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2.
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?
MY PAL WAS GRIPING ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT WAS HIS
BIRTHDAY. WE PULLED HIS LEG SOMETHING AWFUL.
HE WAS KILLED AS WE HIT THE BEACH

Were you wounded? YES

How were you wounded? MORTAR BOMB SPLINTERS

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?
BLOWN FORWARD ON MY FACE. NO STABBING PAIN BUT AN ACHE. IN
MY BACK. PUT IT DOWN TO THE BLAST. IT WAS NOT UNTIL SOME
HOURS AFTER SOMEONE SPOTTED BLOOD ON THE BACK OF MY TUNIC.
STILL NO PAIN. A MEDIC STRIPPED ME OFF AND PROCEEDED TO REMOVE
SPLINTERS WITH TWEEZERS, THEN IT STARTED HURTING. NOTHING SERIOUS, PRO-
NOUNCED FIT TO CARRY ON. NOT QUITE A BLIGHTY TOUCH
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though
it may not have seemed amusing at the time? Or anything unexpected or out- of-place?
FRENCH-CANADIANS 6 COMMANDO'S IN THE MAIN STREET OF ST. AUBIN CROUCHING
IN DOORWAYS. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TWO FRENCHMEN (CIVVIES) FIGHTING
LIKE CAT AND DOG WITH A BIG FAT FRENCH WOMAN STANDING OVER THEM
BELTING BOTH WITH A BIG SAUCEPAN. BULLETS AND SHELLS EVERYWHERE.
THEY DID NOT STOP UNIT WE DRAGGED THEM AWAY.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, that struck
you more than anything else?
PLENTY. HARD TO PICK OUT ANY PARTICULAR ONE.
PERHAPS 'GINGER' CUSICK A LOUD MOUTHED BRUMMY, NOT ALL THAT POPULAR.
LYING BADLY WOUNDED AT THE TOP OF THE LANDING RAMPS, ONE OR TWO
STANDING LOOKING AT HIM WITH OPEN MOUTHS "DON'T STAND THERE YOU
B - FOOLS, GET ASHORE AND GIVE 'EM HELL" OR WORD VERY MUCH LIKE THAT
PERHAPS OUR 2 I-C WITH SHRAPNEL FROM OUR NAVAL GUNS IN HIS STOMACH
LYING ON A STRETCHER SMILING "ANY MESSAGES FOR BACK HOME, BOYS". HE DIED
OF HIS WOUNDS.