Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 007, folder 03: Edward Jerome Roginski

29th Div ROGINSKI, Edward Jerome Pa 35 Box 7, #3

29 Signal Co. Dog Red

Water passing over dead faces

Shamokin, PA LL For Cornelius Ryan PA35 Signal Co Book about D- Day 29th Div

THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND 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? Edward Jerome Roginski What was your unit and division ? 29 Sig Co 29 Inf Div Where did you arrive in Normandy , and at what time ? June 6 1944 6:15 AM (approx.) Dog Red What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Staff Sgt. What was your age on June 6 , 1944? 27 yrs.

Were you married at that time ? Yes What is your wife 's name ? Rosemary Ellen Roginski Did you have any children at that time ? Yes- son Edward M. Roginski What do you do how ? Sales Mgr. Spaulding Bakeries Inc. Shamokin Pa. When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion ? when we started the assault training course 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 ? We were briefed. I was given an aerial map of our beach section. I drew map sketches of our rendezvous point. We were told of the Naval and air support. I asked about the French civilians and was informed leaflets had been dropped telling them to vacate the area. 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 ). cant recall any such rumors. I felt I was trained for my job and had faith and confidence in the rest of the men doing their job i.e., engineers, seebees, rangers airborne etc. We were allowed up on deck LCI-H- (no smoking) and watched the planes going over. all were giving the . . . - signal . sailors wanted to buy our invasion money.

for Cornelius Ryan 2 Your name Edw. J. Roginski 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? No Were you wounded ? A slight cut on the finger by a sliver of flying shrapnel which I was ashamed to report. Later had it dressed by medic.

Do you remember what it was like- -that is, do you remember whether you felt any pain or wore 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? One of our officers got sick in the higgins boat and "sprayed" everyone. Can't recall anyone saying anything about it. All eyes were glued on the shore. I recall cursing the people who planned the invasion when I saw the high cliffs. No one paid any attention to my remarks, although the Gen. + his staff were in the same small boat.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? I shall never forget seeing the first dead GIs. I have a very vivid memory of those who fell on the beach and how, when the water passed over their heads it seemed to comb the hair over the faces and then back again as the tide went out. The upper part of the beach was very rocky and wounded were

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Edw J. Roginski

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 ? many many heroic and/or stupid things happened that day and days thereafter. I cannot recall anything significant

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? on board LCI-H

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? in stone quarry just up the beach road from Verville -sur-Mer [sp] our beach area was Omaha -Dog-Red

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? there are many but I do not have home addresses. probably you have heard or will hear from some

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 ACKNQWLEDGEMENT 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

SPAULDING BAKERIES MAIN OFFICE - BINGHAMTON - NEWYORK - TELEPHONE 2-7231

SPAULDING BAKERIES INC. Main Office: BINGHAMTON, N.Y. Plants: BINGHAMTON, N.Y. ELMIRA, N.Y. MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. ONEONTA, N.Y. SCRANTON, PA. HAZLETON, PA. Sub-Stations: SCHENECTADY, N.Y. DANBURY, CONN. WILKES-BARRE, PA. SHAMOKIN, PA.

124 E Berch St Shamokin Pa 6/4/58

[*#2 importantprobably went in w. Purnell?*]

Miss Frances Ward Readers Digest 230 Park Ave New York , N.Y.

Dear Miss Ward:

Re your D-Day notice in the June issue of VFW magazine, I should like to state first that I am looking forward to reading an article based on the invasion of France in 1944. As T/SGT Edw. J. Roginski 33, 231, 801, MESSAGE CENTER CHIEF, 29TH SIGNAL Co., 29TH INF DIV I left in LCIH off the coast of France early in the morning of June 6th along with all the "top brass" including Generals Gearhardt and Sands. I was the enlisted man with Major Cauble, Signal Officer who transferred to a Higgins boat and landed at Dog Red Omaha beach- Verville--sur-mer. Our first objective was to establish a communications center at Isigny. Unfortunately we only got as far as a stone quarry where the first division CP was set up.

Fourteen years is a long time. I am not interested in "story telling," but a few pointed authentic questions might shake loose some memories which, if valuable to you, would be cheerfully given in the hopes that others like myself could ultimately enjoy reading Cornelius Ryans story. EJ Roginski