Wade is and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, mr. Walter matthau. Doubt thes without a most difficult assignment given to one man. As one of our greatest soldiers. Distinguished actor brings you the finest moments of our history. June, 1945. The return to his homeland as a war hero. The european phase of the greatest war had ended. Greets eisenhower and reflects the deep joy of a nation approaching peace again. That anyoneome would give a favorite son, but more than anything else, it is a tribute. Towards a man who had stewarded it was a crusade with many battles and many trials, but i symbol that one day above all others. Dday. June 6. 1944. Upon the outcome of this bold freedom. Of war and it was because so much of mans the architect of that success had found the hearts of people open in the town of his boyhood, where they adventure of ght diaz and howard began dwight d. Eisenhower began. It is typical of the type of town that comes to mind with the phrase grassroots america. Past. S not live in the its streets and buildings are testimony to a living and growing america. Of its newest and proudest buildings is the eisenhower with the history of the family in abilene. Citizensited daily by from all parts of the country, board. From the School Inside the museum, the life of dwight eisenhower, boy and man is depicted in murals. Infancy, that life had a flavor of grassroots america about it. Eisenhower was born in texas, and then to the american midwest. Young eisenhowers parents had lived in abilene before his birth. Now peaceful village, they returned when he was an infant. It was here that he grew maturity, eager and happy. An experienced shared with devoted parents, a childhood as rich and the important things of life. Whose active boy where sports played an important part. Baseball in a vacant lot next to his home. Football was his first love. Himhigh school coach called the most outstanding tack in the valley. Y. Tackle in the valle the greatest single staple of the eisenhower family life was religious observance. Abilene showse in the influence of that religious conviction. The bible was the guide of family life and its chronicle as well. All the walls of the bedroom still hang the simple testament of faith. Thy will be done. It was a home of patriotism as well as faith, and of respect for things of the mind. Work, constant and hard work, was also a staple in the family routine. Where eisenhower worked during his free time is still one of the industries in abilene. In this way, and by these standards, it Young Eisenhower grew into a man that the world would one day know well. He was 20 when he left abilene. For the military academy at west point. Many a Great American has begun his march into history as a cadet at west point. Eisenhower graduated from the academy in 1915. A new phase of life was beginning. 1916, stationed in houston, texas. Events in europe were forging a new phase of life for the entire world. World war i gave him his First Experience in combat. Worldg eisenhower war i brought him command of a take center in pennsylvania where he prepared troops for the new take corps. S. Tank corp his performance won for him to the service medal. Before he was able to get to europe, the war ended. In the late 1920s after graduation from the command and general staff school, major dwight d. Eisenhower was assigned to france to prepare an american guidebook for the fields in europe. It was his first direct experience with that continent. With the 1930s came other assignments, climaxed by service under Douglas Macarthur in the philippines. For four years he worked with macarthur, commanderinchief of the philippine army, to help the commonwealth government work out a plan for its military defense. Ordered back to the states in december 1939, lieutenant col. Eisenhower went to fort lewis, washington as executive officer of the 15th regiment. In the dark spring of 1940, german armored divisions were crashing through columns and buildings. The luftwaffe was taking its destruction through europes skies. France was frustrated and beleaguered britain was standing alone. The United States had passed the Selective Service act to prepare for what inevitably lay ahead. And the biggest challenge in colonel eisenhowers life was to aid in that preparation. Late in 1940 he was made chief of staff of the Third Division where his staff work brought him assignment as chief of staff of the mounted corps. In the summer of 1941, eisenhower became chief of staff to general Walter Krueger whose nearly organized third army was preparing to participate in the most realistic warm universe yet maneuvers yet held by american troops. In these maneuvers over the louisiana countryside, as america trained its army, eisenhowers work was to stop against mechanized force. Soon after the maneuvers were over, eisenhower was promoted to Brigadier General and then came the bombing of pearl harbor. From almost this moment on, the fate of the nation and the fate of general dwight d. Eisenhower would be bound together. Cold to washington in the first weeks after the war began, he went to work in the war department. Among the plans formulated was the central strategic determination to make an attack across the English Channel to aid their ally. With the west wall of the European Museum dramatizes the next great sequence involving the nation and the man whose ability to rise to grave responsibilities brought him rapid promotions. Because an allout channel invasion would be impossible before 1944 and immediate action was needed, the allies undertook as a combined operation under the command of general dwight d. Eisenhower the invasion of north africa. The minimum objective was to seize the main ports between casablanca and algiers. Along the rim of the north african coast, troops were assured in late november countering resistance. The commanders hope was to push east and take the post of tunis. But a number of unfavorable circumstances including treacherous weather conditions prompted the amended to hold off the commander to hold off on his vital assault. In the spring however troops of bradleys second corps took it fell to the british first army. And these victories came the end of the axis empire in africa. The allied leaders and the men who fought under them proudly commemorated their victory. One of the greatest products of this victory in the words of the commander himself was the progress achieved in the welding of allied unity and the establishment of a combat team that was showing the effects of a growing confidence and trust among all of its members. The Successful End of the campaign brought recognition as a great leader, but the commander interpreted this recognition as proof freemen can find in unity the way to victory even against seemingly invincible odds. The next big campaign, the invasion of tripoli brought further demonstration of this basic truth. Allied troops took this rock in the summer of 1943. The effective sicilys fall was italy surrenders, the first to capitulate. Now the allies prepared for what was to be the most fiercely fought battle of the mediterranean war. The invasion of italy itself at serrano. Through the miracle of courage and tenacity, and troops established a beachhead against