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[*U--N Fort Rucker ALABAMA U--N ALA6 LL*]
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? James Sawyer Luckett
What was your unit and division? Hqs 12th Inf, 4th Inf Div
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Utah Beach - 1140
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Lieutenant Colonel
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 37
Were you married at that time? Yes
What is your wife's name? Rilla Jesse Luckett
Did you have any children at that time? Yes
What do you do now? Deputy Center Commander United States Army Aviation Center Fort Rucker, Alabama
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? 10 May
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 sea was rough. We were on a British L.C.T. The two English officers had me in for tea and I had them in for coffee. We traded rations with the crew. The morning of 6 June we listened to the 8th & 12th Inf radio nets.
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 afire when the troops came in). No rumors. We were amazed at the overall ease of the operation. Our only problem was occasional seacoast and long range field artillery fire.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Col James S . Luckett
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? Capt Gray of Co C was wounded.
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? At the last minute of loading at Plymouth we received a Division Hqs Half Track with a Special Radio for a so called "Spook" or additional radio net. We juggled our vehicles around and got it aboard. It of course had to go off first. I joked about it stalling on landing due to poor water proofing. It did. We got around it.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? The fine example of calm confidence set by Brig Gen Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt, whom I passed several times while rounding up my convoy of vehicles preparatory to departing inland.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Col James S. Luckett
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? No, other than example cited.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? At sea.
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Audoville la Hubert, France
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? [*Have them*] Colonel Russel P. Reeder c/o Army Athletic Association West Point, New York,
Colonel Gerden F. Johnson c/o Ivy Leaves (4th Div Association)
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 Luckett:
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 Norrmandy 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 will 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
Colonel James St. Luckett, 018209 USA Avn. Center (63-3461) Fort Rucker, Alabama