Most Minot residents learned about D-Day hours after the first announcement of the Normandy landings.

The official announcement of the beginning of the invasion of western Europe came at 1:32 a.m. Mountain War time, on Tuesday, June 6, 1944, according to that day’s edition of the Minot Daily News.

“… most of the city’s residents were long abed, and most of them were unaware of the momentous events overseas until they awakened at their usual hours this morning.

“No bells or sirens sounded in Minot to arouse the populace,” the newspaper reported.

However, late radio listeners the night before and nighttime workers in the downtown districts heard broadcasts of reports from German sources that Allied landing in France had begun. The reports repeatedly emphasized they were not verified by Allied sources and confirmation did not come for several hours later.

The direct word of the invasion came to Minot over telephone lines in the form of notification to the Minot Daily News and station KLPM under pre-arranged plans, and teletype circuits carrying reports on the invasion went into immediate operation, the newspaper reported.

KLPM radio station went on the air at 2 a.m. with Mutual network program and dispatches covering the D-Day happenings. John B. Cooley, station manager, said the station would remain continuously on the air for an indefinite period of time, the newspaper said.

As workers arrived at stores and business places Monday morning in Minot, word of the invasion spread rapidly.

That day “Minot folk turned to prayers for an early peace and for a blessing on all who are involved in carrying out the long-awaited invasion, as services were held today in many Minot churches to mark D-Day,” the Minot Daily News reported.

Churches were open for private meditation and services, and residents in Minot and elsewhere in North Dakota joined in response to Gov. John Moses’ recent proclamation asking that invasion day be a ‘day of prayer in our state.’

The opening assembly of the summer term at the Minot Teachers college that morning was turned into an observance of invasion day, with patriotic music, special prayers by the Rev. Mr. Saunderson and a resume of the invasion progress given by Dr. Quinter M. Lyon, head of the social science department at the college. President C. C. Swain of the college also spoke.