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-for Cornelius Ryan 2-
Your name Francis L. Simeone

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 One of the first killed was Sgt. [?Neff?] hit by a 20mm
shell instantly killed laying in the water partway and on the beach.
Another one was caught in a crossfire as he was coming out of the
assault boat. He forgot his ammunition being an assistance [illegible]

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became
casualities? Yes. One of my friends [?Alan?] Ryan was in
another boat section was hit badly by mortar
fire. We were all set to go to Paris together. About
three days latter we found him on the beach
taged but not remove to be shipped back to
England he was plenty sore being a first casualty
but not moved as yet. He gave me his M-1 rifle
after he was hit since my [won?] cease to function.

Were you wounded? No

Dc 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?
None

Do you remember seeing- or bearing anything that seems funny now, even
though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Not seeing ot hearing
but serious enough at the time. My M-1 rifle
did not function properly. It always worked before
being new and completely zeroed in. On the land [insert] ing [end inserted] some
sand must of have gotten into the gas chamber causing cyl-
inder to chip away. This was discovered after dis-
manteling the piece on the beach against the seawall which
gave was some protection from heavy firing from above us.
the piece only fired single short had to be worked by hand.
Under [?these?] conditions it was useless until Dan Ryan gave me his.

Dc you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck
you more then anything else? Yes. - On the beach was a LCI which
got hit. Laying a short distance away were too many
sailors one crying the other dead. before speaking to the
sailors who was some what in shock he told me that
of the invasion they both were engaged in the Eastern
theater Normandy was the worst, since it killed
his buddy after being together for such a longtime.
The amount of our equipment which was blown
up under fire since they could not move in-
land for cover.
The great number of dead and wounded, making you
wonder if your turn is next.