Page 2

Facsimile

Transcription

Status: Page Status Needs Review

Oshbosh, Wis.
LL WIS 6
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?
WAYNE E. PALMER

What was your unit and division?
MEDICAL DETACHMENT 16TH INFANTRY
1ST INFANTRY DIVISION.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time?
OMAHA BEACH APRROXIMATELY 6:30-7:30 A.M.
ON D-DAY (second wave)

What was your rank on June 6, 1944?
S/SGT (TECH 3RD Grade)

What was your age on June 6, 1944?
23 yrs

Were you married at that time?
NO

What is your wife's name?
BETTY JANE

Did you have any children at that time?
No!

What do you do now?
ASSIST MANAGER INVOICING + ESTIMATING DEPARTMENT
OF THE MORGAN CO.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?
ABOUT 6 MONTHS BEFORE ALTHOUGH WE WERE NOT
DEFINITELY TOLD UNTIL WE WERE IN A STAGING AREA

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? TRIP QUITE ROUGH SEAWISE -- SPENT TIME
READING -- PLAYING CARDS -- USUAL ARMY "BULL" SESSIONS
TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM WHAT FRANCE
WOULD BE LIKE TO WHAT OUR CHANCES OF SEEING
HOME AGAIN WERE. SPENT QUITE ALOT OF TIME ON
DECK WATCHING THE FLEET FORM IN ALL
DIRECTIONS + JUST WATCHING + "SWEATING".

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).
RUMOR THAT WE WERE TO MAKE INVASION AND
SECURE BEACHHEAD AND THEN WE WERE TO GO HOME.
(THIS WAS OUR FAVORITE.)
THE BRIEFING SAID ADVANCE INFORMATION SAID IT
WOULD NOT BE TOO TOUGH AS THE SHELLING, BOMBING,
+ ROCKET FIRE WAS TO SATURATE THE ENTIRE
BEACH AREA - THIS TURNED OUT TO BE PRETTY
THE BEACH INVASION

Notes and Questions

Nobody has written a note for this page yet

Please sign in to write a note for this page