Ahead of the 2016 Army vs. Navy football game, West Point’s sports YouTube channel released an inspiring video in hopes of achieving victory after more than a decade of losses. West Point chose to invoke the spirit of the most courageous men that America has even seen by choosing the words that inspired three million men before they embarked on the mission to eradicate evil from this world.
On June 5, 1944, General Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote this letter to the brave men, who left their families behind and traversed the Atlantic to defeat the Nazis or died trying.
(The bold text is the parts of the speech used in the Army Football video)
“Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!
you are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have
striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The
hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.
In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on
other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war
machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of
Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well
equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.
But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of
1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats,
in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their
strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home
Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions
of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men.
The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to
Victory!
I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in
battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!
Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great
and noble undertaking.”
The Army Black Knights will take on the Navy Midshipmen on December 10, at 3:00 PM on CBS at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland.
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