This is copied from the original Front Page of the Mason county's Daily Newspaper - - Point Pleasant West Virginia Tuesday June 6, 1944. It was given to me by my parents who saved it. I donated the paper to the UNCA archives.

You are reading exactly what your parents and/or grandparents or yourself read in the newspapers across America on this day in history.

PRAYERS OF WORLD ARE WITH ALLIED FORCES LANDING IN FRANCE

BY HOWARD COWAN

WITH UNITED STATES PARACHUTE TROOPS, JUNE 6 (1944) (AP) --American paratroopers -studded with battle-hardened veterans of the Sicilian and Italian campaigns - landed behind Hitler's Atlantic wall today to plant the first blow of the long-awaited western front squarely in the enemy's vitals.

The Allies' toughest, wiriest men of war cascaded from faintly moonlit skies in an awesome operation.

Twin-engine C-4s - sisters of America's standard airline flagships - bore the human cargo across the skies, simultaneously towing troop laden CG4A gliders to merge in a single sledgehammer blow paving the way for frontal assault forces.

Armed with weapons from the most primitive to the most modern, the paratroopers' mission was to disrupt and demoralize the German's communications inside the Nazis' own lines.

There was no immediate indication that their dynamite and flashing steel and well-aimed fire was succeeding in the execution of plans rehearsed for months in preparation for the liberation of occupied Europe.

The steel-helmeted ankle-booted warriors wore a Red, white, and Blue American flag insignia on the sleeve and camouflaged green-splotched battle dress.

PERSING CONFIDENT OF VICTORY FOR OUR MEN

WASHINGTON - JUNE 6 (1944)- (AP) - Gen. John J. Pershing, who commanded the American armies in France in the World War, issued the following statement following the announcement that anew Expeditionary Force had landed in France.

"American troops have landed in western Europe.

As the overmastering military might of the Allies advances it will be joined by the men of the occupied countries, whose land has been overrun by the enemy but whose spirit remains unconquered.

"Twenty six years ago American soldiers, in cooperation with their Allies, were locked in mortal combat with the German enemy. Their march of victory was never halted until the enemy laid down his arms in defeat. The American soldier of 1917-1918, fighting in a war of liberation, wrote by his deeds one of the most glorious pages of military history.

"Today, the sons of American soldiers of 1917-1918 are engaged in a like war of liberation. It is their task to bring freedom to the peoples who have been enslaved. I have every confidence that they together with their gallant brothers-in-arms will win through to victory.

CHURCH BELLS TOLL IN CITY TODAY

This morning at about 4:10 when this writer received news of the invasion and started for the office, first telephones sounded, then lights lit the homes, whistles blew, and Church bells rang. the Church bells beckoned all to the open church doors where many knelt in prayer.

There was not much excitement in the streets until the merchants opened their places of business. In the early hours of the morning shadows were cast from the street lamps and now and then a figure appeared and disappeared toward the church. Then back to their homes again to keep their ears to the radio from which news has not stopped since the start of the invasion.

The people have expected it for sometime but when it really comes its a shock to everyone. At six-thirty someone came to the Register Office and said. "My Goodness is the Invasion on?" and some yelled "It certainly is." The Speaker, "Why if I'd known that I'd have gone up to the church." The reply he received was simply "The Church is still Open."

Bulletin

The Berlin Radio broadcast a DNB dispatch today saying that one Allied Cruiser and large landing vessel carrying troops had been sunk in the area of St. Vaast La Hougue, 15 miles Southeast of Cherbourg.

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