What did Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., mean by saying “We’ll start the war from here”?

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Utah Beach on D-Day — Utah Beach Soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division wade ashore at Victor sector, Utah Beach, on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Amphibious tanks are lined up at the water's edge.

During the Normandy Invasion on D-Day, the U.S. 4th Infantry Division landed approximately 1,800 metres (2,000 yards) away from their intended target due to strong currents and the loss of control craft.

Upon realizing that the landing force had arrived in the wrong sector, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., uttered the famous remark, “We’ll start the war from here!” By making this statement, he acknowledged the navigational error and immediately took charge of the situation, ordering the division to advance from their new, albeit less-defended, position. This decisive action helped turn a potentially disastrous landing into a successful operation, as the troops were able to secure the beach exits and link up with airborne units shortly thereafter.1