Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 013, folder 59: George Lafayette Mabry, Jr.

4th Div MABRY, Col George L., Jr. Wash DC 6

Box 13, #59

Uncle Red 1st wave 2nd Bn 06 30 Mabry

Roosevelt in his boat Good anecdote thru day Rabarcheck & the Radio Story

U - I(?) Roosevelt

[*Great stuff and possibilities! Would interview?

Ft. Lesley J. McNair LL U - 1 WASH DC6 George L Mabry Jr*]

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? George Lafayette Mabry, Jr., Colonel, U.S. Army

What was your unit and division? 2nd Battalion, 8th Inf. Regt., 4th Inf. Division

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Utah Beach, H-hour (0630) D-Day (6 June 1944)

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Captain - Infantry - S-3 of 2nd Bn. 8th Inf. Regt.

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 26 years

Were you married at that time? Yes

What is your wife's name? Eulena Myers Mabry

Did you have any children at that time? No children at the time.

What do you do now? Colonel Regular Army - Attending The National War College, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C. - Effective 1 July 1958 will be assigned to Office Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Department of the Amy, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? About April 1944.

[*More on this? yes - worth find out.*] 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? Channel was rough - Spent time checking and rechecking boat loading tables - Discussed plans with Bn. C.O. (Lt. Col. Carlton O. MacNeely) and all Company Commanders - Discussed plans with Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt who was aboard our APA and landed with us at H-Hour. Much discussion about what we were going to put in our newly issued assault vests. Personnel were confident, cheerful, but anxious.

[*pursue*] What were the rumors on board the boat, ship or plane in which you made the crossing? (Some people remember scuttlebut to the affect that the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it afire when the troops came in). No rumors. However, valuable tips such as how to distinguish a dummy mine field from a real mine field were discussed. Watched airborne troops fly over early morning (about 3 a.m.) and run into German AA fire which illuminated the sky. Questioned whether any would make safe landing.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name George Lafayette Mabry, Jr.

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? Kept no diary. Was against orders and besides was too busy.

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Yes. Officers and Enlisted men.

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? Yes. One Cpl. Speck in particular who was hit on the beach. I offered to drag him to the sea wall but he refused my offer. Later the tide drowned him or he was hit again causing his death.

[*more?*] Were you wounded? No. Not even after setting off a land mine by trip wire and being fired at by seven Germans who eventually surrendered to me.

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? The land mine explosion shook me up a bit and caused me to believe I had lost a foot until I gained nerve to look at the Numb Leg and Foot. No wound, thank Goodness.

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? [*what?*] (1) General Roosevelt's conversation with his Aide when he (the Gen.) lost his life belt just prior to entering the LCVP preparing to make the run towards the beach. (2) Gen. Roosevelt's remarks to enlisted men as he entered the LCVP for run to beach. [*explore*] (3) Pvt. "Smokey" David’s exit from the LCVP at beach in water over his head, going under the LCVP and appearing again with bald head shining and no rifle nor other military equipment. (4) Lt. Col. C.O. MacNeely's comments about having pigeon stew when he learned that Press Agents had brought carrier pigeons aboard APA to carry message back to England concerning progress of invasion. [*great!*] (5) Lt. Rabarcheck who tossed 536 Radio into ocean because BBC was broadcasting news of successful landing while he (Rabarcheck) was still waste deep in surf and trying to use radio to control his Platoon but could not due to BBC broadcast.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? (1) As we reached a position approximately 800 yds. from the beach, a German ME 109 appeared out of the clouds and headed for the LCVP in which I was riding. Then from out of another cloud appeared a British Spitfire plane which opened fire and caused the ME 109 to explode in mid air. The prop from the MS 109 fell to the water approximately 100 yds. directly in front of our LCVP. (2) While running across the beach toward the sea wall, a German coast artillery shell made a direct hit on a U.S. soldier who was carrying three rounds of 81 mm. mortar ammunition. The explosion completely disintegrated the soldier. One of his fingers struck my belt buckle. (3) I shook hands with Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor at 1105 hrs., D-Day, at causeway #3 near Poupeville, France, which as far as I know was the first official contact established between the airborne and seaborne forces.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name George Lafayette Mabry, Jr.

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? Wading ashore in chest deep water, German artillery shells were coming in rather rapidly. As they approached I would duck under the water until they exploded then proceed again. Ingenuity or stupid is the question.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Approaching the Normandy Coast aboard the APA Barnett.

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Dug in behind a hedgerow approximately 6 miles inland from the beach near a village by the name Erudeville, as I recall.

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 LL*] Sea Operations. Col. (Ret.) Carlton O. MacNeely, Columbus Georgia [*written*] Col. James W. Haley, Washington, D. C. [*- have*] Col. Fred W. Collins, Ft. Riley, Kansas Col. (Ret.) E. H. Strickland, Columbia, S. C. Gen. (Ret.) James A. Van Fleet, Florida [*written*] Several other officers and enlisted men but I do not know where they are now located.

NOTE: Effective 1 July 1958 I will be working in the Office Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Department of the Army, Washington, D. C. If it is felt that I can be of further assistance I shall do my best to co-operate.

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

DECORATIONS AND AWARDS BRANCH Initials [?MB?] MILITARY PERSONNEL DIVISION, AGO Date 11 SEPT 44 RECORD OF AWARD OF DECORATION BY AGENCY OTHER THAN WAR DEPARTMENT

Last Name First Name Middle Initial Serial No. Grade MABRY,JR. GEORGE L. 0390036 CAPT.

Organization Foreign Others INF.

Headquarters Station or APO G.O. No. Section Date 1st U. S. ARMY 230 32 II 12 JULY 44

Type of Award Posthumous DO NOT WRITE IN DSC NO COLUMN BELOW

Oak-Leaf Clusters Number Posthumous

By Command of Amended Revoked LT. GEN. HODGES

CITATION

For extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy on 6 June 1944, in France. When Capt. Mabry, the battalion S-3, observed that heavy enemy fire from the right flank had pinned down his battalion, he moved to the forward elements. [?Where?] he organized a group of men and personally led them in a successful assault upon the enemy position. Despite the intense enemy fire and without regard [crossed out][illegible][end crossed out] to his own safety he at all times was in the forefront of the fire fight, personally killing two [crossed out][illegible][end crossed out] of the enemy in hand to hand combat and capturing eighteen of the enemy. The personal bravery, initiative and courageous leadership displayed by Capt. Mabry reflects great credit on himself and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Armed Forces.

WD, AGO Form No. 079 File in Enlisted Branch October 1943 File in Officer's Branch