Page 2

N - E
Germania, PA.
LL
(Communications
ship to
shore)
PA 26

John Lewis Gillette
Germania, Pennsylvania
July 14, 1958

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 GOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

What Is your full name ?
John Lewis Gillette

What was your unit and division ?
U.S. Navy
Service No. 608-6023
Second Beach Battalion
Company C Platoon 7
% Fleet Post Office
New York City, New York

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ?
We landed on Utah Beach head between 6 and 6:30 A.M. June 6, 1944

What was your rank on June 6, 1944 ?
Signalman Third Class

What was your age on June 6, 1944 ? Age 22

Were you married at that time ? No
What is your wife’s name ? No
Did you have any children at that time ? No
What do you do now ? Instructor in the Public Schools in New York State
Driver Education Instructor
Spencerport Central School, Spencerport, New York
Wheatland-Chili Central School, Scottsville, N.Y.
Teacher

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion ?
I was attached to the Battalion around April 1944. A few weeks
previous to the invasion we were given orders to water-proof all equ
ipment-- issued new equipment etc. About 1 week before the invasion
our officers held an important meeting in a quanset hut. It was at
this meeting I knew the invasion was close at hand. Lt. Potter and
Lt. Robert Crane asked for volunteers to go with them on a reconnaiss
ance for our company. No one volunteered. These boys had gone thru
Hell -- Sicily-Salerano etc. After each invasion they heard rumors-