Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 015, folder 10: William S. Cook

2nd Beach, Bn US Navy COOK, William S. O N Dak 2

Box 15, #10

Flasher, N. Dakota LL N DAK 2

For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR, PARACHUTED 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? Wm S Cook What was your unit and division? 2nd Beach Battalion -U.S.Navy

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? on Omaha beach, about 12:00 noon June 6th What was your rank on June 6, 1944? 3rd class signalman 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?

What do you do now? manager grain elevator, Flasher, N.D. available for interview anytime

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? for about 3 months before for sure June 2nd

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 trip was rough everyone was tense, tried singing- playing cards but nothing eased the tension. 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 olanned to set it afire when the troops came in). one rumor was that the Germans had put TNT on small sticks at the bottom where we was to wade in and of course this was sure death

- for Cornelius Ryan 2Your name Wm S Cook

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? wounded Do you remember any conversations you had with them before casualties? talked to some- they talked about home, etc. anything to keep busy

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 bearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? quite a few things was in foxhole with second Lt. in army and he used up two sacks tobacco trying to roll one^cigarette while Germans was bombing beach and laying 88's into the beach

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? one Ranger with flame thrower walked up to cement pill box and routed out Germans who was mowing the boys down

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Wm S Cook

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 ? was looking out too myself first couple days but saw a plane shot down in minefield and one soldier walked out to it or rather started to and stepped on Mine. This field was marked too. Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? in English Channel 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 ?

Herbert Harly Davis- Denver, Colorado. Remember most names but most lived in big cities and have lost their address.

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 YOURSTORY 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

One thing I recall clearly was the first man I saw on the beach was lying there.I had to jump over him and as I ddid [crossed out]mos[end crossed out] saw that most of his face was shot away.You start thinking about your own neck about that time.

The closest I came to getting injured was one night,about June I2th me and three other guys was on communications duty with a signal light and other stuff when they bombed us and it threw all us guys to the ground and the other fellows fell on top of me and started digging a foxhole with their hands and threw my face and eyes so full of sand that I couldn't see for a week.

A funny incident was two other men and me went inland one day and the army mp's locked us up in a stockade with the german prisoners and it took us three hours to convince them that we were Americans.

I have never liked cheese since I left France because all I had to eat for thirty days was three small cans of cheese a day.

I could go on for many pages on things that happened,like how the German planes would wait until almost sundown and then come in from the sun and straff the beach and lay a bomb or two. They would fly real low and make a direct hit on the supply ships anchored in close to the beach and everything would go up,but you will hear from a lot of the fellows so this is enough.Was glad to be of help.

WMS Cook Box 147 Flasher ND.