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Baton Rouge, LA
For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-day i Nothing THOUSANDS OP 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 THEE, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
What is your full name? Malvin Richard Pike
What was your unit and division? 8th Inf. Reg. 4th Inf Div.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Utah Beach - "first wave." 6:35 A.M. June 6th
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Tech. Sgt.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? Twenty-three
Were you married at that time? No
What is your wife's name? Mary Lillian
Did you have any children at that time? No
When did you k now that you were going to be part of the invasion? About 8 or 10 days before D-day.
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 ? We got on an A.P.A. June 4th but weren't told when we would land until around 9:00 P.M. the 5th. Gen. Teddy Roosevelt gave us the news over ships P.A. system. also read letters from F.D.R. & Ike wishing us the best of luck. We checked our guns & assault boat, also played cards "for free."
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). We knew pretty well what to expect. We had been well briefed on the landing. We had seen props of Utah Beach. We went in at low tide so wasn't too worried about under water obsticles Our biggest worry was land mines on the beach. You couldn't see them.
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Your name Malvin R. Pike
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No, didn't have time.
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? We lost about 30 the first day
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? I remember talking to one of the boys in my platoon. He had saved up money & spoke of buying a home for He & his wife when he got back home. He was the 1st one killed on the beach.
Were you wounded? Yes four times
Do you remember what it was like—that is, do you remember whether you felt any pain or were so surprised that you felt nothing? Yes I knew each time I was hit, but it didn't hurt too much. Guess I was too scared.
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time?
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else?
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Malvin R. Pike
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 from D-day?
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Anchored 11 miles off the French coast on an A.P.A.
'Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? In the Hedge-rows between Poppeeville & St. Mere-Eglise.
Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours of D-day, June 6, as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to?
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 ACKNOWLEDGMENT 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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July 14, 1958
Mr. Malvin R. Pike Route 1 Baker, Louisiana
Dear Mr. Pike:
A history of D-Day, June 6,1944, to coincide with the 15th anniver- sary of the Normandy invasion next year is being prepared by Cornelius Ryan for publication in the Reader’s Digest and in book form. It is being written with the complete cooperation and assistance of the De- partment of the Army and the Department of Defense. This will not be another strategic history of invasion 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, in- vade their memories. Having learned of the part which you played in the invasion, we hope very much that you will be interested in the pro- ject and agree to help us.
During the next few months, both in this country and in Europe, Mr. Ryan wlll 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 literally hundreds of people, we have found it necessary to develop an in- dividual file on each person who agrees to help us. Therefore, we hope that if you are interested In the project, you will complete the en- closed 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 crystallize some hazy memories and to indicate the sort of information which we are seeking.
I should be most grateful to knew as soon as possible when and if you will be available for interview during the next few months. We want very much to tell the story of your unit, and in order to do that we need your personal account. We look forward eagerly to your reply. Sincerely yours,
Frances Ward FW:LL Research Department Enclosure