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McCUMBER, John Martin
Canadian 2nd Armd. Bgde.
BOX 24, #53
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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 QUESTION.
What is your full name? John Martin McCumber
What was your unit and division? Fort Garry Horse 2nd Armd Bgde
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? D [crossed out] 1[end crossed out] 1 first light
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Cpl
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 32 years old
Were you married at that time? Yes
What is your wife's name? Lenore Betsy McCumber
Did you have any children at that time? Two children
What do you do now? I am in the Cdn Army
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? A few days before.
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? The trip was cold and damp. There Wasn't to much conversation as the landing was already established. We passed the time trying to keep warm and cooking a meal, a can of stew with a fuze in the centre, light the fuze and it cooked.
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).
There was rumors on board about the way the landing was effected, that "C" Sqn FGH made a wet landing with DD tanks
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No
Were any of you friends killed or wounded either during landing or during the day? On D day some of my freinds where killed and Tpr Little from Selkirk Man was wounded. Sgt Bill Little from Selkirk was wounded also.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties: No
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name JM McCumber
Were you wounded? No
Do you remember what it was like--that is, do you remember whether you felt any pain or were so surprised that you felt nothing?
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time?
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else?
Sgt Little getting wounded, when he dismounted to help his brother when he was wounded.
In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity or self-reliance; others do incredibly stupid things. Do you remember any examples of either from D-Day?
Cpl Murphy got exited and drove off the LCT too fast and his tank sank.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944?
With TDR on my way back to the Regt from Hospital.
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944?
On my way to the coast of England.
Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours of D-day, June 6, as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to?
Jimmy Goodman West Selkirk Manitoba Harley Walterson Winnipeg Granald Gunter West Selkirk Man Jack Gunter West Selkirk Man
PLEASE LET US HAVE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE BOOK. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE YOUR STORY ON SEPARATE SHEETS IF WE HAVE NOT LEFT SUFFICIMT ROOM. FULL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WILL BE GIVEN IN A CHAPTER CALLED "WHERE THEY ARE NO": YOUR NAME AND VOCATION OR OCCUPATION WILL BE LISTED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
W.A. Milroy Lt.-Col. Director of Public Relations(Army) Cartier Square, Ottawa, Ontario