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[in margins] CR: If you're going get B/G T.R. as "H" char. this guy prime source. (?) Washington, D.C. V-E WASH DC-13 On Roosevelt sheet attach Roosevelt landed him. Has letter he wrote him [unclear] [end in margins] 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
1. What is your full name ? Leonard T. Schroeder, Jr.
2. What was your unit and division? Company "F," 5th Infantry Regt, 4th Inf Division
3. Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Utah Beach - Normandy - 0630 hours, 6 June 44. Utah Beach was the code name assigned to Beach Area for this operation - Located on the East coast of Normandy - East of STE-Mere EGLISE
4. What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Captain
5. What was your age on June 6, 1944? 24 years
6. Were you married at that time? Yes
7. What is your wife!s name? Margaret
8. Did you have any children at that time? Yes - son
9. What do you do now? Officer - US Army - Assigned Office of The Inspector General, Department of the Army
10. When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? When my company was ordered to move to the Marshalling Area - during the middle of May 1944 - After arrival in this area Briefings were conducted to inform all commanders of the forthcoming Invasion.
11. 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? See attached
12. 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). This rumor was aboard our ship as well - the soldiers just said "hell we will swim through, over, under or put the fire out just to get this damn war over.
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11. After embarkation was completed (my company embarked on the combat transport U.S.S. Barnett) I proceeded to check on my company, as to their location on board ship. The company was billeted by tactical unitsassault platoons. I checked to be sure each assault platoon had all their men and that all their combat equipment was present and operational. With four assault platoons to check out this took considerable time. After this there were boat drills, fire drills, etc., to be conducted and of course, we conducted embarkation drills - to be absolutely certain that everyone knew where to go, on which signal to move, and be certain that [insert] the comple] [end insert] assault units embarked in the right landing craft. My company being the first assault wave was deck loaded from various points around the mother ship. These drills took place from time to time during the crossing until after dark on 5 June. After mess, I along with the other company commanders were ordered to report to the Bn commander quarters for final briefing. (Bn C.O. was Lt Col Carlton 0. McNecley one of the finest soldiers I've ever served under). B/G Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. Asst Division Commander was present for this meeting. In fact we assembled in his quarters. The General was reading western stories when we arrived. The Bn commander reviewed the forthcoming operation and asked if all was set • All commanders reported everything was ready - all we wanted was to get going. The hour being near midnight when the meeting was over - we all wished each other well, shook hands and started to wonder back to our bunks to wait for the ordered to proceed to the boats. I remember, the old man putting his arm around my shoulders and saying, " Well 'Moose' (nickname) this is it - Give them Hell" - the colonel choked all up as I did and the only words that seem to come forth from me were - " Well Col, I'll see you on the Beach." After leaving, I was informed that General Roosevelt had decided to go ashore, with me in the LCVP assigned to my company headquarters. Needless to say this was quite an honor. Returning to my assigned cabin, two of my buddies, officers from the Bn, called on the chaplain and requested that he serve Holy Communion, which he did. This quiet individual service left me with a wonderful feeling as if someone else was present helping me to share this heavy load. It was a great and wonderful feeling. Leaving the chaplain I sat down and spent about 30 minutes writing a letter to my wife. I told her where I was, what I was about to do, how much I loved her - this letter is one of our family treasurers. After depositing this letter, it was time to get going, to participate in the greatest military operation of all times. I'm very proud to have done my small part and grateful so grateful to be able to tell about it. [in margin] Can we get letter [end in margin]
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 -
Your name L. T. Schroeder Jr.
13. Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No. A very strong directive had been issued that diaries were not to be kept.
14. Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Many of my men were killed and seriously wounded during the first few hours of the landing.
15. Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? Not in detail.
16. Were you wounded? Yes
17. 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? yes - I remember the pain and I can truthfully say I was surprised also, but it hurt like hell.
18. Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Yes. A group of the emeny surrender. They walked out with their hands up. These were the first we had ever seen. This happened immediately behind the sand dunes. They were armed to the tilt, individually, so I pulled out my trench knife and proceeded to cut all their web equipment from their bodies, one German soldier hit the panic button and ran toward the beach. I suppose half of the company put bullets into him, thinking he was trying to get away. He coundn't fall for all the bullets hitting him.
19. Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Nothing more than to say - that looking back over that historic day and to be able to say I was there with my company with some of the finest, bravest men ever, and having the honor of being called their leader.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 -
Your name L. T. Schroeder Jr.
20 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
21 Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Aboard the USS Barnett
22 Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? The 67th General Hospital, England
23 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? Colonel Carlton O. McNeiley, 1310 Forest View Avenue, Columbus, Georgia Have him
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 IP 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