To: Major-General R. E. Urquhart, D.S.O.,
    Commander, I st Airborne division.

In this war, there has been no single performance by any unit that has more
greatly inspired me, or more highly excited my admiration, than the nine
days action of your division between September 17 and 26.
There is no question, that these sentiments are shared by every soldier,
sailor, and airman, of the entire Allied Expeditionary Force now battling
against the western boundaries of Germany.
Before the world the proud record that your division has established,
needs no embellishment from me, but I should like every survivor of that
gallant band to realize, not only how deeply this whole command
appreciates his example of courage, fortitude and skill, but that the
division's great battle contributed effectively to the success of operations to
the southward of its own battleground.
Your officers and men were magnificent.  Pressed from all sides,
without relief, reinforcements or respite, they inflicted such losses on the
Nazis, that this infantry dared not close with them.  In an unremitting hail
of steel from German snipers, machine guns, mortars, rockets, cannon of all
calibres and self propelled-guns, tanks and artillery, they never flinched,
never wavered.  They held steadfastly.
For nine days they checked the fury of the Hun, and when, on 26 of
September, they were ordered to withdraw across the river, they came out a
proud and haughty band - paratroopers, air landing men, glider pilots,
clerks, cooks and batmen, soldiers all - less than two thousand strong out of
ten thousand five hundred that entered the battle.

The Allied Expeditionary Forces salute them.

(Signed) Dwight D. Eisenhower
Supreme Commander.
Allied Expeditionary force.