Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 006, folder 33: James E. Leary, Jr

LEARY, James E., Jr. 29th Inf DIV 115th Inf Mass 23 Exc BOX 6, #33

NO

Available for interview (in Boston) almost anytime James E. Leary Jr Boston, MASS.

For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-day Except MASS 23

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? JAMES E. LEARY Jr.

What was your unit and division? Co. H - 115th Inf. 29th Inf. DIV.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? JUNE 6, 1944 10 to 10:30 AM.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? 1st LT.

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 25 YRS - 11 MOS. 8 DAYS

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? ATTORNEY - MANAGER, Personal Health Div. CLAIM DEPT. JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL LIFE INS. CO. BOSTON, MASS.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? TOLD A YEAR OR SO BEORE THE INVASION THAT WE WERE TRAINING TO MAKE AN AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT ON THE NORTHWEST COAST OF FRANCE. TRAINING AT ASSAULT TRAINING CENTER AND NUMEROUS AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT EXERCISES CONFIRMED THIS. TOLD TIME AND PLACE IN MARSHALLING AREA - ABOUT MAY 15 OR 20, 1944.

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? I was assigned to see that 10 in 1 rations were served hot. to the some 200 men aboard on LCI. This kept me quite busy as ship had only one small stove. and as there were no cooks aboard - just combat troops. Played Cards. Looked over maps of areas other them the one selected for our landing, in case we were instructed to land elsewhere.

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 had been isolated so long - went into Marshalling Area about May 15. - Had been cooked up on this LCI for about a week. That I really didnt hear any rumors. Also we had been through this sort of thing in practice so many times it was hard to believe that this time was any different.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name LEARY, JAMES E. Jr.

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? Saw a LT from "F" Co. laying [inserted] wounded [end inserted] in a personnel mine field on the beach bluff. as we passed through. I didnt have a chance to speach to him, but as I passed I said to myself Charlie you lucky --- you will be back in England tonight. Later in August after I was wounded I met him in a hospital in England. We had been returned to duty and was now coming back to the hospital after being wounded again. When I spoke to him [crossed out] again [end crossed out] of this he told me he had lain in the mine field all D-Day all that night, and most of the next day. - No one would pick him up until the mine field had been cleared

Were you wounded? YES - but not on D-Day

Do you remember what it was like--that is , do you remember whether you felt any pain or were so surprised that you felt nothing?

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? As we were making our run to the beach a DUKW was off to our right and was being bracheted by German Artilley fire as it frantically turned from right to left as it headed back to the transport area. - It did seem a little [?humourus?] even them which is an indication of how green we were.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Ous Bn. landed on orders in the Assaul Area of the 16th Inf. 1st Div. rather than in the area of the 116th Inf as was originally planned. Needless to say there was some confunsion on the beach, with numerous wounded personnel lying about. None the less Capt. Schmidt of Co E (115th Inf) apparently organized his Co [inserted] and [end inserted] quickly moved up the beach bluff through on Anti-personnel mine field where the Co. suffered some casualties and on down to the right of the landing area toward the town of St. Laurent. While so leading his Co. Capt. Schmidt was hit in both thigs by Machine Gun fire and severely wounded. When I passed him he had the palor of a man in shock who had not long to live. Fortunately in the congestion and confusion of the beach area the Bn. Aid station was close at hand, and in the beach area plasma was readily available. Under normal combat [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] conditions he probably would have died, but the ready [?availabity?] of plasma saved his life. Passing him thus was the last time I saw Capt Schmidt. Several months later I understand he returned to the Regt. still limping somewhat from his wounds when perhaps if he had tried (over)

at all he could have avoided being sent back. In any event he was placed in command of Co. K. Shortly afterwards Co. K. was given a Bn. or 2 Bn. sized mission, (as events later proved) and although they succeded in reaching their objective they were later overwhelmed by a massive counter attack, and all were either casualties or captured. [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] Capt. Schmidt was among those captured. While a prisoner he was reported as having been killed by our own Artillery fire. The H.Q. boys were somewhat critical of Capt. Schmidts actions as Comdr of Co. K. However from my observation of him as a leader during training and on Omaha Beach on D-Day I consider him one of [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] many unsung heroes.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name LEARY JAMES E. Jr.

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 from D-day?

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Crossing the Channel on an LCI

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? With unit - Bn. perimeter astride main beach road St. Laurent - Vierville road, but may have been in a bit farther. Would have to see a map.

Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours of D-day, June 6, as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to? As you know the 29th Inf. Div. was originally Maryland - Virginia [crossed out] N. G [end crossed out] National Guard. Many of the original N. G. members were with the [?division?] on "D" Day. Co. H. - My Co. came from Westminster Maryland. - Many of the boys still live there. Again you are probably well awere of all this. However if you wish a list of names let me know.

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