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E V-1 Co A (Aln) If School Det Ft. Benning Georgia Ft. BEINNING (COLUMBUS) GA 31
For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-day LL* Reached him thru Elman
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 ? Grady M. Vickery (M/Sgt.) What was your unit and division ? Company I, 8th Inf Regt, 4th Div Where did you arrive in Normandy , and at what time? Utah Beach at 600 hrsWhat was your rank on^June 6, 1944? T/sgt (Plat Sqt) What was your age on June 6 , 1944? 21 tyrs. Were you married at that time ? YES What is your wife's name ? Evelyn Did you have any children at that time? YES What do you do now? Instructor at Basic Airborne School at Fort Benning GAWhen did you know you were going to be part the the invasion? We had good idea from Feb 44 on to D-Day. We practive the invasion continually. We got a briefing in the Marsha area few days before D-Day officially. What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? Do oyu remember, for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time ? Good crossing. I remember getting [inserted] fresh [end inserted] milk and ice cream from the navy. The time went by very fast. Our discussion was, after organiza in June 1940 it was time we were going into combat We knew we has [inserted] a [end inserted] good outfit- We had train for thisfor over 4 1/2 yrs. It was not doubt in every body mind that we would so outstanding job because everybo said & we knew we were good. 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), No rumors - after Gen "Ike" made the announce we knew we were going in-nothing could stop us.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Grady M Vickery
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No- to busy
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Yes-both wounded and killed.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? Yes- These 2 men from 1941 until we landed were in my plat- I was their plat Sgt- They were outstanding field sold but in garison was getting into trouble-Before we left England they got drunk and I put them to bed, they were muttering, wait till we go into combat we are going to kill you- So the Navy drop us 150 yds from the beach and both of these [?run?] were BAR men - They fell into bomb crater an went over their heads in water but I rescue both of them. I said do (below)
Were you wounded? Yes - D+4
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? I got shrapnel would and it felt very hot and after training all those years i just couldn't believe I was wounded.
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? On D-Day we receive some sniper fire from telephone pole- one of the men said "Dan they didn't teach is this." They [inserted] actuallt [end inserted] forgot something - at the time D day down in the ditch I was- I thought it was very funny after taking every training in the book - and I remember I recommend in England that we hadn't receive any training on what to do in case sniper fire on you and how to find them tc- still we didn't get any tng on this-
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Just as soon I my left foot hit the beach a shell landed almost where my other foot would have landed- But the shell was dud. We ran in lots of duds the 1st day- leter we found out they had sawdus in them with little notes such as this "This is all we can do"- I wish I could find that person or persons and shake their hands.
[continued with arrow] you still want to kill me and both of them look at me very sheepishly and said, " aw serg have heart you know we worship you" - and most of the day their BAR's lay down the law- They were good - They were my trouble boys but I know they save my life that first daymost of the [?mo???] I was kidding them but they were very serious & would say before the day is over we will
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Your name Grady M Vickery
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? We had train for long period of time - so people thought we were burn out - all our leaders including myself was very cool, calm and we felt we had done this all the time and everything went off perfect for my unit- [crossed out]I remember myself and some of the Reglt staff[end crossed out] My platoon was advance Guard [unclear] we got in[unclear] And I remember Col. James A VanFleet (our Reglt C.O) waving his 45 and said go Sgt go - at the time I was forward with the 2 scouts and brother we really moving out down this road.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Somewhere in the English Channel going in toward Utah beach.
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? We had move in about 10 miles or so- Dig in road jet and apple orchid.
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? Capt Sam Norris Co A (Aln) Inf Ch Det-Ft. Benning Ga Mr Alva Norris} Both work at Norris Body shop Mr Wilbur Vest} in Columbus Ga (That is their address) All of us were in same company and a few of the original men that activated I Co. 8th Inf 4th Div June 1940 at Ft Benning- if you are interest I can have all these people see & talk to you when you come to Ft Benning next month-if you can let me know in time, place etc, I can have these people for you. There is one more the old group here M/Sgt Joe Lynch. I can find him for you also.
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