Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 006, folder 34: Joseph Leo LeBlanc

LeBlanc, Joseph Leo Mass. in D-day [?Book?] 29th Div. Release BOX 6, #34

0700 2nd Bn 116th Dog Red On beach with Maj Bingham

O-TE ( 39 Barrett St.) Lynn, MASS. MASS 18

For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-day BLUE ( Can't find letters)

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? Joseph Leo LeBlanc

What was your unit and division? Med. Det. - 2nd Bn. - 116th Inf. - 29th Div.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? I landed on Dog Red Beach at 0700 hrs. with my section. We were attached to Battalion Headquarters and we were in the same boat with Major Bingham, Battalion Commander, and some of his battalion staff.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? At the time of the landings I was a Staff Sergeant.

What was your age on June 6, 1944? I was 24 years old on June 6, 1944 - my 25th birthday was July 24 , 1944.

Were you married at that time? No, I was single at that time.

What is your wife’s name? My wifes' name is Dorothy. We were married in St. Mary's Church, Lynn, 10/10/48

Did you have any children at that time? No. We now have a daughter, Elisa D. LeBlanc, born 5/17/53.

What do you do now? At present I am a Social Worker, employed by the Welfare Department, City of Lynn.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? Answer on separate sheet.

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 aboard the transport. It was no novelty to us; we had trained so much with the Navy we had become quite familiar with these crafts. Most of the time we were busy checking our equipment - packing and re-packing it, trying to figure out what to do if we had to wade in on the beach. Everything was water proof. Most of us carried about 80 to 90lbs. of equipment strapped to pack boards.

We talked mostly of what was to take place on the beach. We didn’t know just what to expect. We also learned where to meet to disembark on our LCVP.

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 morale of the men was good. It was hard to sleep. We were awakened early in the morning of the 6th. We ate our last meal about 3 A.M. Some of the landing crafts of the transport could be rail-loaded. The one I was on had to be loaded in the water by climbing down a cargo net.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Joseph L. LeBlanc

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, quite a number.

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? Most of the conversation I had with some of the men was in regards to what to do. Some were violently sea sick. Our boat struck a sand bar and we had to jump out and wade ashore. Some were hit in the water and drowned; others dragged themselves onto the sand. We reached the shingle on the beach and once on the beach it was difficult to get anyone moving.

Were you wounded? Yes, I was wounded.

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? Answer on separate sheet.

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, though it may not have seemed funny at the time?

I was on the beach, lying on the shingle in front of a large house which was used by Major Bingham for awhile. A shell exploded close by and piece of shrapnel shredded the left sleeve of my jacket. My arm and hand were buried in the sand. After the smoke cleared away I looked down at my arm and it appeared that the shrapnel had taken my arm. I pulled it out of the sand and found I still had my arm with only a slight scratch on my elbow.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? About the saddest sight I remember was, after the tide started to recede, seeing the litter of men, boats and equipment left at the waters edge.

For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-day

Your name

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? About the middle of 1943 we knew we were to take part in the invasion, but of course, we had no idea we were to spear-head the landings on D-day. We had some amphibious training early in 1943. There was not too much equipment available - mostly borrowed from the British. We would load on these crafts at the Navy College at Dartmouth on the Dart River and go out to sea for a distance, then swing back to the land to assault the beach at Slapton Sands in Devonshire.

We also had more amphibious training at the Assault Training Center at Woolacombe near Bainstaple, England.

Early in 1944 we were involved in full scale exercises in co-ordination with the Navy and Air Force. In May, 1944 we were transferred to the marshalling areas and we were officially told that the 29th was to be one of the assault units for the invasion of France.

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? Actually the first time was at the edge of the water after jumping out of the boat. I was sprayed with some fragments of shrapnel but I didn’t feel any pain. Later on in the day I was hit by shell fragments and I became a casualty. I was hit in the legs, buttocks and chest. I was able to crawl around and this helped me gain comparative protection from one of the bluffs.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Joseph L. LeBlanc

20 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? While we were aboard the landing crafts our rifles were covered by a plastic covering. Just before hitting the beach most of the men took the coverings off - naturally they became wet and some would not fire.

On the beach some of the men were in protected positions and were very busy cleaning their rifles in the midst of this holecaust.

21 Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On board the transport.

22 Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? I was on the beach - wounded.

23 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?

[?Out?] Sam Videtta 14 Everett Street, Lynn, Massachusetts

Winston Morris 279 South Street Needham, Massachusetts

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