Leadership With Bravery, Courage & Responsibility

In early June 1944, southern England swarmed with Allied troops preparing for one of the greatest events of WWII – A massive invasion of northern France.  The Allies had sent months preparing for D-Day.  

The plan:  Ships would cross the English Channel and assault German fortifications across a 60 mile front in Normandy.  
 
General Dwight D. Eisenhower, commander of the invasion, originally chose June 5, as D-Day, but bad weather and rough seas forced a delay.  Then Eisenhower received a new weather forecast, the skies would clear and the seas would calm just long enough to launch the invasion the next day.  But the window of opportunity would be short.  
 
The general gave the order: “O.K., let’s go.”  Then he scribbled a note and put it in his wallet in case things went badly.  
 
“Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold, and I have withdrawn the troops.  My decision to attack at this time and place was based on the best info available.  The troops, the air and Navy did all that bravery and devotion could do.  If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.”  
 
Eisenhower never had to send this message.  His words however, remind us that democracies need leaders who have the courage to make the tough calls and then take the heat for them, when necessary.