Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 006, folder 07: Leroy A. Bassett

BASSETT, Leroy A. 29th DIV N Dak 6 Box 6, #7

Fargo, N.D. N DAK 6

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. Medics O GREEN

What is your full name? BASSETT, Leroy A.

What was your unit and division? Med Det. 1st Bn 115th Inf, 29th Div.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Omaha Beach - 2nd Wave of the Invasion - 9:30 AM

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Pvt.

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 19 yrs old.

Were you married at that time? No

What is your wife's name? - - - Now: Jean Ann

Did you have any children at that time? No

What do you do now? Claims Examiner - Veterans Administration

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? When we arrived in England, they hinted that we were to be assigned in units for an invasion force, but we were formally advised about three weeks before the invasion.

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 were on a LCI( landing craft, inf.) which held about men. Most of the time we repacked our supplies and equipment. Some of the time we were on the deck where they had a record player and played records most of thettime. We were on the LCI about 4 to 5 days before the invasion. I remember one 1st Lt. that always played only one record "In the garden of Roses by the River". During the actual crossing of the channel, I not only used my "heavebag", but borrowed two others. The crossing was made at night so most men on our shipwere sleeping.

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). [crossed out] Since [end crossed out] We understood that there would be no forces in the area which we were to land, and that by the time the second wave got there, the area would be cleared up to one mile inward to a little town.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 -

Your name BASSETT, Leroy A.

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? Our Battalion Commander was killed, and so that the troops would not know of this(due to possible moral problem) a litter squad of 4 of us carried his body 5 miles back to the beach. On the way back, we got caught in sniper fire.

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they beoame casualties? We were so buisy and[crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] kindof edgy that day, it is hard to remember. Although at one time we had 6 to 10 [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] qts of plasma hanging from one tree for wounded.

Were you wounded? Yes on July 12, 1944

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? I just felt numb all over. I was hit on the 9th shell out of 12 or 15 which was shot at us. After being hit, I just sat there in a daze watching the rest of the shells explode. This was something I think I will never forget. When the firing was stoped, I tried to walk, but my leg seemed like it was not there and would not hold me up. I then tried to make a crutch out [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out]of a tree branch but this would not work either. Two inf. men. finally came along and carried me to a safe, place until I was picked up by a litter squad.

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time?

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? 1. I will always remember, the morning of the invasion before we landed, I slipped up on deck of the ship. There was a Lt. there also. As far as you could see, were ships. It was more ships than one could start to count and the Lt. told me to take a good look before I had to go back down in the ships hold as never again in my lifetime would I see so many ships or such an [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] occasion as this again. This stuck with me because this Lt. was killed that very day.

2. We were to land with the second wave at 9 :30 AM on Omaha Beach. The first wave was supposed to have been 4 miles in when we arrived. Due to the extensive fighting, they were still on the beach when we arrived. Since we were green at fighting and young, thsight of the wounded, and the dead will always remain with you. There was only one path up the hill for all the ships unloading, just one man wide. Two guys, in order to get off the beach, ran across a small field to get up the hill, and went about 5 feet and stepped on a mine, which killed them both. Another shell landed under one of the ships coming in to unload and the whole ship seemed to come apart at the bottom and sink.

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Your name

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?

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On ships going tward France .

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? One to two miles in and in an area one to 5 miles in length with the fighting. About midnight I believe we had just been pushed out of a field. I remember this as we had so many wounded to carry back, we had to leave an aidman who was hit in the head, and only had a few minutes to evacuate the entire group.

Do you know of anybody else who landed within those 24 hours (midnight June 5 to midnight June 6) as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to? I have kindof lost contact with the buddies who landed with me.

I am planning to be with the North Dakota group at the Legion Convention in Chicago in September, I believe at the Palmer House Hotel. If Mr. Ryan is there, I would be [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] glad to talk with him.

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 HOT LEFT SUFFICIENT ROOM. FULL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WILL BE GIVEN IN A CHAPTER CALLED "WHERE THEY ARE NOW; YOUR NAME AND VOCATION OR OCCUPATION WILL BE LISTED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

Cornelius Ryan

Frances Ward Research, The Reader's Digest

(OVER)

To actually sit down and write everything is hard to do. There are lots of events and items that you could talk about, but put everything down in black and white is quite a task.