The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 26

INVASION BOSS TWO generals faced each other across a broad desk in Washington. One was George C. Marchall, Chief of Staff of the S. Army. The other was Dwight D.

"Ike" Eisenhower, who had just been given command of the European divisions. Ike Eisenhower fumbled for words. "General," he said hesitantly, "I haven't tried to thank you yet." -fc Marshall stood silent for a few moments. And then he said; "Don't try to thank me. You go over and do the job and we'll have cause to thank you." Ike Eisenhower went over and he did do the job.

He did it in England. He did it in North Africa, in Sicily and -fc in Italy. And now he is doing an even bigger job as com- mander of the allied invasion forces massing to crack Hitler's Fortress Europe. -fc Behind Gen. Eisenhower's choice as invasion chief is a record of achievement in two important fields.

He has proved himself to be one of the war's outstanding strate- gists. And he has demonstrated the ability to weid allied fighting forces into one solid armed front. Most difficult of all military problems is that of combining army and navy units into a smooth-running ma- -fc chine. In the Italian campaign Eisenhower combined not only the American Army and Navy, but also "fc A RECOGNIZED MASTER of the cold mathematics of warfare. Gen.

global strategy. As head of the Operations Division in Washii wsfiuiowi-i, suuwii duuve un mapping tactics wim nis he was second only to General Marshall. Chief of Stall, power enhower is a "soldier's that glint like marbles, des call him "the boss." "uw, picivL-u a jiidjui iuiu in urawmg up tne pians tor Amcricc ot military decision. he has the opportunity to carry out on The soldiers call him -He-nornl AN AIRPOWER ENTHUSIAST, Eisenhower asked to hav British Air Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder as his chief -fc invasion aide. He and Sir Arthur, at right, proved on the Mediterranean front that they could work together.

achieved precision teamwork with the British Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. For good measure, he linked up the French Army and Air Force and added some Italian units to his allied steam roller. Even as a young second lieutenant, fresh from West Point, Eisenhower was marked by his superiors as one of the best bets for high command. But he had no opportunity to demonstrate the full measure of his military talent until the Louisiana maneuvers early in the war Serving as chief of staff of the Third Army, he helped plan the tactics that gave his force of 220,000 men a spec- -k tacular victory over the "enemy." The Third Army's armored columns dashed across swamps, plunged through forests and made lightning thrusts under cover -fc of darkness and storms. When the maneuvers were over and scores were totalled, Eisenhower was a brigadier general.

Soon he was a major general. Then a lieutenant gen-cral. And now, at 53, he wears the four gold stars of a full general. Eisenhower long has been recognized as a tank expert, -fc What is not so generally known is that he is one of the Armv's Greatest exnnnrnls nf nir nnwnr. And his un- broken string of victories is due.

in no small measure, to UNAFFECTED BY HIS FOUR STARS, uncanny skill in co-ordinating these highly mobile mauds with an napnic yrm. But. forces with the striking power of the plodding foot -fc grin is turned -his lace is aj blci Eisenhower tempers his com- general's speech, gestures, and even his cuss words, are thoroughly meaningless chit-chat. But he eels aloi- with the British 1 7ll' UhC.rMt.1 Thoush adcpl at 'Plomacy. he is no sophisticate in the Iary b.g-wtgs.

To all of ihcm.Vs justVlam "ike He has Lord as Kansas, ihc European sense of continental manners, polished small talk and Mountbatlcn a -Louie" and Gerer l'--r-v soldiers. NO ARMCHAIR STRATEGIST, Eisenhower can take front line hardships in his stride. His only personal vanity is his physical condition. At West Point he plaved foot- ball and baseball, was an expert fencer and wn uen. Eisenhower, shown here eottinp arm in tori uiticd'c itDAit ShOWn hem FPffinrr nriiioirrl ii-j vicon- troops in the held.

No "brass hat," he encouraees informalitv Whnn ho cninc i wuum bvL a ion 01 gold braid to know what plans a his omco h. hav.ln tSSS vcncrwis woum Give a ton Ol cold bra ri In L-nnur juuj, ub wea as ine ciassies. hp nnmr ooic 11, u- hours. Photos from International.