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[*not much CR read NY 32 LL*]
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? Peter Viscardi
What was your unit and division? 4th Div. 8th inf. Co. G.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Normandy Beach at dusk.
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? P.V.T.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 32 years
Were you married at that time? Yes
What is your wife's name? Since remairred present Wife Louise Viscardi
Did you have any children at that time? No.
What do you do now? Taxi Driver
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? while in liverpool England we were told that we were going to we were told this the day before the Invasion
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? Everything was very quiet no body had much to say & near the end of the crossing all of our Buddies shook hands & expressed the hope that we should all be together again after the invasion.
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). We were told that there was oil in the water. charged Barbed wire & Land Mines
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name PETER VISCARDI
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? At that time I was a man by myself so was every one else-
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? No.
Were you wounded? No. I was wounded later at the Battle of St. Lo.
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? I 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? When making the Invasion I was told to jump overboard fully equipped & I didn't even know how to swim doing so I left all of my equipment on the ship & jumped over board. reaching the Beach head I picked up any equipment I could salvage from the many dead American soldiers lying on the Beach.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? The one thing that struck me was when I jumped overboard & saw all the dead soldiers lying in the water I wondered when & if I would be there with them
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name PETER VISCARDI
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?
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? still in Liverpool, Eng.
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? I was still on Normandy Beach
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?
[*#1 LL*] VICTOR BUFF 1033 2nd AVE NY. 18 N.Y.
If at any time you want an interview with me please call & make arrangements call at MU- 7-8673 after 11. AM. Sincerely Peter Viscardi
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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Quest Ret
#2 May 23.1958
My Dear Miss Ward:
I saw your notice in the American Legion Magazine in regards to wanting information about the D-Day Invasion of Normandy Beach. I made the the Invasion with the 4th Inf. Division 8 Inf. Co. G. in the second wave. if you are intrested please contact me
Sincerely
Peter Viscardi 817 2nd ave. N.Y. 17 N.Y.