DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER—JANUARY 1944 WARTIME LETTER SIGNED AS HE ASSUMED COMMAND FOR THE D-DAY INVASION
EISENHOWER, DWIGHT D. (1890–1969). Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force during World War II and 34th president of the United States. Typed Letter Signed, “Dwight D Eisenhower,” one page on official Headquarters European Theater, United States Army letterhead. January 31, 1944. Addressed to William Carr Jr. of Bayonne, New Jersey.
A desirable wartime Eisenhower letter written during the opening weeks of his historic command in England, as the Allies began the final planning for the invasion of Normandy.
Eisenhower writes:
“Dear Bill:
Many thanks for your letter, also, for your congratulations. Because you seem to take such an active interest in this war, I shall be happy to give you an autographed picture.
Sincerely,
Dwight D Eisenhower”
President Franklin D. Roosevelt selected Eisenhower to serve as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in December 1943. Eisenhower returned to England in January 1944 and resumed command of the United States Army’s European Theater while establishing the organization that would direct Operation Overlord.
The “congratulations” acknowledged in this letter were almost certainly prompted by Eisenhower’s selection for that momentous command. Written only about four months before D-Day, the letter dates from the period in which Eisenhower and his staff were confronting the enormous military, diplomatic, and logistical problems involved in landing an Allied army on the coast of Nazi-occupied France.
On June 6, 1944, Eisenhower gave the order that launched the Normandy invasion and began the liberation of Western Europe. His leadership of the coalition ultimately brought Allied forces into Germany and secured victory in Europe.
The recipient, William Carr Jr. of Bayonne, New Jersey, had evidently written to congratulate Eisenhower and expressed a strong interest in the progress of the war. Eisenhower responded personally and promised to provide him with an autographed photograph. That photograph no longer accompanies the letter.
Signed in a large, flowing hand, “Dwight D Eisenhower.”
Condition: Pronounced general wrinkling and handling creases with a prominent diagonal brown stain extending from the upper-left portion of the sheet across the central area and through or immediately adjacent to the signature. Additional light staining and toning, a small puncture or tear near the upper-left margin, several minor marginal tears, corner bends, and a crease or short closed tear near the lower center. Despite these faults, the typed text is complete and fully legible, and Eisenhower’s dark-ink signature remains bold, complete, and highly displayable.
An authentic and appealing Eisenhower letter from one of the most consequential periods of his military career—written just after his selection to command Operation Overlord and approximately four months before D-Day.
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER—JANUARY 1944 WARTIME LETTER SIGNED AS HE ASSUMED COMMAND FOR THE D-DAY INVASION
EISENHOWER, DWIGHT D. (1890–1969). Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force during World War II and 34th president of the United States. Typed Letter Signed, “Dwight D Eisenhower,” one page on official Headquarters European Theater, United States Army letterhead. January 31, 1944. Addressed to William Carr Jr. of Bayonne, New Jersey.
A desirable wartime Eisenhower letter written during the opening weeks of his historic command in England, as the Allies began the final planning for the invasion of Normandy.
Eisenhower writes:
“Dear Bill:
Many thanks for your letter, also, for your congratulations. Because you seem to take such an active interest in this war, I shall be happy to give you an autographed picture.
Sincerely,
Dwight D Eisenhower”
President Franklin D. Roosevelt selected Eisenhower to serve as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in December 1943. Eisenhower returned to England in January 1944 and resumed command of the United States Army’s European Theater while establishing the organization that would direct Operation Overlord.
The “congratulations” acknowledged in this letter were almost certainly prompted by Eisenhower’s selection for that momentous command. Written only about four months before D-Day, the letter dates from the period in which Eisenhower and his staff were confronting the enormous military, diplomatic, and logistical problems involved in landing an Allied army on the coast of Nazi-occupied France.
On June 6, 1944, Eisenhower gave the order that launched the Normandy invasion and began the liberation of Western Europe. His leadership of the coalition ultimately brought Allied forces into Germany and secured victory in Europe.
The recipient, William Carr Jr. of Bayonne, New Jersey, had evidently written to congratulate Eisenhower and expressed a strong interest in the progress of the war. Eisenhower responded personally and promised to provide him with an autographed photograph. That photograph no longer accompanies the letter.
Signed in a large, flowing hand, “Dwight D Eisenhower.”
Condition: Pronounced general wrinkling and handling creases with a prominent diagonal brown stain extending from the upper-left portion of the sheet across the central area and through or immediately adjacent to the signature. Additional light staining and toning, a small puncture or tear near the upper-left margin, several minor marginal tears, corner bends, and a crease or short closed tear near the lower center. Despite these faults, the typed text is complete and fully legible, and Eisenhower’s dark-ink signature remains bold, complete, and highly displayable.
An authentic and appealing Eisenhower letter from one of the most consequential periods of his military career—written just after his selection to command Operation Overlord and approximately four months before D-Day.
