Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 017, folder 50: Edward Clare Dunn

D DAY Book Release DUNN, Edward Clare

[illegible] [illegible] Recon. Kan 3

Material returned 6/29/59 see special folder

Release to PG

Box 17, #50

130 -- U.S = lost 17 men [?partly?] on island = 3:30 = RD - 1944 = 3 weeks before the invasion few stray [illegible]

2 isles Isle du Large -- Isle de Terre -- both Napoleonic forts. very narrow beach one place on each island H we could land. 2 men Rubber boats went in to mark beaches - H assault

Iles de Marcouf -1 Ft Leavenworth LL KAN 3

for Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day

THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR, PARTICIPATED IN 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? Edward Clare Dunn What was your unit and division? (Unit & Div.) 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mecz., (part of 4th Cavalry Group, Mecz., VII Corps, First U.S. Army). Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? On the Iles de Marcouf, 4000 yards off shore from Utah Beach at H minus 2 hours, 6 June 1944.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Lt Colonel What was your age on June 6, 1944? 31 Were you married at that time? Yes What is your wife's name? Jane Ellen Dunn Did you have any children at that time? Yes. Two. Peter, then two years old and Michael, one month old.

What do you do now? Member of the Staff & Faculty, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? In early May, 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? Extremely rough. I crossed in a sub-chaser, U.S. Navy's Patrol Craft 484 (PC - 484). I was seasick for the first time in my life, and extremely grateful for the 24-hour postponement of D-day. Fortunately only my Hq Detachment aboard the PC - 484. The bulk of my command were more comfortably situated on board a Royal British Navy Transport for the crossing. I don't remember any conversations during the crossing. I do remember the kindness of the Navy skipper and crew in helping me make a fast recovery from the horrible "mal de mer."

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). Since we were proceeding ahead of the main invasion fleet, through waters not yet swept for mines, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx there were rumors of mines. There were also rumors that the Germans had located the entire invasion force and sitting on the beaches waiting for us.

On [illegible] Isle de Large mined & booby trapped across entrance to fort. Vaughan

one or two hit by straffing

Confusion

Expected find Germans few days before there was smoke

Sgt Onker 1st killed 1st Lt Barney Toms } wounded 2nd Lt Geo. Thomas Helped carry back to boat. Threat was to assault force [illegible] prt flanking fire

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Edward Clare Dunn

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? No 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 ? Not applicable Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Yes. The assault boat in which I landed was attacked and strafed by German aircraft just before the landing. Although still seaworthy, the craft was made leaky by several bullet holes, and was steadily shipping water. During the excitement of the landing, one member of our two -man British Navy crew of this small craft sat calmly in the stern under his World War I type "tin hat," manning a hand pump which was taking water out of the boat at approximately half the rate it was coming in. With British phlegm, he even took time to re-light a damp cigarette. As I watched my men unload, I thought I detected a slight look of relief on his face. But he kept pumping steadily and calmly as the craft withdrew from the beach, and I thought "There'll always be an England." /good Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? I recall Lt George Thomas who led the first being evacuated, badly wounded, just as I came ashore, and his words: "Good luck, Colonel. I'll be back." (He was back, to win the DSC and several more .Purple Hearts later in the action in Europe). I recall Captain Wales Vaughan, in charge of my detachment on the Ile du Large, fearlessly disarming a 500 Kilogram bomb which the Germans had booby- trapped inside the old fort on the island.

I recall my radio operator Sergeant Richard C. Johnson sending our first message back to Hq VII Corps aboard ship: "Mission Accomplished." / what time?