Missouri and the War 53
MISSOURI AND THE WAR
PART IX
BY DOROTHY DYSART FLYNN1
"This is Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary
Force. The text of communique No. 1 will be released to the
press and radio of the United Nations in ten seconds." Time
hung suspended in the early hours of the morning of June 6,
1944. It was exactly 2:32 in Missouri as the seconds were
counted off one, two, three .... and finally ten. "Under
the command of General Eisenhower, Allied naval forces
supported by strong air forces began landing Allied armies
this morning on the northern coast of France." The voice
intoning the fateful message was that of Colonel R. Ernest
Dupuy, General Eisenhower's public relations officer. The
long awaited word that the invasion had started was received
in staggered waves by Missourians as they were aroused from
their slumbers by the cry of "Extra!" telephone calls, bells
ringing, whistles blowing, and the blare of their neighbor's
radio. Thoughts stretched across the ocean to France and
hearts spoke the message, "We are with you. God bless and
keep you!" A new appreciation of the war's meaning, a
humility asking to share its burden and its suffering, lay in the
hearts of all. The mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers,
wives and sweethearts joined with the president in his 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, 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.
Idorothy dysart flynn, a native Missourian, graduated from the school
of journalism of the University of Missouri in 1932. She is now a research
associate on the staff of the State Historical Society of Missouri.
