Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 015, folder 08: Thomas Edwin Cassel

Task Force NEG O CASSEL, Thomas Edwin NY 56 NAVY

Material Returned 6/29/59 see special folder

Box 15, #8

[*N--N Hornell, New York NY56 LL Note: clipping (enclosed) to be returned*]

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? Thomas Edwin Cassel Navy Serial 608-51-27

What was your unit and division? Task Force, 122-3 Drew Salvage, Navy Fire Fighters

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Omaha Beach About 5 A.M. H-hour was at 6:30 A.M.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Specialist (F) 2nd. class

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 32 years of age

Were you married at that time? Yes

What is your wife's name? Marian Cassel

Did you have any children at that time? No

What do you do now? I have been a member of the Hornell, New York Fire Department since June 1, 1935 and at the present time hold the rank of Captain.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? On the afternoon of June 5, 1944. It is natural that we assumed as much upon our arrival in Scotland aboard the Queen Mary.

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? [*5 June*] I was aboard the last ship to clear the harbor of Weymouth, Eng. and the exact time we started to leave the harbor, or to get under- way was 12 minutes after 6 P.M.-----or in Navy time it would be 18:12 The name of the salvage tug was the ATR-2. The captain of the ship read Commander ln Chief Eisenhowers message to us late in the afternoon and we were told to keep a sharp lookout for German E boats as they were numerous in this area. All hands acted as [crossed out]ship[end crossed out] lookouts. The sea was above normal and slightly rough. Conversation I would say was kept to a minimum. We kept a sharp eye on the ships ahead of us as we thought maybe they would hit a mine. During the darkness of night other ships, of other convoys did pass us cross ways and we thought a collision would happen. This did not occur to my knowledge

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 had no rumors, but after talking to some Englishmen before the invasion this could have been set up to protect the English coast. Before leaving England we were paid four dollars in French money in case some French citizen gave us shelter if we had to abandon ship and they sheltered us from the Germans. This money was to my idea paid so that we could purchase food from them if this did happen.

[*2*]

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Thomas Edwin Cassel

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No----We were too busy.

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? No

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties?

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? On the stack of our tug was painted a picture of a large fat sailor which for years has appeared in cartoons of newspapers and magazines (I cannot remember his name) but I am certain the cartoon is drawn by a cartoonist whose name is HENDERSON. As the army boys passed our tug on their way to the beach they would take a look at the picture on the stack and smiles and some hearty laughs would appear on their faces. Could the sailors name on the stack be HUMPHREY? I always wondered if Mr. Henderson painted the picture on our stack. Also I always thought the army boys in the landing craft laughed to get the afraidness of the coming battle from their minds. We went to the aid of an LCT about 0800 who had hit a mine and had two tanks and two piper cub airplanes aboard,plus their crews. As our salvage boys could not aid her we made fast along the side to her and headed for the beach and then cut the lines. The men gave a wave plus a bigsmile I often wonder if they made it.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? The lowering of landing craft from the decks of larger ships full of army men standing shoulder to shoulder and when they hit the water (due to the rough sea) turn over and so call dump the army boys in the sea. You wanted to do something for them, but our aid [crossed out]would[end crossed out] was impossible as we could not maneuver close enough to them. We would have made matters worse as our tug would have hit them.

3 - for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Thomas Edwin Cassel

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? No Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Just as a guess I would say about twenty of twenty five miles off the coast of Normandy. Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? At battle stations waiting to pass ammunition as for weeks as soon as darkness arrived the jerry airplanes would arrive. They bombed the coastline instead of the xx 4,000 ships off the coast. 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? Inclosed is a list of the 100 fire fighters of our outfit which almost all of them were there. You can take your pick. Would you please return the clipping. It is a keep-sake of some of the finest men I have ever known. Most of these men are still in five depts of their respective cities. W.H. KEARNS - CHICAGO- ILL. TIM MANNING- MAMORONECK-N.Y. OR HARRISION N.J. EDWARD PYCZ- DETROIT- MICH. These 3 men were killed at a later date in France due to an airplane crash.

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

June 2, 1958 Hornell, N.Y. Dear Miss Clark: In regard to your request for information on the Normandy Invasion "D-Day" asked for in the American Legion magazine. I would endeavor to help you with a few small facts. I was aboard a sea going tug- the A.T.R. -2 and was connected with the Navy Fire Fighters. There were on hundred men + officers in the group assigned to the invasion and several of them on in the fire dept in New York City. Addresses of some upon request as they would be able to help you. I care for no publicity, but once again will aid in any way possible. Sincerely Thomas Cassel Capt. Fire Dept. #2 Hornell, New York Home address is: 429 Rose Ave Hornell, N.Y. -use this address