was successful.
But General Eisenhower knew he had to face both possible outcomes, and he jotted down these words to share with the world in the event that things went horribly wrong on 6/6/44:
"Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops," Eisenhower wrote. "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."
He underlined mine alone. In a day when we see our leaders almost breaking their elbows off to point fingers of blame in other directions, how refreshing it is to look back on a man willing to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders.
He folded this note and put it in his wallet. How wonderful that he had no need to share it for real.
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