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So. Gate, CALIF.
For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day CAL 30 This guy in French at St. Laurent shelled by our Navy Quite articulate
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? PAUL KANAREK
What was your unit and division? Co. H, 2nd BTN. 115TH INF. REG., 2.9TH DIV.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? OMAHA BEACH, NEAR ST. LAURENT, AT 10:30 A.M. JUNE 6, 1944
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? SERGEANT
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 27
Were you married at that time?
What is your wife's name?
Did you have any children at that time? NO
What do you do now? PROCEPURSS ANALYST U.S. STEEL CORP., CONSOLIDATED WESTERN STEEL DIV. LOS ANGELES, CALIF.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? WE HAD BEEN TRAINING ON AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS IN ENGLAND BUT I BELIEVE IT WASN'T UNTIL 2 MONTHS BEFORE D-DAY THAT WE KNEW.
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 14 YEARS HAVE DIMMED MANY MEMORIES, BUT THE DEEPEST IMPRESSION MADE ON ME DURING THE CROSSING WAS ON THE EVENING BEFORE D-DAY. THE SUN HAD SET. THE SKY WAS BLACK AND OMINOUS. AS FAR AS ONE COULD SEE IN THE HALF DARKNESS THERE WERE ROWS UPON ROWS OF SHIPS ALL SPEEDING IN THE SAME DIRECTION - TOWARDS FRANCE. NEVER BEFORE HAD HISTORY SEEN AN EVENT OF SUCH IMMENCITY - AND I WAS PROUD TO BE PART OF IT. I ALSO FELT THAT TOMORROW WAS TO BE THE LAST DAY FOR MANY OF US.
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 RUMOR I REMEMBER WAS THAT ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS TO ESTABLISH A BEACH-HEAD. WE WOULD THEN BE RELIEVED AND GO BACK TO ENGLAND AS A TRAINING DIVISION FOR NEW TROOPS.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name PAUL KANAREK
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO DO SO, FOR FEAR THAT IF ANY OF US WERE CAPTURED, MILITARY INFO MIGHT BE DISCLOSED.
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? WHILE MAKING OUR WAY UP A PATH THROUGH A MINEFIELD ON THE BEACH ONE OF OUR SERGEANT STEPPED ON AN ANTI-PERSONNEL MINE AND HAD HIS FOOT BADLY MANGLED.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties?
Were you wounded? NOT UNTIL A FEW WEEKS LATER AND THEN ONLY SLIGHTLY HOWEVER I HAD AN EYE SHOT OUT WHEN WE REACHED GERMANY.
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? WHEN I WAS HIT IN THE FACE I WAS ALSO HIT IN THE ABDOMEN AT THE SAME INSTANT - AND THE PAIN IN THE STOMACH WAS SO EXCRUCIATING THAT IT WAS SOME MINUTES BEFORE I REALIZED THAT I A WAS SO BADLY HURT IN THE FACE.
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time?
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? THE TERRIBLE BURDEN OF WEIGHT WE LANDED WITH AND HAD TO HAND - CARRY. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY FELT WHEN SPEED WAS REQUIRED, AS UNDER SNIPER OR MORTAR FIRE, AND THE BEST WE COULD DO[crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] WAS THE SLOW MOVEMENT OF A DREAM.
ANOTHER POINT THAT STICKS IN MY MIND FOR THAT DAY WAS THE DIFFICULTY IN COMUNICATION. WE WERE FIGHTING IN ST. LAURENT LATE THAT AFTERNOON WHEN OUR OWN NAVY DROPPED SEVERAL SALVOS ON TOP OF US CAUSING A NUMBER OF CASUALTIES.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Paul Kanarek
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? ON BOARD AN L.C.I. IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? ABOUT A 1/4 MILE S/E OF ST. LAURENT, NORMANDY.
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 E. LEARY 28 COMMONWEALTH AVE. WATERTOWN 72, MASS.
ANDREW HANSON LIBERTY, NEW YORK.
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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June 1, 1958
Miss Frances Ward Reader's Digest 230 Park Avenue New York, N. Y.
Dear Miss Ward:
Re: D-Day In Normandy June 6, 1944
The June Issue of The American Legion Magazine contained an item to the effect that you are interested in reaching veterans who participated in the above invasion.
I was there - - with the 115th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division. During the landing that morning I was a sergeant of a heavy machine gun squad.
There must be many thousands of us left that made the landing -- but if I can be of any service please advise.
Yours truly, P. Kanarek
Paul Kanarek 8140 Dearborn Avenue South Gate, Calif. #4