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Glen Allen, Va.
VA [crossed out] O - TE [end crossed out]
VA - 2
0-1

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 FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

What is your full name?
Bernard J. Morecock Jr. ASN 20366675, Sgt.

What was your unit and division?
Battery "A" 111th FA BN, 29th. Div.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time?
Easy Green was our sector of Omaha Beach. The name of the villiage was Les Molins
Draw.
We anchored 11,000 yds off of the baech, app. 2'oclock AM 6 June 1944, H hour
being at 6 O'clock AM

What was your rank on June 6, 1944?
Sgt. Chief of 1O5MM Howitzer Section.

What was your age on June 6, 1944?
24 yrs of Age

Were you married at that time?
No

What is your wife's name?
Edith Hoy Morecock present. ( I have something very [crossed out]en[end crossed out] [inserted]in[end inserted]tresting about her, see end of
[crossed out] letter [end crossed out] [inserted] questionnaire [end inserted]

Did you have any children at that time?
No

What do you do now?
I am now employed by the Virginia National Guard. My title is " Adminstrative
Supply Tech."

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?
We All knew that we were going to fight the war in Europe, but as for the intial
landing party, we found out about Oct. 1943. The 1st Div. returned to England
from the Africaian Campain. That was it. The 16th and 116th RCT's were picked.

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?
We made a fake landing on the 5th. June 1944, but returned to Portland Bill England.
On the eving of the 5th. of June we started out for the intial landing. Miss Ward!!
I was sea sick. The channel was rough. The conversation was about home, trading
different articles, playing cards singing and telling jokes. It was a Seabee with
us who[crossed out]m[end crossed out] was from Ark., we called him Arky, what a charter he was.He started trading
from a fountian pen and ended up with a 17 jewel watch.
From all our training that we had we all was glad to get started in combat. None of of
knew what it would be like to see your buddy killed, [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] slaughtered.You can not
dig a fox hole in the water.
good
on Omaha

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).
We were briefed on what to look out for, we knew all the gun emplacements and
how to flank them. Our most warry was hoping the 9th Air force could place the
bombs where they were needed most. All I can say is not so good. A good bomb
grater could have saved a lot of men.
As for the Germans pouring gasoline on the water it did no good at all, as the
tide was rising very fast and all the gasoline was on shore.
On the LST that I was on we had the former Middle weight champion " Lew Ambers".
He was still champ, as far as I am concern.
There was one hard thing the men did not like including myself, "general quarters".
There was a german PT boat in our vicinty so general quarters was given. That is
when you are locked up in your assigned quarters and stay there until the all
clear. There is no taking then, " sit, look and wait.