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Harrisburg, PA. PA50 Suggest: Drophim (BLACIC)
For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day
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? John Philip Grissinger
What was your unit and division? Company L 116th Infantry 29th Division
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? June 6th landed on the beach between 8:30 and 9:00 AM, on the Dog Red section of Omaha Beach.
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? 2nd Lt.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? Age 25
Were you married at that time? yes
What is your wife's name? Virginia Houser Grissinger
Did you have any children at that time? Nancy Jean Grissinger
What do you do how? General Agency for Mutual Trust Life Insurance Company of Chicago, Illinois located in Harrisburg, Pa.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? February, 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? There were many incidences which took place during the crossing of the channel. As an officer I had certain dutues and responsibilities relating to both equipment and the men. We also spent much time conversing about our plan of attack and the other things which we were anticipating. I could give you much more detailed information, if desired.
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 were many rumors aboard ship relative to our landing. Gasoline and oil as well as the use of gas and other harassingtactics were mentioned. We were the victims of Axis Sally or Berlin Sally broadcasts and many threats were made by radio.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name John Philip Grissinger
Did you by any chanoe keep a diary of what happened to you that day? I did not keep a personal diary but can accurately recollect many happenings of the day.
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Many of my friends were killed and woulded during the day.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? I remember conversation with a friend of mine that had premonition of being killed on the beach. In fact, before he got off his landing boat, he gave me several invasion [crossed out] f [end crossed out][inserted] F [end inserted]ran[crossed out] k [end crossed out][inserted] c [end inserted] notes so that I had money to play poker as I had lost all of mine during the night.
Were you wounded? Yes on several different occasions but not on June 6th.
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? My injurues consisted of shrapnel as well as rifle wounds. To me, the shrapnel wounds were a burning pain while the rifle wounds were like a painful sting of a wasp.
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? There were many humorous incidences which seemed both funny at the time they happened and other which I look upon as being humorous now that the event Is over.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? To arrive at my mission I had to traverse quite an area of the beach. The one thing that struck me was the number of men that died while trying to fulfill the job that they were trained for.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name John P. Grissinger
In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity or self-relianoe; others do incredibly stupid things. Do you remember any examples of either?
I could recall detailed incidences of both types of events.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Aboard landing ship #APA 28 which I beleive in civilian life was known as Prince Carol.
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? About 500 yards beyond the town of Verville sur Mere.
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 I think that Mr. Charles East, Compayn Commander of Company L 116th Infantry 29 th Division can give you additional information. Mr. East is currently living in Staunton, Virginia.
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 Digeat
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20 Charlton Road Harrisburg, Pa. June 12, 1958
Miss Frances Ward Readers Digest 230 Park Avenue New York, New York
Dear Miss Ward:
Relative to the publication which is to be forthcoming by Cornelius Ryan on the history of D-Day, June 6, 1944, I wish to advise you that I was a member of the 116th infantry which was the assualt combat team for the 29th division. Our unit was on the Omaha Beach section and was a key group in the initial landing of infantry personnel. At the time of the landing I was a 2nd Lieutenant classed as a "boat team commander" and later was company commander- Company "L" 116th Infantry 29th Division.
The battalion under which we operated later became the lost battalion of World War 2 and I was company commader at the time "The Major of St. Lo", Major Howie was killed.
If you would like to have any information and verification of facts concerning this particular phase of operations, I am sure that I can be of help to you because in addition to my combat assignments I was also one of Col. Cannham's aides and couriers.
Sincerely yours #2 John P. Grissinger John P. Grissinger Capt. A.U.S. Ret.
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