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FRISBY, Ralph Elmer 29th DIV Okla 8 TULSA BOX 6, #21
DOG GREEN
0830 OMAHA B Co. 116th INF. 29th DIVISION
2nd Lt.
GOT FIVE WOUNDS It felt like an electric shock everytime I was hit. I had the heel shot from my boot and I remember thinking that if that shock was my leg gone, I*d never make it. I was on the beach when a young doctor came along and asked: "Frisby, ;how are you?" I asked him if you were shot in the stomach and drank water would it run out. He told lme it sure would and I answered "In that case, I'm allright."
TALKS WITH TWO SOLDIERS One soldier was telling me he had lost his rife when there was every kind of weapon you wanted lying everywhere. Another soldier let his BAR go off on ship and shot a soldier in the leg. He asked me if he would be court martialed.
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[?Okmulgee?], OKLA. TULSA O - TE OKLA 8
For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day
Wounded 5 x on D-day Apparently requires interview in order to get anything
THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND 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? Ralph Elmer Frisby
What was your unit and division? B Co 116th Inf. 29th Div. 3rd Platoon Leader
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? I landed to the left of the high cliffs in the Vierville draw. Estimated time about 8:30 A.M.
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? 2nd Lt.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 25 years
Were you married at that time? Yes
What is your wife's name? Geraldine Frisby
Did you have any children at that time? Yes. Daughter born April 11th while division was still in England.
What do you do now? I now own and operate a grocery store and market in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? We had made several dry runs up and down the coast. I believe I knew we were part of invasion when we were restricted to Marshalling Area and no one was permitted to leave.
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? While crossing the Channel everbody was hoping and talking that this was not going to be another dry run. We passed the time mostly with some buddy in conversation or studing terrain maps.
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). The rumors were that we wouldn't have much trouble with the coast - that it was garrisoned with [crossed out] plane [end crossed out] [inserted] PRISONER [end inserted] troops who wouldn't fight.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Ralph Elmer Frisby
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? Many of my friends were killed in the landing. I saw it happen to many of them.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties ? Yes, I remember conversations before they were killed.
Were you wounded? Yes. I received 5 wounds during 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? Yes, I remeber that it felt like an electric shock evertime I was hit. I had the heel shot from my boot, and I remember thinking that if that shock was my leg gone, I would never make it.
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? I was on the beach when a young doctor came along and said, "Frisby, how are you? I asked him if you were shot in the stomach and drank water would it run out. He told me it sure would. and I answered him - "In that case I'm alright." The thing I remember as amusing now, was a soldier telling me he had lost his rifle when there was every kind of weapon you wanted lying everywhere. Another soldier let his [crossed out] BAR [end crossed out][inserted]BAR [end inserted]go off on the ship and shot a soldier in the leg. He asked me if he would be court martialed
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else ? I saw landing crafts beach and every man cut down. I saw men who were wounded and able to move - but the tide came in and drowned them.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Ralph Elmer Frisby
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? swimming back out in the Channel The stupid thing I saw was men swimming back out in the Channel
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On the ship
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? On the beach.
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? Out William B. Williams - Philadelphia Penn. Same Co.
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 Research, The Reader's Digest
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May 26, 1958
Dear Sir: I was in command of the third platoon B co.116th Infantry 29th Division, and made the invasion of Normandy. I believe I can help you in your book. If there is anything I can help on please contact me. I remember the Officers and have a few pictures of them, also names of men I saw on beach both wounded and dead. My landing Craft was under hevy fire when I left to the beach and same of my men were killed on the Craft.