Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 006, folder 31: Robert Eugene Kesler

KESLER, Robert Eugene 29th DIV BEDFORD Va 8 BOX 6, #31

0730 OMAHA DOG RED 116th Inf. 29th DIVISION

S/Sgt. GENERAL COTA, walking up and down the beach, just as straight as an arrow, urging and pushing the men inland, saying get off the beach or be killed he[inserted]re[end inserted]

Roanoke O-TE Va8

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? Robert Eugene Kesler

What was your unit and division? 116th Inf. Reg. 29th DIV.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? OMAH BEACH (Dog Red) 0730 6th June 1944

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Staff Sgt.

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 29

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 now? Clerk for Norfolk and Western Railroad

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? About 2 weeks before but not [?differently?] untill a.m of June 6

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? As well that I can remember, the Channel was very rough and the small L.C.T. was bounced like a ball. The conversation was more or less [?jovial?] and everbody seemed in good spyrits. The Compass on the L.C.T. broke and the skipper Rad [?W?] get directions from another boat alongside. He did a good job too. But us right where we were supposed to be.

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). Rumors! galore, at first we thought it another day [?run?] but early morning and no return we knew this time it was top drawer.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name ROBERT E. KESLER

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 you had with them before they became casualties? Yes, Capt [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] Burraus said he was going in [?swinging] because he did not have any ammo. [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out]

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? Yes. I watched the insulation on some high-tension wires all the first night thinking it to be the outline of a Germans helmet but was afraid to shoot or move, thinking he would get me or start a counter - attack

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Yes, I had to return to the beach on the second day and what stuck in my mind the most was the dead on both sides of the sand beach, some in water and some out. Just as for as you could see, the dead were head to foot.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Robert E. Kesler

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? Yes. Gen. Cota - walking up and down the beach just as straight as an arrow, urging and pushing the men inland, saying get off the beach or be killed here here this again

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On a boat in the E. Channel

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? About 2 miles inland

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? [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] I expect you have everbodys name I could give you because we are all in the same outfit and my C.O. gave me your name to start with, like he did the others.

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

Roanoke, Virginia, April 29, 1958

Miss Francis Ward, Readers Digest, 230 Park Ave., New York, New York.

I was Batallion S/Sgt. during the Normandy invasion with the 29th Inf. Division. I landed on "Dog Red" of Omaha Beach at 7:30 AM, June 6, 1944.

Robert E. Kesler

Mr. Robert E. Kesler 1952 Belleville Rd., Roanoke, Va. Phone DI-2-8355