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[*Milboro, S.D. LL S DAK 1*]
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? GLEN CARROLL NELSON
What was your unit and division? HQ.Co. 1st Battalion, 8th Inf. Reg.- 4th Infantry Division A.&P. Platoon - I was with the mine detecting and demolition squad
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? 6:35 A.M. - 2nd wave [*-?*] Utah Beach - we had to cross the swamp & marsh land - near St. Mere Eglise [inserted]which[end inserted] was slightly to our right. - "If my memory & a very few notes I jotted down afterwards"
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Private first class. (In Sept. I became Sgt. and squad leader of the demolition squad)
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 27
Were you married at that time? NO
What is your wife's name? HER MAIDEN NAME WAS LOUELLA M. RIX
Did you have any children at that time? NO
What do you do now? RURAL MAIL CARRIER - (60.4 mile route) appointed Nov. 14 - 1955.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? Not for sure until June 2 of that year - but we suspected before that time.--- On May 15 - we were moved from Camp Heathfield at Honiton England - to Camp Shiphay at Torquay - and were not allowed to go into town - we felt sure we would be part of the invasion force -
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 pretty rough most of the time while we were on the U.S.S. Dickerman - we passed the time playing cards or reading - but most of all making sure our equipment was ready. I really don't remember any conversations in particular, but everyone seemed happy & joked alot with each other_every one seemed glad to get started. The water was fairly quiet when we boarded the landing craft, and headed for shore - the air force was dropping bombs & flares for guidence - for what seemed like 3 or 4 hours before we landed. At the time, I didn't look at it as a beautiful sight maybe- but with all the flares & bombs dropping & exploding it was a rather beautiful sight Everyone was pretty tense, and, maybe some scared too -- (I was)
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). Yes I heard this rumor too - also [crossed out]the[end crossed out]some said the Germans had large cement blocks just under the water, with sharp steel rods & pointed pieces of iron in them that would puncture the bottom of the landing craft or injure a man walking in the water - but the boat I was on never hit anything like that.(but maybe it was true rumors) we also heard they had large amounts of barbed wire thrown into the water. our boat load never hit any kind of obsticales. the cement wall that Hitler had around France was partly covered with sand right where we landed.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Glen C. Nelson
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you on that day? NO
Were any of your friends killed or wounded during the landing or during the day? YES - Corp. Franz - killed about 20 minutes after we landed. Sgt. Sagen - hurt his knee as he came out of the landing craft. - I believe he was killed that same nite when the Germans bombed the temporary tent that was set up for a Hospital.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? Not to clear-or exact- while in camp in Torquay corp. Franz asked the Chaplin- "Do you have my mattress cover ready yet?" And on the landing craft, just be for it landed - He said, - "Well- Goodbye boys, I don't think I'll make it." Sgt. Sagen said, "I feel awful queer for some reason." Later Sgt. Sagen said, "Gosh, I believe my knee is broken- I can't stand on it." that was in the afternoon and he had been walking around on it ever since he came out of the landing craft - and that is when he that he hurt it.
Were you wounded? NOT D-DAY - but I WAS WOUNDED Nov.22-1944- in HURTGEN FOREST
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? Shrapnel wound in right hip - not too much pain - just very numb for several hours.
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time?
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? The sniper that shot Corp. Franz - I was between the two of them, behind a mound of sand - I remember looking up several times to see if I could find where he was (the sniper I mean) I don't believe I fully realized the damage he could do to me - but every time I looked up I heard a bullet snap over my head. The next day I noticed my light pack a 3 small holes in it. I knew then that they could have been put there by that same sniper and I probablu wasn't hid as good as I thot I was.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Glen C. Nelson
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?
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? I was on a Liberty Ship (the U.S.S. DICKERMAN out in the English Channel. I believe it was after midnight when we boarded the smaller landing craft. - about 1:30, if I remember right.
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? we had crossed the swamp land and were fairly close to St. 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? members of this same outfit - this is there last known address that I have - I don't have the Street addresses. Lt. Robert E. Ertmer - Freeport, I'll Charles E. Lamb - Oceola, Iowa. (I believe) Edgar Grigsby - Ripley, Tenn.- (route) Robert Clayton - Memphis, Tenn. Peabody Ave. M V Sills - Jackson, Miss.
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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Millboro S.D. May 29 - 1958
Miss Francis Ward,
In reading the "Legion Magazine" for June I noticed an article in which you wanted to get in touch with anyone that was in on the "D-DAY Invasion" of Normandy on June 6th 1944. I might be able to be of some help to you or give some information. I was there, in or with the "4th Infantry Division" -- "8th Inf. Regiment"-- and 1st Battalion Hq. Co. In the "A and P." Platoon. I was in the 2nd wave of Inf. landing craft to land and we landed about 4 minutes after the first wave landed - so that should have been about 6:34 or 6:35 A.M.
I now live in Millboro, So. Dak. (that is almost straight South of Pierre S.D. about 5 miles from the Nebr. State line)