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[*Omaha*]
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? Harold Lewis Baier
What was your unit and division? 7th Naval Beach Battalion
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? I landed on Easy Red section of Omaha Beach, at about 9 A.M. I was supposed to land on Easy Green at H + 70 minutes but our LCI had trouble and had to pull off and we were transferred to LCM's for the landing [inserted]on D-Day.[end inserted]
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Ensign
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 24
Were you married at that time? no
What is your wife's name? Betty Christensen Baier
Did you have any children at that time? no
What do you do now? Biological Research for the army. (civilian)
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? March 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? We left England late in the afternoon of June 5, 1944. It was a rough crossing with very little sleep; with preparations of gear for the next day and then up on deck early for the first sight of the French coast. I crossed in a long convoy of LCI's and was aboard the LCI 90.
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). The rumors were mainly about the possible use of gas inasmuch as we had been issued 4 different gas masks within a very short period of time and the gas warfare instructions had been intensified.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name BAIER? Harold L.
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? Yes
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? One had a premonition in England that he would be killed.
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? While on the beach we had a gas alert and everyone who had a mask available put it on. After several minutes we noticed our Communications Officer was turning blue. He had forgotten to remove the waterproofing cap on the air inlet.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Russell W. Lucas, my signalman First Class, took up a position on the stern of a broached LCVP to signal to craft at sea. The concussion from artillary shells bursting near by blew him off his feet into the water. He did not hesitate to get important messages through even though it meant exposing himself to constant danger.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name BAIER, Harold L.
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? While working on the beach I took cover under an ammunition truck during one barrage.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Crossing the channel aboard the LCI 90.
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? On 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? Russell W. Lucas (unknown address)
Richard Kluge 3235 N. Newhall St. Milwaukee 11, Wisconsin
Sam C. Miller 19 Croton Road Strafford, Wayne, Penn.
Alvin W. Carpenter 101 N. 11th St. Sunbury, Penn.
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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5. WORLD WAR II VETERANS: The following Department of the Army Message 15812 is quoted for the information of interested personnel:
"A history of D-Day (6 June 1944) is being prepared by Cornelius Ryan for publication in the Reader's Digest and in book form to coincide with the 15th anniver- sary of the event in 1959. Personnel who participated personally in the channel cross- ing and landings which started midnight 5 June 1944, particularly those of the 1st, 4th, 29th, 90th Infantry Divisions, the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, and the 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions, plus attached elements are asked to write to Miss Frances Ward, Readers Digest, 230 Park Avenue, New York, N. Y. Prospective personal interviews of selected individuals will be based upon letters received. This project has Department of Defense cooperation”. (Adj-2143)