Ladies and gentlemen, mr. Walter matthau. You will enter the continent of europe, and in conjunction with the United Nations, undertake operations aimed at the heart of germany and the destruction of armed forces. This was the most difficult assignment ever given to one man. Their brilliance with which he answered this awesome challenge marks him as one of our great soldiers. Massey, that established actor, now brings you some of the finest moment in artistry, the story of dwight d. Eisenhower. Raymond the time is doing 1945. , the time is june 1945. , the occasion, the return to his homeland of the war hero whose efforts have seldom been matched. The european phase of the greatest war america fought his the way the people of abilene, kansas greet dwight d. Eisenhower reflect the mood in the nation. Hometownelcome any might give its favorite son who has done a good job. But more than anything else, it is a tribute. In gratitude felt in every noner of allied world, nom less than in abilene, to a man who stewarded the crusade to its victory. It was a crusade with many battles and the many trials, but it found its symbol in one day above all others. Dday. June 6, 1944. The invasion of fortress europe was one of the greatest military adventures of alltime. Upon the outcome o of this bold adventure hung the fate of war and freedom. [explosions] it was because so much of mans hope had been bound up in this adventure that the architect of that success found the hearts of the people open to him from europe to his town of boyhood, where the invention of dwight d. Eisenhower the man began. Abilene, kansas, today, a bz and proud town. It is typical of the kind of town that comes to mind with the phrase grassroots america. It does not live in the past. It streets and buildings they are testimony to a living and growing america. One of its newest and proudest buildings is the Eisenhower Museum, which carries forth the spirit in the history of the eisenhower family of abilene. It is visited daily by citizens from all parts of the country, ranging from dignitaries to schoolboy. Inside the museum, the life of Dwight Eisenhower boy and man, is depicted in a series of murals. , that life had the flavor of grassroots america about it. Eisenhower was born in 1890 in denison, texas, to parents whose families had migrated to Pat Cipollone from europe, and then to the american midwest. Young eisenhowers parents had lived in abilene before his and it was to abilene, now a peaceful village, that they returned when he was an infant. It was here that he grew to maturity through our childhood that was active eager, and , happy. Visit note thexperience shared by devoted parents and spirited brothers, a childhood as rich in the important things of life that has ever graced the development of any man. There was an active childhood in which sports played an important part. He excelled at baseball at a dust both in school and on a vacant lot next to his home. But football was his first love, and his High School Coach called him the most outstanding tackle in the valley. The active life was important, but the greatest single staple of the eisenhower family life was religious observance. The family home in abilene shows the influence of that serious religious conviction. The bible was the guide of family life, and its chronicle as well. On the wall of the bedroom shared by dwight and his brother edgar still hangs this simple testament of faith, thy will be done. It was a home of judaism as well as it was a home of patriotim as well as faith, and respect for things of the mind. Work, consent and hard work, was also a staple of the family routine. The creamery where Young Eisenhower worked during his spare time while he was in school is still one of abilenes wide industries. In this way and by these standards, young Dwight Eisenhower grew to a manhood 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 on the planes at west point. Music] g narrator eisenhower was graduated from the military academy in 1915 and commissioned to Second Lieutenant in the infantry. A new phase of life was beginning. In the summer of 1916, as in newly promoted First Lieutenant stationed at fort sam houston, texas, he married mainly geneva dowd. [explosion] events in europe were forging a new phase of life for the entire world. World war i gave many a future general his First Experience of combat. But Young Eisenhower was not among them. World war i brought him instead into command of a tank training center, where he prepared troops of the new tank core for overseas duty. His performance won for him that established service medal. But before he was about 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 guidebook for American Battlefields in europe. It was his first direct experience with that continent. With the 30s came other assignments, climaxed by service under General 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 state in december of 1939, Lieutenant Colonel eisenhower went to fort lewis, washington, as executive officer of the 15th infantry regiment. In the dark spring of 1940, german armored divisions were crashing through holland and belgium. [explosion] [suspenseful music] narrator 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 at him a segment as chief of staff of the corps. Ninth in the summer of 1941, colonel eisenhower became chief of staff to general Walter Krueger whose nearly organized third army was preparing to participate in the most realistic war maneuvers yet held by american troops. In these maneuvers over the louisiana countryside, as and trained its growing army of citizen soldiers, eisenhowers task was to work out a defense against germanys mechanized force. Soon after the maneuvers were over, eisenhower was promoted to brigadier general, and within a matter of days came the bombing of pearl harbor. [explosions] [somber music] narrator from almost this moment on, the fate of the nation and the fate of general dwight d. Eisenhower would be inextricably bound together. Called to washington in the first weeks after the war begun, eisenhower went to work in the war office. Among the plans formulated during this time was the central strategic determination to make an eventual attack across the english channel. A mural covering the west wall of the Eisenhower Museum dramatizes the next great sequence in the adventure involving the nation and the man whose ability to rise to great responsibilities brought him rapid promotions. Because an allout channel invasion would be impossible before 1944, and because the need was offensive action was immediate in 1942, 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. [explosions] along the rim of the north african coast, troops were ashore in late november, country and resistance. [gunfire] narrator the commanders hope was to push east along the mediterranean and take the post of tunis. [gunfire] [explosions] of unfavorable circumstances, including treacherous weather conditions prompted the commander to hold , off on his vital assault. In the spring, however, troops of Omar Bradleys second c seine. Ok the the german troops fell to the british first army. With these victories, came the end of the axis empire in africa. The allied leaders and the men who fought under them m 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 already showing the