It was a cold blustery night on 4 June when Brit Meteorologist Group Captain James Stagg met with General Eisenhower. The weather had already forced a postponement of the invasion and the next tide window would be two weeks away. Stagg was convinced that the weather would moderate enough to launch the invasion. Ike agreed, it was a go. The largest Amphibious operation ever undertaken would kick off 6 June 1944.
The following General Order was given to everyone involved in Operation Overlord:
All day Ike waited for news that the landings were a success. Or a failure. He wrote a note on 5 June to be published in the case of a failure.
“Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops.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 upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that Bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.”
He crumpled that note and threw it in the trash once he got the news that the invasion was successful and a lodgement had been secured. The Note was removed from the wastebasket by his military secretary and preserved.