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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? NICK AUGUSTINE SCALA
What was your unit and division? WEAPONS PLATOON, "G." CO - 2ND. BATTALION, 4TH DIV.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? UTAH BEACH. 0800 AM
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? PLATOON SGT. T/SGT.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 25 YR. OLD.
Were you married at that time? NO.
What is your wife's name? ----
Did you have any children at that time? ----
What do you do now? EMPLOYED WITH WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP. BEAVER PA. AS ORDER INTERPRETER, ENGINEERING SERVICE DEPT.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? OFFICIALLY AT THE MARSHALLING AREA PLYMOUTH ENGLAND ABOUT 2 WKS 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? I crossed on a LCP. channel was very rough. Time was spent cleaning weapons. some played cards. some sang, we had services for all faiths. wrote letters. & reminiscing.
The foremost incident was when I asked Sgt Bill O'Donnell "Bill are you ready." His reply was emphatically yes I knew what he meant being a catholic myself. He recieved communion on board, day before.
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). The gasoline rumor did not reach our unit until the war ended back in England.
we were dressed in gas impregnated clothes, and the rumor was that we were to take the beach at all cost, and gas was to be the last resort.
In fact this rumor was so effective that all, being green troops in combat for the first time, could not recognize the smell of enemy explosives. when someone became rattled and sounded the gas attack it spread like fire all along the beach. this was a serious situation, because it jambed up the beach. This halting on the beach can be fatal to the entire unit. Also units following
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Your name Nick Sugustine Scala
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No: frontline troops found impossible
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Yes: during the landing
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? Yes: when we stormed at the beach under heavy enemy artillery fire. I dove into a shell crater and PFC Jerry O'Brien Dove in behind me. I looked up at Jerry and in his Irish brogue remarked "somebody might get hurt out here."
Were you wounded ? Yes: but not on the beach. November 13, 1944. 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? The saying must be true: worry about the ones you can't hear. I heard nothing, nor did I feel instant pain. About a minute passed and I began to feel a burning sensation in my left shoulder, followed by severe pain. I went into shock.
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed fumy at the time? We had pet sayings, as all units and did. And these saying strike me funny now. 1. I hope I don't miss the boat. 2. Is this another dry run. Also each landing craft had a barrage balloon in tow. And these balloons were manned by two Negro boys. There purpose was to attach a bomb to the guide wire then anchor the balloons on the beach. This was to prevent low straffing planes from sweeping the beach. The bomb carried by the Negro boys caused the troops some unrest as they were carried on there person at all times. They were even used his pillows. What ever happened to the Negro boys or the bombs, I do not know, for there was no barrage balloon to anchor on the beach when we landed. Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Yes: every soldier in our unit should be thankful we had a soldier: a soldiers soldier like Gen. Teddy Roosevelt Jr. with us on D-Day. When I landed on the beach, there he was with his familiar cane, no steel helmet, waving the green troops off the beach. This heroic incident by Gen. Teddy Roosevelt Jr. must have saved many lives. He was a seasoned soldier with several beach landing to his credit. I can still see him today, parading up and down the beach. Please mention him in your book.
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Your name Nick A Scala
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? Waiting for D-Day at the marshalling area in Plymouth England can fill a book alone. Some ate soap which made them very sick. Some so called tough soldiers jumped the fence. One soldier shot himself in the hand cleaning is gun. One soldier broke his leg going up to the ramp aboard ship. I had to disarm one soldier, who pulled his pistol (45) in hopes to be court martialled. We had men of all caliber to crack up. Men; when under normal conditions were tops. Usually the soldier without athletic ability were vulnerable.
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Somewhere on the English channel: headed for France
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? About 2 miles inland.
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?
Maurice Casey - 1215 Maynard Waterloo Iowa He went from D-Day to Berlin Charles Dobry - 2017 Orleans Street Baltimore MD Winton Mayrose - 1036 41st Brooklyn 19 NY Paul Butz - Walnut St. Cressona, Pa Dick Brown - Napoleon Ohio Robert Daspit - 507 Willard Avenue Houma La Berlin Eye - Bx 397 Elkton VA. Cha. E. Goodenough - Lock Port NY Herman O. Mott 633 Egan St. Shreveport, La Joe Moses 2724 Spring Hollow Ave Roanoke Va Wm. O. Roush 57 Wigley Ave. Akron Ohio Chas. Schesley Milton, Pa saw action in Africa and Anzio with 1st Div.
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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8ii M £ I August 5,1958
Mr. Nick A, Scala Beaver Pennsylvania
Dear Mr, Scala:
A history of D-Day,June 6,1944, to coincide with the 15th anniversary 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 Department of the Array 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, invade their memories. Having learned of the part which you played in the invasion, we hope very much that you will be interested in the project and agree to help us.
During the next few months, both in this country and in Europe, Mr. Ryan will 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 individual file on each person who agrees to help us. Therefore, we hope that if you are interested in the project, you will complete the enclosed 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 crystallise some hazy memories and to indicate the sort of information which we are seeking.
I should be most grateful to know 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 per- sonal account. We look forward eagerly to your reply.
Sincerely yours,
Frances Ward Research Department
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