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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? HERVEY ALDRICH TRIBOLET, Col. U.S.S. Ret'd
What was our unit and division? 22nd Inf. 4th Div. (Commanding Officer)
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Utah Beach, about 630 730 AM June 6th 1944
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Colonel Inf. U.S.A.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 50 yr
Were you married at that time? Yes
What is your wife^s. name? Eloise W. Tribolet
Did you have any children at that time? yes, son Robert W.
What do you do now? Retired, physical disability
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? I believe sometime in February, 1944
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? Crossed channel on LCT with part of my staff and some vehicles. First attempt a crossing turned back to I believe Portsmouth Harbor. From then direct to Utah Beach. Ships jammed in harbor fortunately no German aerial attack. Main difficulty getting [unclear, 4 words] from gully of LCT.
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). I don't remember too many rumors. Naturally [unclear] [unclear] about mines, underwater obstacles and the slope of the beach and tide. The sea wall also had to be breached to allow the vehicles to get off the beach. The depth of the flooded area back of the beach also created an [last line cut off]
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Your name HERVEY A. TRIBOLET
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No, as I remember ordered not to.
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Yes. Capt. Neely - killed by patrol 101st Airborne other[?]
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 you so surprised that you felt nothing?
Do you remember seeing- or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Our recognition signal with 101st Airborne was yellow flag or smoke. The truth was we learned later yellow smoke called[?] down German artillery fire. Their artillery signal.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? General Roosevelt on the beach without even a helmet briefing man as to the situation at the time with changes that had to be made due to landing several thousand yards from plan expected.
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Your name HERVEY A. TRIBOLET
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? Bravery of men of 101st Airborne. They had some badly wounded men. We had captured a German truck and around 50-60 prisoners. The only road to the beach was still partly held by the Germans Loaded the truck with the wounded, March the prisoners in front and with a section of M P's and mortars behind. They got through to the beach.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Aboard LCT enroute
"Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? [unclear] a sunken road just off across roads several miles from the beach. Among the [Li???e] rows.
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? Col. THOMAS KENAN-4421 Que ST N.W. Washington DC " EARL E. EDWARDS 5608 5th Rd. South, Arlington 4, Virginia GEN. JOHN F. RUGGLES, FT. BENNING, VA. MR. (then Lt. Col.) ARTHUR S. TEAGUE, 201 REX, Philadelphia 18, Pennsylvania
PLEASE LET US HAVE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE GAN INCLUDE YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE BOOK. VIE 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 >3 Digest
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202 Norfolk St. Bangor, Maine March 16, 1958
Mr. Cornelius Ryan The Reader's Digest Research Department 230 Park Ave. New York 17 NY
Dear Mr. Ryan: (attn Frances Ward)
I expect to be here in Bangor indefinitely due to the illness of my wife mother and sister. My recollections of "D" day are rather hazy but if I can be of any assistance to you I most certainly will be glad to do anything I can to help you in your research.
Sincerely Hervey A. Tribolet Col. U.S.A. Ret'd.