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For Cornelius Ryan Ft. Knox Ky LL Book about D-Day KY-4
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? Herschel E. Linn
What was your unit and division? 237th Engineer Combat Battalion assigned VII corps attached 4th Inf. Div.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Utah Beach about 0800 7 June
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Lt. Col.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 26
Were you married at that time? yes
What is your wife's name? Phyllis W. Linn
Did you have any children at that time? No
What do you do now? Chief Engr. Branch Senior Officers Preventive Maintenance Dept. United States Army Armor School Fort Knox, Ky.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? Feb or March 1944
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 landing craft tank (armored) was heavily loaded with tanks, The crossing was quite rough and our engine compartment became flooded. I transferred my men to a British ship as it became apparent we were going to sink. I located my men on the American 1st Army command ship eventually then proceeded to hitch rides up and down the coast of Normandy until I found a DUKW going to the Beach for wounded. I then walked to where my Bn. had been assembled by then Maj. R.P. Tobb my Executive Officer.
What were the rumors on board the boat, ship or plane in which you made the crossing? (Some people remember scuttlebutt to the effect that the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it the troops came in) I heard that story, also that the Germans had a great fleet of E boats and they were sinking everything in sight etc.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Herschel E Linn
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? no - not specific
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? No
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? No
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Herschel E. Linn
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 entire operations of the 237th Engr Bn. plus attached troops had been so planned and control was so decentralized each assault platoon had to do their part. Not one unit fell down on the job. Not one man failed to do his job through fear. Major Tabb my executive officer deserves special mention for his ingenuity and self-reliance when he found himself in temporary command of the bn.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On an LCT (A) in English Channel off coast Normandy
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Bouncing from ship to ship trying to get on the beach as my ship had un-heroically sank after springing a leak.
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? LL Col Robert Peyton Tabb 0-24680 Office chief of Engineers Maintenance Division Washington 25, D.C. LL Frank Harrison Fisher then (Capt) Kansas City, Kans.
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
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May 9, 1958
Dear Colonel Linn:
A book about D-Day, June 6, 1944, is being prepared by Cornelius Ryan for publication in The Reader’s Digest in book form on the 15th anniversary of the Normandy invasion in the spring of 1959. It is being written with the complete cooperation and assistance of the Department of the Army and the Department of Defense. This will not be another strategic history of inva- sion day, but a story of the twenty-four hours of D-Day as people lived them and remembered them. For this, we can only go to the men who were there and, if they are willing, invade their memories. Having learned from the Depart- ment of the Army, of the part which you played in the invasion, we hope very much that you’ll be interested in the project and will be willing to help us.
Mr. Ryan is presently in Europe trying to get the project under way there. He will be back in this country very shortly, and during the late spring and early summer of this year, both in this country and in Europe, he will be interviewing many of the people who agree to contribute to the book. Very probably, he will wish to talk with you during that period, if you are willing and able to see him. In the meantime, since we are literally dealing with hundreds of people, we are finding it necessary to keep an individual file on each person who agrees to help us. Therefore we hope that if you are willing to help with the book, you win complete the enclosed record and re- turn it to me at your earliest convenience. We truly believe that these ques- tions will serve you as well as us, if they can help to crystallize some hazy memories and do indicate the sort of information which we are seeking.
In Mr. Ryan’s absence, I should be most grateful to know as soon as pos- sible when and if you will be available for interview during the next two or three months. We will look forward very eagerly to your reply. We want very much to tell your story and the story of your unit, and in order to do that we need you. Thank you so very much for any help which you can give us.
Sincerely yours,
Frances Ward Research Department
Lieutenant Colonel Herschel E. Linn, 0375841 USA Armor School (2168) Fort Knox, Kentucky