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HAYNIE, Ernest Ward 29th DIV Va 11 RICHMOND BOX 6, #26
Call from Richmond
[?Dead?]
Dog Red 0630 OMAHA 116th Inf. 29th DIVISION
TWO HORROR STORIES "I remember an American Seebee with blood running from his mouth-- in a semi-conscious condition--wanting to beat the whole German Army with two hand grenades."
"I landed under a cliff with Battalion Hdqtrs. Co. On the cliff was a German gun firing at our Navy. Our Navy in return fired back. They had a short round that hit the cliff and sent tons of rock and dirt down on lus, wounding and hurting many. To keep the navy from firng again, the Chaplain made a Red Cross sign out of human blood and held it up."
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Warsaw O - TE VA 11
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.
What is your full name? ERNEST WARD HAYNIE
What was your unit and division? 116th INF. 29th DIVISION
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? OMAHA BEACH AT 6.30 A.M. Our boat landed to the right of Red Beach under cliff. 100 yds to our left was road to [crossed out]VIRVILLE - SUR - MIR, FRENCH [end crossed out] RESORT [inserted] Le Moulins? [end inserted]
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Buck Sgt. Im Infantry
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 33
Were you married at that time? no
What is your wife's name?
Did you have any children at that time?
What do you do now? Clerk in store carrying automative parts and Marine Engines. My address WARSAW, VA.
When did you know that vou were going to be part of the invasion? In 1943 while stationed in Plymouth, England
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 storm of June 5, 1944 hadn't quite ceased but being on troop ship it wasn't too rough. We received greetings from Gen. "Ike", and his prayer for our safety. No one slept that night, but there was a lot of silence. Everyone was scared stiff. Some said, they knew they would never live to put their feet on French soil since the odds were so great.
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). We were told as we left Weymouth, England if anything happened beforemid night it was every man for himself. If anything happened after mid-night they would try to pick us up some way as we would be near the French Coast. Yes, they spoke of burning gas on the water and the use of Poisonous Gas.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Ernest Ward Haynie
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No. Being an assault troop there was notime for writing. Then too we were not allowed to keep one.
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Yes, many were killed and wounded. Some of them were my best friends.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? No, as I was from Regimental Hdg. Company and went ashore with Battalion Hdg., Company.
Were you wounded? no
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?
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? An american Seabee with blood running from his mouth ia a semi-conscious mid wanting to beat the whole German army with two hand grenade.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? As I have said before I landed under a Cliff with Battalion Hdg. Company. On the Cliff was a german gun firing at our Navy. Our Navy in return fired at the Germans. They had a short round to hit the Cliff sending tons of rock and dirt down on us wounding many and buring many. To keep our Navy from firing again the chaplain made a Red Cross sign out of human blood and held it up.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Ernest Ward Haynie
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? Middle England Channel
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Roughly, 3000 yds. off Omaha Beach in wooded area behind village of vir ville - sur mir
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? James D. SINK Captain June 6, 1944 INF. 2816 Woodlawn ave SW Roanoke, Va. [?Have?] we him? have Gordon MacDonald Master Sgt. June 6, 1944 INF. 3217 Lawndale Road SW Roanoke, Va. John G. Lomie Cpl. June 6, 1944 INF. Quarry, Virginia The above names including mine were members of the 116th Infantry.
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.
I am available for interview any day of week except sunday from 8.00 AM to 5.00 PM. Address Warsaw, Va. Telephone Edgewater 36400
Cornelius Ryan
Frances Ward Research, The Reader's Digest
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Mr. WARD HAYNIE Lively, Va. April 16, 1958
Miss Frances Ward Readers Digest 230 Park Ave New York, N.Y.
Dear Miss Ward, It was a grand pleasure to learn a book is being published on the 29th Division and the part it played in the World War II. I am one of a few left of the original 116th Infantry the Assault Regiment of the 29th Division on D-Day, H-Hour.