Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 013, folder 34: Dean Dethroe Gill

LINCOLN 4th CAV Recon. GILL, Dean Dethroe

Neb 4

Dead

0715 TROOP B, 4th CAV. RECON. UTAH

CPL. GLAND AND THE SEASICK PILLS Cpl. Gland who was in charge of the seasick pills was the first to become sick. He said later he sure would like yo go back across the Channel even though it made him seasick. Then he was killed.

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5520 Fremont St Lincoln Nebraska For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day

THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR, PARTICIPATED IN 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? Dean Dethroe Gill What was your unit and division? Troop B 4th. Cav. Recon. Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Utah Beach June 6, 1944 7:15 A.M. What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Sgt. What was your age on June 6, 1944? 26 Were you married at that time? Yes What is your wife's name? Elsie Did you have any children at that time? No What do you do now? Cook for the Veterans Adm. Hospital Lincoln, Nebr. When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? June 1, 1944- all non-commissioned officers were gathered for a closely guarded briefing and given maps of France. The next day our English money was exchanged for French. 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? The channel was very rough and many of us were seasick. Cpl. Gland, who was in charge of the seasick pills, was the first to become sick we teased him about it all the way over. A Brig. General of the 82 nd airborn Division (name unknown) was with us and he was talking about how he was going to do a lot of fishing when he got back to Iowa. While eating supper one night, of 10 in 1 rations, we found a can of bacon. The General said he bet the bacon was from Iowa; no one called him as there was no way to prove it. 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). Our small ship held only four m-8 armored cars, one half-track and three jeeps,plus the men. With the General in our group I believe every one was afraid to start any rumors, at least I never heard any.

for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Dean Dethroe Gill 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? Yes. Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? Yes Cpl. Gland who was killed said he sure would like to go back across the channel even tho it made him seasick. Another one of the boys said "I don’t think ’them there' Krauts like us". Were you wounded? Yes, on June 25, 1944 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? I felt like I think I will feel on Judgement Day. That is, afraid, not afraid; hot, cold; didn't know which way to turn or what to do first. Do you remember seeing- or bearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Yes, we were issued life jackets that would inflate when you press a button. When it come our turn to unload, I was standing at the bow of the ship and accidently pressed the button on my life jacket. It inflated and I thought for sure I was shot.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else?

Yes, When our half-track got stuck on the beach all the men in the platoon went back to push it out, even though the Germans were shelling the entire beach very heavily. One of our Jeeps was hit and one man killed. Do not know about the other two. Every man in the platoon wanted to go back and help the men who were hit, even though it was raining machine gun bullets Our platoon leader, Lt Benley, told us we had to leave the injured for the Medics' to care for.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Dean Dethroe Gill

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?

The only thing I can recall is the outstanding courage of all the men, in spite of their great fright, and their 'fighting mad' anger at seeing all the dead Americans on the beach and in the water.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Some where on the English Channel.

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Some place between Utah Beach and Ste. Mere-Eglise

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?

[*out*] Elded C Gaulke. Last address Iowa City, Iowa. Orval O. Vauhn. Some where in Ind. Fay E.Jansen St.Paul, Minn. Tilford Olson some where in North Dakota. Melville C.Price some where in Penn.

I will be available for interview any time.

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

June 30, 1958

Mr. Dethroe Gill 6520 Fremont Street Lincoln 4, Nebraska

Dear Mr. Gill: Thank you very much for your letter and for your willingness to help us with Cornelius Ryan's book about D-Day. I hope you will forgive the delay in replying to your kind offer of assistance; we are gratified, but somewhat overwhelmed, by the wonderful response which we are getting as a result of our requests for information.

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 so many people, we have found it necessary to develop an individual file on each person who agrees to help us. Therefore, we hope 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 crystalize 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. We want very much to tell the story of your unit, and in order to do that we need the personal accounts of the men who were there. We particularly look forward to your reply. Sincerely yours, Frances Ward Research Department

FW: LLH Enclosure