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New Castle, INDIANA IND 8 Nothing
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? Mervin Cecil Heefner
What was your unit and division? Company B 115th Infantry 29th Division
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Omaha Beach 10:00 A M
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Private First Class
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? No
What do you do how? I'd rather not answer this.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? When the Southern Part of England was sealed off from outside communication about 28, May 1944. We were given final briefing and instructions,
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? Trip was uneventful, for the most part. I worked in the galley as cook's helper preparing breakfast.
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). one rumore was that it was just another training trip
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Mervin C. Heefner
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? Yes
Do you remember any conversations yon had with them before they became casualties? No
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?
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? NO
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? No
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Mervin C. Heefner
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? No.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On board L C I off the Coast of France
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Normandy, 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? No.
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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New Castle, Indiana June 2, 1958
Dear Miss Ward My name is Mervin C. Heefner. I live at 1816 C Avenue, New Castle, Indiana Phone 4195 W. Army Serial Number 20,341,027. Was with Company B, 115th Infantry Combat Team attached to the First Infantry Division on June 6, 1944 in the Normany Invasion. Beside a first hand account of what a 1st Class Private experienced on that day, I have a History of 29th Division, History of 115th Infantry Regiment, History of 110th Field Artillery. Also