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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.