AE movie

Last nite I watched the movie on Eisenhower's invasion of Normandy - one scene depicted him sending another General back to Washington because of drunkeness

What answer do you want?

'General Miller' was a fictitious character. And he wasn't sent home for drunkenness, but for a gross breach of security.

The incident may have been a combination of real events. It was included in the movie to show just how strict the Allies had to be about the security of OVERLORD.

Not sure what the question was but Eisenhower did send a high ranking officer back to the US because he had given away details about Overlord at a pub. IIRC the officer was gone the very next day after the report reached Ike.

John Dupre'

Actually (and the incident really happened) he wasn't sacked for drunkeness as such but for blabbing about the coming invasion in order to impress people with his insider's knowledge. Ike had nothing against drinking as long as it didn't interfere with performance.

Ed Frank

I'm not sure what your question is, but IIRC the scene in the movie is based on real events.

I thought the movie was quite historically accurate.

One tiny prop error: When the order to 'go' was issued, they showed a telephone switchboard. That particular board didn't come out until the postwar years. Also, the operator was tapping on one of the knobs, which was not the purpose of the knob.

That doesn't make sense, unless the boat were to dock after 4/5/6 June. Why not keep him where he could be kept quiet? The U.S. would be the worst place for him.

'Why were you sent home, Colonel?'

'I mentioned in a pub that D-Day would be before June 15.'

all the best

In April 1944, MGen.Henry Miller, West Point classmate of DDE who was the chief supply officer of the 9th Air Force, was drunk at a party at the Claridge Hotel in London. He was complaining about the difficulties of his job, but he said that it would be a lot better after 15 June. When challenged on the date, he offered to take bets. Ike reduced him to his permanent grade (Col) and sent him home. (page 84,'D-Day June 6, 1944 The Climatic Battle of World War II)

It probably would take a few days at least before he'd actually get a boat back, then the voyage would be slow, so he would be arriving close to the anticipated date. It's also possible he was kept locked up until D-Day actually happened.

Note that as a member of the armed forces, he is subject to military discipline. If he opened up his mouth again, he would undoubtedly have been court martialled and imprisoned, and I suspect he didn't want that.

Lastly, even if he were to blab in the U.S., odds are much less that a Nazi spy would happen to overhear him than as the case in crowded England. It would be curious to know whatever happened to the fellow. I suspect he ended up at some backwater army base.

In the movie he was under arrest when IKE talked with him, hike had to go behind bars to see him.

On 11 Jun 2004 15:16:01 -0500, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (Jeff nor Lisa)