December 2012 Auction Ends Tuesday, December 18th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/18/2012
Dwight D. Eisenhower typed letter signed as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe. Dated 6 November 1944 on ''Allied Expeditionary Force / Office of the Supreme Commander'' stationery, it is addressed to Eisenhower's brother, and reads in full: ''Dear Edgar: I enjoyed the note you wrote at home because you didn't have time to dictate it at the office. Unquestionably any soldier would agree with almost any cynical philosophy you might care to develop respecting the 'progress' of a civilization that allows itself to get plunged into a world war every quarter of a century. The mistake that people like yourself make is in assuming that the soldier -- and I mean the professional -- likes it. There may be an occasional saddist [sic] or self-styled Napoleon that looks forward to such a catastrophe, but such people would be as common in civil life as in the armed forces. The average soldier hates it probably a lot more than you do. You may see civil liberties curtailed, and developments with the governmental structure that are hard to bear, but the soldier sees things that, if not more terrible in their ultimate consequences, are far more terrifying and disagreeable in the immediate reactions they create. Enough of that -- all I am trying to say is that neither John nor I like war any more than you do. Recently I had a note from the 'Cowboy.' It was written on my birthday. I will send him an acknowledgment very soon. I envy your weekly golf day. Such things are so far in the past for me that I cannot even recall anything you do except at the end of the game...'' Signed ''Ike''. Letter measures 8'' x 10.5'' on one page. Minor creasing in spots, else near fine.
Eisenhower Letter as Supreme Commander of the Allies: ''...the soldier sees things that...are far more terrifying and disagreeable...'' -- 1944
Click above for larger image.