Three Million Soldiers Were on Their Way
They ships were in midcourse, forming their convoys. Preparing to move three million armed soldiers from southern England to northern France was in its advanced stages. The landing crafts were elbow to elbow in Portsmouth Harbor. It was so crowded there that you could walk from one shore to the other without touching the water.
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Sherman tanks were fitted with flotation skirts to allow them to wallow ashore. Supply vessels were following behind them. Other ships were also towing long chambers to make temporary ports. Then all of a sudden, into the middle of this fleet enters the chief meteorologist, Group Captain James Martin Stagg. He was abrupt, tall, thin, and pale-faced with a severe mustache.