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Tupper Lake N.Y O-TE NY 60 For Cornelius Ryan Book about D- Day
THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR , PARTICIPATED IN TH 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? Harry S Kucipak What was your unit and division? Co. B 1st Bn 115 Reg. 29 Inf Div
Where did you arrive in Normandy , and at what time? Omaha Beach at about 7 AM June 6th
What was your rank on June 6 , 1944? Pfc What was your age on June 6 , 1944? 19 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? [crossed out] ELECTRIAN[end of crossed out] Electrician
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? About a week before the invasion
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 trip accross the channel was cheerful to the extent of making others feel the same. We were all afraid and thinking. my friend Hank K. didn't seem to try to much He seemed to know that it wouldn't be too long for him .All he talked about was how he would get it and when! He got it the first Day.
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). As far as I remember there wasn't any such rumor When we left onour LCI to go to France Axis Sally spoke on the radio from Berlin. She said that it would be mass murder[crossed out][illegible][endof crossed out] for us to make such a landing Lot of talk occured and as such usually develops in to such rumers.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2Your name Harry S Kucipak
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, the one I mentioned in the previous page
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? yes I also mentioned that on the previous page that he talked about getting it and how He got shot in the shoulder. The medic who tryed to rescue him was also wounded Hank died a few hours later.
Were you wounded? yes
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? It felt more as a burning sensation at first and went away as fast I don't think it would have been notice right away until the blood started to run off.
Do you remember seeing or bearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Yes I do remember one thing. That was when the Germans counter-attacked It didn't seen funny at the time but I pictured myself running back to the original position with my short legs even beat the tall fellows.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable , which struck you more than anything else? There was this particular time when we went into this barn and saw this women holding a child and her husband other two boys lying dead. A German was dead in the corner. She shot him and said she never fired any type of arms in her life It certainly an incident that I never forgot.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Harry S Kucipak
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? At that time I think they were all great crisies because we were all so busy fighting: I do feel that there were some things done well and some pretty stupid.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? In the bay at Southhampton we departed around 11:00 for France Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? [crossed out] English Channell [end of crossed out] Omaha Beach
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 I do not in those hours.
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 Readers Digest
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Harry Kucipak #2\ 27 Hill St Tupper Lake NY.
Dear Miss Francis Ward: I've just read the request made by Cornelius Ryan about anyone who participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy. I would be more than happy to help him in giving the accounts on that day. I was with the 29th Inf. Divi and also have a book about the history of the 29 Division in my possession. I may be contacted at the above address.
Yours truley Harry Kucipak
PS. Request taken from the June issue of the American Legion Magazine