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Tucson, Arizona For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day ARIZ 2 LL
THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR, PARTICIPATED IN«3 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? BOYCE AZBILL
What was your unit and division? L.C.I. (L) 94 U.S. Coast Guard.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Omaha Beach, 0600
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Quarter Master Second Class ( Q.M. 2/c)
What was your age on June 6, 1944? I was 22 years of Age
Were you married at that time? No.
What is your wife ’s name? Marilyn
Did you have any children at that time? No
That do you do now? I am manager of Branch Office and Yard for U.S. PIPE & SUPPLY CO. TUCSON , ARIZONA
I am also a member of Coast guard Reserve unit Ortaug 11_055 Phoenix, Arizona as a Q.M. 1
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? May 2, 1944 Do you remember, What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time? We were at general quarters doing our crossing of channel. We were talking about the Germans 88 that was to be zeroed on the beach. They sure had us zeroed in that day. They hit and sunk the L.C.I. 93 that was along side of us. We had 250 troops aboard that day. We were hit several times our self.
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).
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Your name BOYCE AZBILL
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No We were not allowed to keep one on a landing craft.
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Yes
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? No I am sorry but I cant remember
Were you wounded? No Thank God
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 was a veteran of several invasions In the Pacific before I went to Europe, But I was as surprised as the next man at the Germans strength. I felt like it was my first invasion all over again.
Do you remember seeing- or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? When the 88 were bouncing off the water one of the men remarked what aare they flying fish.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? The way the soldiers went down the ramp to almost sure death. Our unit was Given the Navy Commendation
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Your name BOYCE AZBILL
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 Remember that our crew did their duties better then we ever did in Practice.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Dover, England Loading troops.
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Omaha 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? JOHN H. TAIT 1209 E. 9th St. Tempe, Arizona [in margin] #1 have
P.S. I am sending you a news paper cliping from the Arizona Repulic of June 6, 19 54 Please Return clipping to me. P.P.S. I will be available for an interview at 2222 E. 21 St Or 802 W. Congress St During the Day , But not on Tuesdays as I am out of town then, also on thursday After noons. Tucson, Arizona
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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U. S. PIPE & SUPPLY CO. P I P E V A L V E S F I T T I N G S C A S I N G P. O. BOX 2384 - TELEPHONE ALpine 3-3163 502-510 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET PHOENIX, ARIZONA TELEPHONE 4-7252 802 WEST CONGRESS STREET TUCSON, ARIZONA
Address Reply To:
May 2, 1958 Miss Frances Ward % Readers Digest 230 Park Ave. New York, N. Y.
Dear Miss Ward,
In answering your request for Coast Guard veterans of the Normandie Invasion of June 6, 1944 to get in touch with you, we forward the following information: Boyce Azbill 575-028 QM 1/C USCG John Harry Tait Jr. 226-209 PhM 1/C USCG Mr. Azbill served aboard the LCI (L) 94 and Mr. Tait aboard the LCI (L) 349 as a part of the Coast Guard Flotillia taking part in this action; LCI (L) 94 on Omaha beach and 349 on Utah beach. The 94 made four round trips to UK receiving damages from enemy action on the second trip. The 349 made 9 round trips and received damages from enemy action on the night of June 6, 1944 and served a total of 43 days on primary control on French beaches. We are, at the present time, both serving in an active unit of the U.S.C.G.R. ORTUAG 11-055 in Phoenix, Arizona; Mr. Azbill as a QM1 and Mr. Tait as a HMC. Our home addresses are as follows: Boyce Azbill 2222 E. 21st St. P.O. Box 5805 I Tucson, Arizona Home phone - Main 3-5236 Office - Main 4-/252
John H. Tait 1209 w 9th St. Woodland 7-2640 Tempe, Arizona
Please feel free to call on us for any further information or photos that we may have that would aid you in any way. Sincerely, Bouce Azbill John Tait