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Release - Int KRZYZANOWSKI, Henry S. NY 12 1st Inf Div
Box 12, #4
16/1st Div. Dead - 19 August, 1991
Omaha Easy Red
Bullets as ramp went down
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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? Henry S. Krzyzanowski SFC
What was your unit and division? Hq Co. 16th INF. 1st DIV. U.S.A.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Omaha Beach (Easy Red)
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Staff Sgt.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 27
Were you married at that time? Yes
What is your wife's name? Antoinette K---
Did you have any children at that time? Two "If I come back you'll be lucky"
What do you do now? U.S. Army Trans. Corp Fort Hamilton B'klyn N.Y.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? Day before
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? Mild. Preparing for the worst
What were the rumors on board the boat, ship or plane in which you made the c rossing? (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 that rumor. Our outfit was a veteran unit from Africa and Sicily and we were hoping that we would get air cover which was our largest fear.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No time
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Many. (Seven) personal friends.
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 you so surprised that you felt nothing?
Do you remember seeing· or hearing anything that ·seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time?
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more then anything else? I watched the Coast Guard and Navy operate landing boats and I admired their bravery under terrific fire.
Also Col. Goe. Taylor when he made the statement: "Men we are dying on the beach. Let's go in and die." This was a turning point about 1100 hrs 6 June.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name
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? In our case I thought everyone realized that we were in a mess and took it very well in the initial landing.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Weymouth England
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Coleville Sur Mer, Frc
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?
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 4/23/58 Frances Ward Research, The Reader's Digest
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Interview:
Henry S. Kryzyzanowski "Kris"
Release - June 9, 1958 (signed)
Attached to HQ Co as defense platoon. Kris was in charge of platoon - 45 men. 4 full squads 10 noncoms - under Lt. Detwyler. Taylors HQ
Travel over in chase Asst. Platoon Guide - Buck Sgt. Jim LaPointe Went in LCVP before S and landed just before 6.oo on Omaha. Jammed so tight couldn't move. Hear bullets on ramp. 25 men killed right away as went down ramp. Lt. was in front killed instantly. grunts. screams. "Come on let's get out of here." Water over his head. Had [crossed out] left [end crossed out] belt 50 MM cal which carried him down. "Boa Constrictor" life belts. He cut off his equipment. Lost everything including luger he had captured in Sicily - landed 400 yards of beach. Tide was out about 200 yards from beach. Saw obstacles with mines. Kris saw more than 100 men fall all about it Pfc Sandy Rosen - saw him sitting there on beach with his arm blown off. Kris said "Where's your arm Sandy" "Stay here don't move - he wrapped stump of arm in a raincoat - gave him shot of morphine.
On Easy Red. "If we'd had the holes we'd have this made" to his buddy "Sgt where the hell are holes" Officers and men running around looking for their units. 2 1/2 ton came off an LVP drove into the water, loaded ammo, between 6 and 7, 2 men in cab blown up. Kris was talking to Rosen "Look at that truck - he's going to get it" Engine landed about 50 yards from Kris and Rosen Saw Taylor about 8. He had CP near tank (wrecked) T: Who are you K: Sgt. K T: Jesus its good to see somebody around here. Where's the remainder of the Co.