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Haskell LL TEX10
For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day
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.
What is your full name?
Riley C. Couch Jr
What was your unit and division?
Co. A 359th Inf 90th Div-
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time?
Utah Beach about H + 5
What was your rank on June 6, 1944?
Capt
What was your age on June 6, 1944?
25
Were you married at that time?
Yes
What is your wife name?
JERRENE
Did you have any children at that time?
No
What do you do now?
Farmer & Rancher -own, operate & manage a 5000 acre place Work in U.S.D.A. as an Administrative officer in Haskell Co ASC Office
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?
During dress rehearsal of invasion that took place near Torquay, England
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 extremely rough- in fact on 4 June we started across Channel and after half way were called back as D-Day was delayed - Spent most of time studying maps overlays and orders for invasion- LC1 was [?rammed?] once by another LC1 during time of unloading - It took 3 hrs to unload Co of 200 men & officers in a LCVP 22 at a time- We had dropped anchor 1/2 mile off shore
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).
No scuttlebut - My Co. was the only ones aboard and didn't have time to create rumors due to our mission- spent all our time working-
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name R.C. Couch Jr
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Not that I remember
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties?
Were you wounded? Yes- at the Foret de Mont Castre
Do you remember what it was like--that is, do you remember whether you felt any pain or were you so surprised that you felt nothing? Yes - it was quite a shock - We caught in a Mortar barrage and our own artillery -
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time?
Yes, my Ex O was about 6'5" tall (Lt Ben Fritz from New Mexico) He got caught by the "Midnight Bedcheck Charlie" when were enroute to Cherburg - There was not a slit trench long enough to hold him - He tried several, before being caught by the 1# Personell Bombs dropped out. It was funny watching him trying to take cover - The wounds were not serious
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more then anything else? At the time I was wounded near the Foret de Mont Castre, my company was caught in the enemy mortar fire - Artillery was called for and it preceded to drop on us. Later when I was carried back I found my artillery forward observer 800 yards to the rear in a fox hole because his wire ran out- Had a radio but would not come up (afraid) - If I could have got off the stretcher it would have been too bad - I had just lost over 50 % of my Co. and all officers due to his stupidity - The worst I could do was cuss him out -
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for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name R.C. Couch Jr
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? I had a 1st Sgt in another Co who got busted because he was not a garrison soldier, but later in combat he was awarded a battlefield commissionGarrison soldier-no, but in the field he was one of the best- He was in Co 1 359th Inf then - I do not recall his name-
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Crossing the English Channel on an LCI
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Headed for Cherburg - In
Do you know of anybody else who landed within those 24 hours (midnight June 5 to midnight June 6) as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to? Col. John F. Smith- C.O. 359th Inf - USAR Dallas, Texas Col. Clark K. Faler- former Co. 359th Inf -Moon Valley, Virginia Capt Hobby McCall- Atty- Mercantile Securities Bldg in Dallas
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 AID VOCATION OR OCCUPATION WILL BE LISTED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
Cornelius Ryan
Frances Ward Research, The Reader ’s Digest (over)
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I will be here in Haskell until July 19Have to go to summer Camp then at Ft Choffee Ark for 2 weeks I am C.O. of the 375th Repl Bn at Haskell meets each Tues night I will be at the ranch cutting wheat the next 4 wks but can be reached by phone each night (821) Lt Col Riley C Couch Jr PS Got promoted since I last corresponded with you-