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Heroic Officers Dare Death For Men by Sessions. Here is the story as told, for the first time, by a commanding officer of the United States Ground Forces that landed at Port Lyautey: "It was very early morning of the day we invaded North Africa, and we were standing off the shore of Casablanca. Directly in front of us lay the resort town of Port Lyautey, one of the strongest fortified points held by the French. It was here that their Commandant had his headquarters in an old Portuguese fort, on a hill five hundred yards in from shore. Just at daybreak our barges, manned by Navy personnel, and carrying Jeeps, tanks, and men of the United States Ground Forces, took to the water. We headed for shore in surf that was 18 feet high. When we were about half way in, they opened up on us with everything they had. Even before we reached the beach, their guns and fliers were making it plenty hot for us. Our Jeeps were the first to hit the sand and they came off the barge with their guns blazing. Throughout the whole action, the team-work of the U.S. Army and Navy forces was perfect. But there was one example of personal courage in those three days of fighting that will stand out in my memory if I live for 1000 years. You see, the commanding officer of our expedition - an oldtimer - carried an important message for the Commandant at the fort. He felt that if this message got through, there was a good chance that they would quit firing and that much bloodshed would be prevented. So, on a standard to the right of his Jeep he had an American flag set up. On the left, the Tri-color. In the middle a flag of truce. The message had to reach the fort. Our Commander, and another officer who volunteered to drive the Jeep, made the attempt. With those three flags standing straight in the breeze, this Jeep came off the barge first. The officer reached the fort, and received the Medal of Honor. ..... 1943 Willys Jeep War Bond Ad, A5293A. 19431122