Ike Hosts D-Day Remembrance Ceremony

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Kaleb Sarten | 190606-N-QD512-0057 NORFOLK, Va. (June 6, 2019) Sailors and distinguished visitors admire a letter written by Dwight D. Eisenhower during a commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy, France, aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Ike is in the basic phase of the Optimized Fleet Response Plan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kaleb Sarten)  

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES

06.06.2019

Courtesy Story

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)   

Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) observed the 75th anniversary of D-Day with a ceremony June 6, honoring those who took part in the Invasion of Normandy.
Known as Operation Overlord, it took place June 6, 1944, was one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history and led to the liberation of Paris in August of that year.
Merrill Eisenhower Atwater, the great-grandson of Dwight D. Eisenhower, and retired Rear Adm. Jack Dantone, Ike’s sixth commanding officer, both spoke to the crew. Dantone presented the crew with a framed letter written by Eisenhower to his wife, Mamie, dated April 29, 1944 – 39 days before the invasion. The crew will display the artifact in the ship’s museum.
“Each time you read this letter, you will become closer to where his mind was in corresponding with his wife three weeks before the invasion of Normandy, and it will mean even more to you,” said Dantone. “He had done all he could to prepare for the massive battle ahead, and was into the last minute fixes and the worry. The realization of the pivotal invasion to come was his main focus. The outcome of the Normandy landing would shape our world."
Atwater reflected on the sacrifice today’s service members make, and why the valor of those who stormed the beaches helps embody the American fighting spirit.
“Whenever all of our troops, Sailors and our soldiers went to Normandy there was no certainty that we would win the war, but we prevailed,” said Atwater. “We went past the Normandy beaches into France. We went to Paris, liberating as we went, finally making our way into Bastonne which was one of the bloodiest battles that we've had and finally defeating Nazi Germany in Berlin. That is something that you represent on this ship every single day, with the namesake that you have, and you make us proud."
"Freedom; that's what 75 years means,” said Capt. Kyle Higgins, Ike’s commanding officer. “Today's world order was possible because of the sacrifices of the men and women who gave their lives making sure that we could put people on the beach and push our way through Holland, Belgium and finally to Germany to end that vision of 1,000 years of oppression. Freedom is what they fought for. Freedom is what they died for."
CSG 10, also known as the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, includes the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D, Eisenhower (CVN 69), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Monterey (CG 61), USS San Jacinto (CG 56), and USS Vella Gulf (CG 72); the ships and staff of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26; and the squadrons and staff of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3.

• Date Taken: 06.06.2019
• Date Posted: 06.08.2019 08:40
• Story ID: 326154
• Location: NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US