Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 007, folder 34: Denver Albrecht

DENVER ALBRECHT (Continued) -19-

Ryan: Well thats right because the 91st

Albrecht: The left of the Cheese Factory

Ryan: Yes, by the way this cheese factory. Tell me about it. Were the people working in that factory that you could see

Albrecht: No, they weren’t there - there weren’t any people inside

Ryan: Did you see any people move in and out...Any French people during that day

Albrecht: In the center part of Chef-du-Pont there were a few Frenchmen

Ryan: Did any of the French come up to you and try and say anything or were they happy to see you...I mean...

Albrecht: I didn't notice anything that day. Later on, I think it was the first Sunday after D-Day we were still in Chef-du-Pont. I even remember the Frenchmen all dressed to go to Church. It was Sunday. That didn’t anything to us.

Ryan: No. Tell me did you run into any chaplains or medics that day

Albrecht: I don’t recall any

Ryan: Yeh. Do you remember if there was a doctor or medics working in this little village or was it just...you fellows doing first aid to the wounded. In many cases the surgical teams were split up and their equipment was you know spread all around the landscape. Were you lucky enough to have a first of all a medic...

Albrecht: I don’t recall any medics.

Ryan: No...so just fellows helping each other.

Albrecht: Right

Ryan: Now, was there any...everybody’s moral was very very high, wasn’t it. I mean

Albrecht: I think it was. That day or even for the next few days, no one appeared to be worried, a bit worried. They weren’t a bit worried, it was just waiting for the link-up and of course there were a few people that felt a little bad about so and so being killed or wondered how so and so is but...

Ryan: Who is your best friend in the 82nd

DENVER ALBRECHT (Continued) -20-

Albrecht: Oh, I think [crossed out] his name was Grabby, Lt. Grabby.

Ryan: Did he survive it all right

Albrecht: Well he made out through the invasion but he got killed later

Ryan: Ya

[crossed out] Did he jump with you

Albrecht: Right

Ryan: Was he in the same plane with you

Albrecht: I don't recall that he was

Ryan: Were you looking for him. I mean were you keeping your eye out for him to see him

Albrecht: Well no, not necessarily. Mainly my first thought was to get to the drop zone then I found out that that was impossible, impractical and the best thing to do which were the instructions was to link up with the largest body of troops you could find to take to the drop zone so that was my orders to link up with this outfit in Chef-du-Pont immediately.

Ryan: Now did you ever hear any other stories from other parachutists afterwards as to their experiences. For example, you fellows were supposed to jump, if I’m not greatly mistaken, either three or minutes after land fall and if you didn’t jump after that you could conceivably land in the ocean on the other side. Did you ever hear of any fellow who you can remember who actually jet landed in the ocean

Albrecht: No, I did not know I had to fall in it - I don't remember hearing any stories about it.

Ryan: No. Do you remember any other exciting or heroic stories about other men during that...which you heard afterwards

Albrecht: I fought the rest of the war with the 101st. Of course the Bascow

Ryan: William Bascow

Albrecht: It has to be operations and I...I don’t recall Normandy - Normandy is pretty far back and the others are little sooner, see

DENVER ALBRECHT (Continued) —21—

Ryan: Well on D-Day itself, the night of D-Day that you landed, when you all grouped together, days later, do you remember any anecdotes which you still remember. You know which... great valor, great...

Albrecht: No. I don’t. I heard about someone directing naraal fire on a German calm from in the vicinity of Chef-du-Pont. I heard about that.

Ryan: Well that raises an interesting point. Did you have any communications that day at all

Albrecht: I didn’t have any

Ryan: No.

Albrecht: My communications man I couldn’t find him. He hasn’t raised up for sure.

Ryan: Tell me, can you by any chance remember what you were doing at midnight on the night of D-Day. I mean, did you get a chance...were you asleep...did you... were you still fighting... you were fighting....

Albrecht: No. I think we were asleep

Ryan: Asleep.

Albrecht: I was up half the night.

Ryan: Sure. In other words you were relatively secure then in these positions at midnight that night

Albrecht: No. We weren't secure. We were there. But there wasn’t any solid line by any means.

Ryan: What was the first...did you see any prisoners of war that day... were any German prisoners brought in

Albrecht: NO.

Ryan: Did you see any parachutists who were machine gunned in the trees... just hanging in the trees...anywhere that round that area

Albrecht: Well, there was one lad who was maimed had it. He was hanging out of a tree, still in his parachute. That was the only lad I seen

DENVER ALBRECHT (Continued) -22-

Ryan: Well, is there anything else that you feel you'd like to add ... another other incident that seems to you now heroic or amusing or sad

Albrecht: I don’t recall

Ryan: I’m very grateful to you

Albrecht: Naturally, I haven't said too much

Ryan: No but you've given me...

Albrecht: I can't recall

Ryan: You don’t mind my using this in anyway I want...

Albrecht: No, No, that's all right... it doesn't make any difference to me

Ryan: Thank you very much.

Denver sd: "I know Sir but the other officers were having a few beers before the exercise." Gavin: "Well now, settle down - don't let it happen again"

Denver has been in army since he was 16. He fought his way up from the ranks. He was later in Bastogne + Korea. Wound up as Captain, but because he was more than 20 years in service he was expected to retire. He did - for 17 days.

Then, he rejoined as a master sergeant + today is a warrant officer