Naval History and Heritage Command

The training was finished, although the invasion troops did not know that until they were on their ships headed across the English Channel on the night of June 5-6, 1944. Once on board, they received their first briefings as to what their missions would be. After that they were left to make such preparations as were needed or to be alone with their inner thoughts. In the pre-dawn hours of June 6, the invasion troops would receive the traditional pre-invasion breakfast of steak and eggs, after which they would take up personal weapons and equipment and stand by, waiting for the order, "Land the landing force!"