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Charlottesville VA.
For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-day
GREEN
THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR, PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY BETWEEN MIDNIGHT JUNE 5, 1944 AND MIDNIGHT JUNE 6, 1944. IF YOU WERE ONE OF THEM, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. VA - 30
What is your full name ? Clay S. Purvis
What was ypur unit and division? Company K, 116th Infantry, 29th Division
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ? Omaha Beach, approximately 0700.
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Master Sergeant , Grade 1 (Company First Sergeant )
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 29
Were you married at that time? Yes
What is your wife's name? Mildred Burgess Purvis
Did you have any children at that time? No
What do you do now? Manager of Concessions of Alumni Association of University of Virginia at Charlottesville, Virginia
When did you know that you were going to he part of the invasion? Early May, 1944.
What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel ? Do you remember, for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time? Weather was rough; boat (APA ) was crowded; assigned to Boat No. 31, LCVP; talked to coxswain and kidded about wet landing and he promised us we would get a dry landing ; heard broadcast over loud speaker from Roosevelt, Eisenhower and Montgomery; took a nap in hammock fully clothed, ate in shifts and loaded at approximately 0235.
What were the rumors on board the boat, ship or plane in which you made the crossing ? (Some people remember scuttlebut to the effect that the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it afire when the troops came in). Never heard any rumors in particular, did know definitely of a German division on maneuvers in our area.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Clay S. Purvis
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No. (My wife kept a scrapbook from D- Day to St. Lo).
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day ? Yes.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties ? No.
Were you wounded ? No.
Do you remember what it was like--that is, do you remember whether you felt any pain or were so surprised that you felt nothing?
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? One incident which was not amusing at the time - our supply jeep was the first in line to land from the LST and they were ordered to be ready to move when the ramp was lowered. However, the ramp was lowered two hundred yards off shore and our jeep roared off right into the ocean. The driver and supply sergeant were able to get ashore.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Nothing unusual, operations were normal except one man trying to clean sand from a BAR with a toothbrush.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Clay S. Purvis
In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity or self-reliance; others do incredibly stupid things. Do you remember any examples of either from D-day? Talked to regimental commander during the day; he had been hit in the hand. He asked me if I thought we could stay ashore. I remember telling him we had no choice as our ships had gone back.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On ship APA.
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? On hillside between Channel and Vier-Ville Sur-Mer.
Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours of D-day, June 6, as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to?
Carl D. Proffitt , Platoon Sergeant 1401 Chesapeake Street, Charlottesville, Virginia Out Ernest E. King, Sergeant "Willowby", R. F. D., Harris Road, Charlottesville, Virginia
Mr. Ryan might be interested in the history of Company K, which was a Virginia National Guard unit known as the Monticello Guard (Monticello being the home of Thomas Jefferson in Charlottesville, Virginia), which is supposed to be the oldest continuous military unit in the United States and which has served with great distinction in every war in which this country has been involved (organized in 1745). Except for inducted men to build up our strength, we were a unit of Charlottesville men, most of us acquainted since childhood.
PLEASE LET US HAVE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE BOOK. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE YOUR STORY ON SEPARATE SHEETS IF WE HAVE NOT LEFT SUFFICIENT ROOM. FULL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WILL BE GIVEN IN A CHAPTER CALLED ”WHERE THEY ARE NOW;" YOUR NAME AND VOCATION OR OCCUPATION WILL BE LISTED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
Cornelius Ryan
Frances Ward Research, The Reader's Digest
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August 5, 1958
Mr. Clay S. Purvis University of Virginia University Apartments Charlottesville, Virginia
Dear Mr. Purvis:
A history of D-Day, June 6, 1944, to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the Normandy invasion next year is being prepared by Cornelius Ryan for publication in the Reader's Digest and in book form. It is being written with the complete cooperation and assistance of the Departnent of the Army and the Department of Defence. This will not be another strategic histoiy of invasion day, but a story of the twenty-four hours of D-Day as people lived them and remembered them. For this, we can only go to the men who were there and, if they are willing, invade their memories. Having learned of the part which you played in the invasion, we hope very much that you will be interested in the project and agree to help us.
During the next few months, both in this country and in Europe, Mr. Ryan will be interviewing many of the D-Day participants who agree to contribute to the book. Very probably, he will wish to talk with you during that period. In the meantime, since we are dealing with literally hundreds of people, we have found it necessary to develop an individual file on each person who agrees to help us. Therefore, we hope that if you are interested in the project, you will complete the enclosed record and return it to me at your earliest convenience. We truly believe that these questions will serve you, as well as us, if they can help to crystallize some hazy memories and to indicate the sort of information which we are seeking.
I should be most grateful to know as soon as possible when and if you will be available for interview during the next few months. We want very much to tell the story of your unit, and in order to do that we need your personal account. We look forward eagerly to your reply.
Sincerely yours
Frances Ward Research Department
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