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[*Nothing much LL Omaha NEB1*]
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? Martin Hugh Anderson
What was your unit and division? I was with the Amphibious Force -- That is- I was with the staff who was directing and was head of the Force. 11th and 12th Amphibious Force.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? [crossed out]Cherberg (misspelled)[end crossed out] Cherbourg , Approximately 0600 June 6th 1944
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? [crossed out]std 3/c[end crossed out] Stm1/c
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 18
Were you married at that time? No
What is your wife's name?
Did you have any children at that time? No
What do you do now? I Am An Air Policeman in the Air Force.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? After we left Plymouth England the night of June 5,1944. (early morning)
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? The Channel was Very rough And the ship tossed from Bow to stern And rolled from side to side. Every one wondered where we were going, and during the early morning we were told by Admiral John L. Hall over the public Address system. Some of us looked for maps to try and locate the place we were going.
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 much scuttlebut but I do remember hearing that we would not reach our destination because the German Navy would sink our ships and also the Germans could direct each (Buzz Bomb) to different ships.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Martin Hugh Anderson
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day?
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? I remember 2 sailors getting wounded by fragments of bursting shells over head.
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? This I do remember-- During My first invasion of Italy. During the night time firing, there Were several different color shells fired And to me it looked like a (4th) fourth of July celebration And I remember laughing. Later on I found that it wasn't the fourth of July And there wasn't Any celebration. It wasn't very funny then And each invasion After wards I was afraid and lots of nights I cried but I prayed. [*Italy*]
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? The first night of the invasion was Very clear after a previous light storm. My buddy and I were fully dressed sleeping in an (LCVP) Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel because it was very hot inside of the ship. Any way it seemed as though a German Plane had slipped through our screen And headed for the ships closer to the beach. It flew towards our ship And began firing before it released a mine or two. Any way the bullets from the plane hit less than a foot from our heads And we ran inside. As soon as we stepped inside the hatch, the bomb or mine exploded And to me it seemed as though that explosion raised the ship out of the water And after a few seconds it dropped back into the water. We were told later on that the bombs or mines exploded about 50 yards from the ship. [*?*]
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Martin Hugh Anderson
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? I prayed as many times as I had a chance to during each invasion. I tried hiding during the time we were being bombed at but later found out that if a bomb had hit the ship near that particular place it wouldn't have done any good to hide.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? If I remember correctly we were on our way to France.
Where were you at midnight on June 6,1944? At the beaches of Normandy France.
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? [*LL*] No I haven't seen Any of the sailors I served with since December 1945. Admiral (then capt) Von Heimburg is stationed here in Omaha,Nebraska At the Recruting Station at Ft. Omaha. However I heard he was going to retire in two months.
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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Personal: Were You There on 6 June 1944?
A history of D-Day, Sixth of June, 1944, is being prepared by Cornelius Ryan for publication in the READER'S DIGEST and in book form to mark the fifteenth anniversary of the event in 1959. Army, Airborne, Rangers, Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force per- sonnel who participated in the operation during the 24 hours be- ginning midnight the Fifth of June, 1944, are asked to write to Miss Frances Ward READER'S DIGEST 230 Park Ave., New York, N.Y. Prospective personal Interviews of selected individuals will be based upon letters received.