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WIS 8 Waupaca Wis. (Cant find letter)
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. BLACK
What is your full name? FRANK ROBERT SMITH
What was your unit and division? M.P. PLAT., 4TH INF. DIV.
Where did you arrive in Normandy , and at what time? OMAHA BEACH at APPROXIMATELY 8:00 am -
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? PARIVATE FIRST CLASS
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 29 Were you married at that time? No What is your wife's name? DOROTHY M. SMITH Did you have any children at that time? No
What do you do now? VETERANS COUNTY SERVICE OFFICER WAUPACA COUNTY, WISCONSIN
When did you know that you were going to he part of the invasion? We thought we would be making a landing because we had several practice landings on the coast of England a month or so before the actual landing in France.
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 remember it was quite rough on the channel as we bounced around in the small boats. I believe we were out in the channel for 2 or 3 days. As I remember, I think we played cards, did a lot of reading and just laid around sleeping, talking, etc. The landing was scheduled for June 5 but was postponed for 24 hours because of rough weather. It was announced over P.A. system that operations had been postponed for 24 hours. I don't believe we slept much.
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). for the next 24 hours because of the excitement. We could see boats of all kinds and sizes. The Navy was shelling the beach for several hours before the landing and we could feel the concussion of the guns even if they were several thousand yards from us. I believe the planes stailing dropping troops sometime after midnight and it seemed like a continuous roar overhead for several hours. I don't recall any specific rumors but we did hear that the only troops down in the Cherburg Peninsula were German National Guards on [illegible].
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Frank R Smith
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? I don't believe so.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? No
Were you wounded? No
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?
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? When we landed it seemed real quiet and no activity on shore. We were to direct the troops and to keep the beach clear of vehicles. We were told to move off shore a few hundred yards and to dig a fox hole, which we did. I remember seeing dead German soldiers near a German "Pill box" and also some dead American soldiers. Some of our wounded "paratroopers" were put in our landing barge and taken back to England. We had been ashore only a short time when the German opened up with their "88s". We got in our fox holes and were kept there for about an hour I believe, the fox holes were a lot deeper too by the time the shelling was over. The reason for the the "88's" was that there were several "waves" if troops, supplies, gasoline etc that were coming ashore.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Frank R Smith
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? Somewhere on the English Channel
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? On the Cherbourg Peninsula a few 1000yds from shore.
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 ? Mr Gordon W. Smyder 19 Bech St Fort Plum, New York
PLEASE LET US HAVE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE CAN WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE YOUR INCLUDE YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE BOOK. FULL STORY ON SEPARATE SHEETS IF WE HAVE NOT LEFT SUFFICIENT ROOM. 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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July 18, 1958
Mr. Frank R. Smith Iola Wisconsin
Dear Mr. Smith:
Thank you very much for your recent letter and for your willingness to help us with Cornelius Ryan's book about D-Day.
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 so many people, we have found it necessary to develop an individual file on each person who agrees to help us. Therefore, we hope 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 crystallize 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. We want very much to tell the story of your unit, and in order to do that we need the personal accounts of the mm who were there. We particularly look forward to your reply.
Sincerely yours,
Frances Ward Research Department
FW:LL Enclosure