effects of a growing confidence and trust among all of its members. [cheerful orchestral music] narrator the Successful End of the campaign brought resignation recognition of eisenhower throughout the world as a great leader, but the commander himself interpreted this recognition as proof that freemen can find in unity ofn the way seemingly invincible odds. The next big campaign, the invasion of sicily, brought further demonstration of this a sick truth. Allied troops took this vital rock in the summer of 1943. The effect of sicilys fall was immediate. Italy surrendered, the first of the axis powers 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. [explosions] [dramatic music] through a miracle of courage and tenacity, troops of general mark clarks fifth army 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 of the Italian Campaign work on allied forces first. Were on european soil and good would be of to pin down german troops far across the sea for the invasion planned next year. President roosevelt visited the combat area with general eisenhower when he came over for conference, where the agreement was once again established that 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 throughout the free world were now calling the man of the hour. Opposite wall of the museum, another mural depicts some of the major episodes in the great crusade which liberated europe. Ordersreme commanders from the combined chiefs of staff requested to land on the coast of france and thereafter to destroy the German Ground forces. Between the order and its execution late and agony of effort. Effort. Nd agony of across the channel, the heavy fortifications lining the coast of france bespoke the nazis beliefs that they could push back the invading armies across into the sea. Germance alone, 58 divisions were waiting, preparing for the envision was a job without let up. Incessant and realistic training was of paramount importance. The challenges of morale, the myriad details of coordination on every level, all these were overwhelming. Set through those ten months in early 1944, the preparations continued. Finally, after being postponed one day because of the weather conditions, the eve of the decision was at hand. The commander visited the Airborne Troops who would lead the invasion. I found the men in find federal he wrote later, just doing the admonishing me. Dday, with the fate of the war hanging in the balance. [explosions] narrator half a million troops backed by millions more faced outward across the stormy sea. [tense music] on beaches that dotted the french coast of the channel, british, canadian and american troops touched shore. 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 vast armies under him come your accomplishments in the last seven days of this campaign have exceeded my highest hopes. Less than two months after the invasion, the allied force broke out of a beachhead perimeter. [explosions] [planes roaring overhead] the breakout was the next step. Now there began a dramatic pursuit spearheaded by general s allied forcen across the north of france. Triumph the grand through paris, led by troops and , soldiers of the u. S. Fifth corps. [cheers] beyond paris lay the liberation of belgium and the allied struggle across the german border. [explosions] blocking the study pursuit of victory lay the nazi counter offenses in the ardennes sector. Known as the battle of the bulge. Through a green period of several weeks, the enemy, supported by the most devastating of 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 of the beleaguered forces held and began pushing the enemy forces back. From that moment onward, the Supreme Commander counted on weakened nazi resistance. Onebridge across therhine, of the steadiest symbols of the war. Ofh his crossing in march 1945, the heart of the enemys defenses was cracked. There remained a substantial task of mopping up what was left of the enemy west of the rhine. [gunfire] and accepting his surrender in the droves that began to appear. Of the enemyss fatherland wearable, as allied troops were rubble, as allied troops moved through them in the enemys defeat. Both commander and g. I. Were able to find the exultation that comes when victory is close. [cheerful orchestral music] 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 fighting men. They and the women who have so ably 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. Merely to name my principal supporters in the canadian, france, american and British Forces is to present a picture of the utmost in efficiency skill, loyalty and devotion to , duty. The United Nations will gratefully remember these names. All these are great with me in the selection of the truly heroic figure in 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, surmounted charges in the desperatelydefended beaches, fought his patient way through the ultimate fortified zones. He has endorsed called, hunger, fatigue. His companion has been danger. Death has dogged his footsteps. He and his platoon commanders have given us an example of loyalty, devotion to duty, and in the multiple courage that will live in our hearts as long as we admire those qualities in men. Narrator and now, the long and happy road home. [jubilant music] narrator for Dwight Eisenhower, that was paved with the cheers of the people of the allied country. In his own homeland the heros welcome awaited him. [cheers] americas greeting for a favorite son. Here, the story of dwight d. Eisenhower might well have ended on this note of triumph at a acclaim forumphant her a job so splendidly done. But america had other tasks waiting period eisenhower succeeded general marshall as the armys first postwar chief of staff. He expressed the belief that 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, he said, the first chapters 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 life 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. [somber music] but events of the postwar world dictated otherwise. Suspensefu[suspenseful music] the urgent necessity for unity in the free world brought him to the north atlantic treaty organization. And it was evident that only one man could make that complicated Organization Work from the outset, the dwight d. Eisenhower. At the end of 1950, he answered his countrys call once more and once more, he was on european soil to assume supreme command of the land, the sea, and the air forces of the grand defensive alliance, against a new threat rising from the soviets, who had once been his nations ally. He had to create on the warweary european soul, the will to defend itself, so the freedom so dearly fought 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 ridgway, the structure of unity among free nations on which rested the hope of continued peace, was established. Once again, with the accomplishment of substantial victory behind him, this might well 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 recorded today, the story of eisenhower, the statesmen. The stories may be separate, but soldier and statesmen, they are the same man, Dwight Eisenhower, citizen of the United States, spokesman for and symbol of the free world. And son of abilene. As rich a study as this nation has produced of the capacity for greatness which lies at its grassroots. 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