Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 006, folder 16: Thomas Spencer Dallas

DALLAS, Thomas Spencer Nev 2 Release 29th Div In D-DAY Book BOX 6, #16 Release to PG.

used [crossed out] Landing [illegible] [end crossed out] * Story of being shelled by Destroyer p. 54 "Lets' Go"

Ties with [?bearing?] Will use again

Dog Green

Dallas

For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day NEV - 2

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? Thomas Spencer Dallas

What was your unit and division? 1st [inserted] Co, [end inserted] Battalion, 116th Infantry, 29th Division

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Beach Sector DOG GREEN (Astride the valley leading to Vierville - sur - Mer) of Omaha Beach. 0710 hours (British Double Summertime) 6 June 1944.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Major

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 30

Were you married at that time ? Yes

What is your wife's name? Mildred Graham Dallas

Did you have any children at that time? Yes, one son

What do you do now? Army. Commanding Officer, Nevada Sector, XV US Army Corps (Res)

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? General indication - about December 1943 or January 1944. Specific indication - March 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? Uneventful insofar as enemy action was concerned. Personnel were tense, -- the fear of being afraid seemed to be the basis for tension. Conversations were, in large measure, further discussions of the specific details of landing and execution of missions immediately after landing. Everyone, generally, seemed genuinely concerned about carrying out his specific part of the task ahead. Off color stories were told occasionally and seemed to have a beneficial effect on the overall tension. One abandon ship drill was held. Religious services were held aboard ship; additionally, the Catholic Chaplain did a land office business in confessions and absolutions.

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). I do not recall any rumors aboard the ship I was on.

* (Story of being shelled by destroyer) P.54 "29 Let's Go"

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Thomas S. Dallas

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? Prohibited by Army Regulations.

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Over 300 members of my battalion were killed and approximately 225 wounded during the action on D-Day.

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties ? Yes.

What?

Were you wounded? Not on D-Day.

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? Not applicable.

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Yes. The most significant was that after rail-loading my control group into a British landing craft, while lowering away the davits became jammed leaving our craft suspended about half way between the rail and the water level. Repairing the davits took approximately 20 minutes. Our craft was hanging about 4 feet directly below the outlet of the forward port head. The head was in constant use during this 20 minute period and we received the entire discharge from the head. It seems funny now, but I must confess that at that time it seemed otherwise.

This [?dudes?] with a story in [illegible]

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Many. Heroic actions of surviving officers and men of the battalion were the order of the day; I recall many vividly and will be glad to furnish any details desired upon interview.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Thomas S. Dallas

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? Some, closely related to the heroic actions of personnel who survived the crossing of the beach. Improvisations by my assistant battalion surgeon in efforts to assist the wounded and employment of German weapons and equipment by the small groups in the fight were most significant.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Aboard the British Assault Transport, HMS Empire Javelin, enroute to Omaha Beach from the vicinity of the Isle of Wight.

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? About 1 1/2 miles west of Vierville-sur-Mer, France.

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? John L. Flora, Jr., Roanoke, Virginia (Battalion S-3) [inserted] we've written [end inserted]William B. Williams, Probable address: Remington Corporation, Hartford, Conn. (B Company officer, awarded DSC for actions on D-Day) [inserted] written [end inserted]Edward A. Gearing, Believed to be practicing dental surgery somewhere in Virginia. (A Company officer, awarded DSC for actions on D-Day) Elisha Nance, Bedford, Virginia. (A Company officer, seriously wounded on D-Day) Father John A. Kelley, Catholic Priest, present address unknown. (Battalion Chaplain) M/Sgt William Prestley, still on active duty, present address unknown. (B Company First Sergeant, awarded DSC for action on D-Day) [inserted] written [end inserted]Major General Charles D. W. Can[crossed out]s[end crossed out]ham, Active Army. (Regimental Commander, 116th Infantry on D-Day. Awarded DSC and British DSO for actions on D-Day) [inserted] interviewed [end inserted]Colonel Sidney V. Bingham, Jr., Active Army. (CO, 2d Battalion, 116th Infantry on D-Day, awarded DSC) Colonel Fred McManaway, Active Army. (Executive Officer, 2d Battalion, 116th Infantry on D-Day)

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 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 4/30/58 Frances Ward Research, The Reader’s Digest

HEADQUARTERS NEVADA SECTOR, XV US ARMY CORPS (Res) 2700 S. VIRGINIA STREET RENO, NEVADA

8 April 1958

Miss Frances Ward Reader's Digest 230 Park Avenue New York, New York

Dear Miss Ward:

Army News Service, News Release Number 111, dated 4 April 1958, indicated a desire that participants in the 6 June 1944 invasion of Normandy, France, contact your office.

I landed at Omaha Beach (DOG GREEN) at 0710 hours on 6 June 1944. My assignment at that time was Executive Officer of the 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry, 29th Infantry Division.

Yours truly, Thomas S. Dallas THOMAS S. DALLAS Lt Colonel, Infantry