Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 014, folder 11: Joseph Clyde Powell

4th Div POWELL, Joseph C. Va 13

Box 14, #11

Hdqts -- 8th Inf.

Initial Landings

Good Van Fleet Story Will G D it shoot them

& Chaplain story

[*CR read Washington DC area VA 13 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? Joseph C. (Clyde) Powell

What was your unit and division? Headquarters, Eighth US Infantry, Fourth Infantry Division, APO 4, New York, New York

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Utah Beach, approxi- mately 6:05 A.M. 6 June 1944

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Chief Warrant Officer

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 36

Were you married at that time? Yes

What is your wife's name? Savannah Guyer Powell

Did you have any children at that time? Yes, a son

What do you do now? Assistant Adjutant General, Headquarters QMTC, Fort Lee, Virginia

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? September 1943

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? At first it was not too unusual or different from several maneuver exercises we had experienced at Slapton Sands, England. The food was not too good, 10 & 1 rations, all, of course, cold. Time was passed reading anything available, briefing of per- sonnel, rehearsing over and over again just what to do, where to go and how, on the initial landing. On the day prior to the landing the channel was extremely rough, however, it quietened about midnight the 5th of June.

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). Primary scuttlebut was how to detect and avoid mines or other underwater obstacles. There were no rumors of value.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Joseph C. Powell

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? None, in particular, just general talk on the operation.

Were you wounded? No, not at that time, I was wounded on 10 June, 29 July, and 20 November 1944.

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? Not wounded within first 24 hours.

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Yes, immediately after landing and running from the water to the sea wall, which was ten to twelve feet high, I crawled up to where I could see. I saw several German soldiers, some four to eight hundred yards away, running and trying to take cover from our Air Force and Navy shelling. I turned to General Van Fleet (then Colonel) who was to my right and behind me. I remarked "Gee whiz [inserted]look[end inserted] at the Germans" to which General Van Fleet asked "Where?" When I told him, he said "Well G.... d .... it, shoot them". I was armed with a small Carbine rifle,actually, I laughed, as its maximum effective range, at that time, was approximately three hundred yards.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Yes, Chaplain (Capt) Julian S. Ellenberg, one of our two chaplains, truly a wonderful man, going from one to another seriously wounded soldier, assisting the medic’s with first aid, giving help, encouragement and prayer to those he could. In one instance actually going into an unmarked mine field and physically evacuated, under small arms fire, a soldier who had already lost a foot from a mine explosion, for which he was awarded the first silver star that was given within the 4th Infantry Division during World War II. He was armed only with a chaplain’s brassard and faith in God. Presently, he is a chaplain (Lt Col) and I believe stationed with the 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas, or possible the Chaplain’s School, Fort Slocom, New York. His actions were both heroic and memorable. [*I'm checking on him*]

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Joseph C. Powell

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, not particularly. However, the sheer determination re- flected on the face of every man will always be memorable to me. To a man, it was a job to be done and done well. There could be no compromise or going back. It was a "team" that would not accept or think of accepting defeat in any manner.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? At sea, in the English Channel preparatory to the landing.

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Approximately one to one and one-half KM outside of St-Mere-Eglise, 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? I know several, however, their addresses are in general areas and not specific.

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

[*OK as corrected JCP*]

Reader's Digest Seeks D-Day Info

ABERDEEN PROV. GROUND, Md.—A history of D-Day, June 6, 1944, is being prepared by Cornelius Ryan for publication in Reader’s Digest and in book form to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the event in 1959.

Army personnel who partici- pated in the operations starting midnight, June 5, 1944, partic- ularly those of the 1st, 4th, 90th, 29th Inf. Divs. 82d and 101st Abn. Divs., 2d and 5th Ranger Bns., plus attached elements, are asked to write to Miss Fran- ces Ward, Reader’s Digest, 230 Park Ave., New York, N.Y.

Personal interviews will be based upon letters received.