Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 006, folder 36: Leonard Richard Lepicier

LEPICIER, Leonard Richard 29th DIV. N C 1 D-Day book Release BOX 6, #36

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Raleigh N.C For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day NC-1

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? Leonard Richard Lepicier

What was your unit and division? Co. M; 115th Infantry Infantry, 29th Inf Div.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Omaha Beach (Easy Green) approximately at 0930 hours, 6 June 1944

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

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 25

Were you married at that time? Yes

What is your wife's name?

Did you have any children at that time? No

What do you do now? Officer US Army

(See atchd sheet 1. When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? Knowledge of an impending invasion was known for several months. However the exact date and location was not disclosed until hours prior to embarkation

( See atchd sheet 2. 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? Aboard ship (LCI 555) was not unfamiliar to the troops. They had spent many months prior to the invasion on maneuvers and amphibian exercises at Slapton Sands ( a section of coast line along the Channel....later to be recognized to closely resemble the area of Omaha Beach) and at the Amphib Training Center at Woolacombe. On the morning of 6 June the sea was a bit choppy though our voyage seemed quite smooth....though maybe no one payed much attention to the condition of the sea. The day broke cloudy and gray and the air had a real chilly bite to it. Spirits of the personnel were running high and there was much ribbing and joking being passed about among the troops. However, it was easy to detect that the trend of conversations were generated as a means of an outlet to overcome the nervous tension and energy. The nervous tension and energy which prevailed can best be described as that of highly trained men about to enter on a field of competition....like boxers

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). There were no rumor..... everyman had the cold facts and knew where he was to go and what his mission was. The only question that confronted all was, [inserted] " [end inserted]whats to come[inserted] " [end inserted]. This was no dry run and we'd experience something that we'd not encountered in all the training. There'd be someone there throwing it back into out faces.

1.

Very exacting details were given at breirings for the purpose or orienting officers and men relative to the specific mission selected for each unit, including the overall big picture. Very close studies were made by all of the terrain of the assigned sectors. This was accomplished by map and terrain model studies. The terrain models were very exact and included a plotting of every known enemy defence insinuation and type. Every man and officer was to acquire complete familiarization of the locality in which he would be operating in once on the beach and the area to be occupied by subsequent advances. There was no language in this book to the effect, what if the operation wasn't successful.[inserted] ? [end inserted] What was the plan of withdrawal or evacuation.[inserted] ? [end inserted] If there was a plan it wasn't made known. Moreover, that thought never entered a single man's mind. Consequently such a question was never asked.

2.

.....every man confident, cocky and knowingly [inserted] to be [end inserted] a master of the tools of his trade. Time seemed eternal and was passed by playing cards, cleaning already spotless rifles and other armament, checking ammunition for the last countless time, and readjusting already adjusted equipment. The thought must have gone through every man's mind many times....this is it, every thing has got to work to perfection....no time for a single thing to foul up. The officer personnel spent their time among their troopers... passing words of encouragement and advice....let's give 'em hell all the way and get it over with real quick so we can all go home. The conversations continued, the joking, the ribbing, up until the very moment the word was passed...."[crossed out]t[end crossed out][inserted]T[end inserted]his is it men, put it on and pick it up, you've only got a one way ticket and this is the end of the line"[crossed out].[end crossed out] These words had a very sobering effect. A silence prevailed among the troops as they busied themselves with their equipment. All ears were strained and alefct to pick up further orders and instructions. There was not a sign of hesitation.....everyman ready and prepared to live up to the Division motto.....29 Let’s Go

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Leonard R Lepicier

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? The keeping of diarys was absolutely forbidden. Matter of fact, diarys, old letter, and miscellaneous keepsakes which would tend to disclose identity of units were burned prior to embarkation.

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? There were none in the immediate command. This much cannot be said for the days to follow.

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? N/A

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? N/A

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? There were none that I can recall at this time. As recon officer I was constantly on the move trying to make contact with the numerous scattered units of the battalion

and trying to gather intelligence to be relayed to the command relative to movement and the disposition of the enemy and making every effort to keep a current picture of the situation with the command.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? On the morning of 7 June prior to daylight a combat patrol was scheduled from I Co. to raid a given area in the little community of Vierville-sur-Mer. Lt Orlin Duval was selected as the officerto lead this patrol with men from his platoon. Lt Duval was a Catholic lad. Before leaving on his mission he sought out the Cath[inserted]o[end inserted]lic chaplain, Fr. O'Grady. Lt Duval had no difficulty in finding the father and asked if he could speak to him. Lt Duval said to Fr O'Grady....Father, I want to say that I'll not be coming back from this mission. Fr. O'Grady hed silent momentarily and said, Son are you prepared,and Lt Duval replied, I am. Fr. O' Grady then replied, then go my son, and God be with you. Lt Duval was killed within the hour leading the patrol into Vierville. 7th?

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name LEONARD R. LEPICIER

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? ABOARD SHIP (LCI) READING FOR NORMANDY

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? HANGING ON, SOME 1000 YDS INLAND FROM THE 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?

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 Frances Ward Research, The Reader’s Digest