overwhelming german odds and went on to take serrano and the vital port of naples. With these victories although heavy fighting and important battles lay ahead, the first major objectives were accomplished. Allied forces were on european soil and could pin down german troops. President roosevelt visited the combat area with general eisenhower when he came over for the cairo and tehran conference. The principal allied efforts would be the invasion of europe. Shortly afterwards the man who would command this awesome undertaking was named. General dwight d. Eisenhower, whom people were calling the man of the hour. On the opposite wall of the museum, another mural depicts the major episodes in the great crusade which liberated europe. The Supreme Commanders orders from the combined chiefs of staff were simple. The land on the coast of france and to destroy the German Ground forces. Thats when the order between the order and its execution lay agony. The nazis believed they could push the invading armies back into the sea. In france alone, 58 german divisions were waiting. Preparing for the invasion was a job without let up. Incessant and realistic training was of paramount importance. The challengers details of coordination on every level, all of these were overwhelming. Through the tense months, the preparations continued. Finally after being postponed one day because of the weather conditions, the day of decision was at hand. The commander visited the Airborne Troops who would lead the invasion. I found the men fine, joshingly admonishing me that i had no cause for worry. Dday with the war in balance. Half a million troops backed by millions more faced outward across the stormy sea. On beaches that dotted the french coast of the channel, british, canadian and american troops went ashore. The first fateful moment passed and allied troops were holding on french soil. One week after the landings, the commander was able to say to the armies under him your accomplishments in the last seven days have exceeded my highest hopes. Less than two months under the invasion the allies broke out of the beachhead perimeter in the hedgerow country. The breakout was the next step. Now began the dramatic pursuit spearheaded by general George S Patton force across the heart of france. And then the triumph, through paris, led by troops and soldiers of the u. S. Fifth corps. Beyond paris, later liberation of belgium and the struggle across the german border. Blocking the steady pursuit of victory lay the nazi in the ardennes sector. Through a grim period of several weeks, the enemy, supported by the devastating weather conditions, isolated and assaulted allied forces. General eisenhower called upon all troops to rise to new heights of courage and effort. The brave men held and steadily pressed the enemy back. The Supreme Commander counted on weakened nazi resistance. Sturdy symbols of the war. With this crossing in march 1845, the heart of the enemys defenses was cracked. That remained a substantial task of mopping up what was left of the enemy west of the rhine. And accepting his surrender in the droves that began to appear. The fatherland were rubble as allied troops moved through them in the enemys defeat. Both commander and g. I. Were able to find exultation that comes when victory is close. Victory came finally with the german surrender in a schoolhouse on may 7, 1945. The return to peace was signaled by the Supreme Commander. I have the proud privilege of speaking for a Victorious Army of almost 5 million. They and the women who have assisted them constitute the allied Expeditionary Forces that have liberated western europe. They have captured or destroyed enemy armies totaling more than their own strength. My principal support in the canadian, france, american and British Forces is to present a picture of the utmost inefficiency, skill, loyalty and devotion to duty. The United Nations will gratefully remember these names. All these that agree with me and the selections are the truly heroic figure of this war. He is g. I. Joe and his counterpart in the air, the navy and the merchant marine of every one of the United Nations. He has braved the uboat infested seas, charged the beaches, fought his patient way through the ultimate fortified zones. He has gone through cold, hunger and fatigue. Death has dogged his footsteps. He and his commanders have given us an example of loyalty, devotion to duty and courage that will live in our hearts as long as we admire those policies in men. Now the long and happy road home. For dwight eisenhower, that road was paved with the cheers of the people of the allied country. In his own homeland, the heros welcome awaited him. Americas greeting for a favorite son. Here the story of dwight d. Eisenhower might well have ended on this note of triumph and acclaim for a job so splendidly done. America had other tasks. Eisenhower succeeded general marshall as the armys first postwar chief of staff. He expressed the belief one of the greatest pillars of world peace is a strong United States. He visited troops stationed in various parts of the world to show americas growing sense of global responsibility. We must remain the first champions of those who seek to lead their own lives in peace with their neighbors. Finally on february 7, 1948, the general from abilene, after 36 years of service to his country, left active military assignment. But not active participation in the lives of his nation. He accepted an invitation from Columbia University to serve as president of that great institution, enabling him so he thought at the time to devote the remainder of his useful life to the challenges of education. But events of the postwar world dictated otherwise. The urgent necessity for unity in the free world brought him to being the north atlantic treaty organization. It was evident one man could make that complicated organization work. Dwight d. Eisenhower. At the end of 1950 he answered his countrys call once more and was on european soil to assume supreme command of the land, the sea, and the air forces of a grand defensive alliance against against the new threat from the soviets who had once been his nations ally. He had to create within the european soul the will to defend itself so the freedom would not be lost. For more than a year he labored diligently at his task of coalition. When he turned over the reins to general matthew riggsway, it was established. Once again with the accomplishment of substantial victory behind him, this might have been the end of his public career, and in a sense it was, the closing chapter in the story of eisenhower the soldier. History is recording today the story of eisenhower the statesman. Soldier and statesman, they are the same man, dwight d. Eisenhower, citizen of the United States, spokesman for an d symbol of the free world and son of abilene. As rich a study has this nation has produced of the capacity of greatness which lie at its grassroots. Announcer 1 the big picture is an official report for the armed forces and the american people. Produced by the army pictorial center. Presented by the department of the army in cooperation with this station. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2020] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org]