Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 007, folder 10: Carroll Brice Smith

for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Carrol B. Smith

In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity or self-reliance; others do inoredibly stupid things # Do you remember any examples of either ? Up on top of the shelf that morning I came upon one of your men (whose name I dont remember) who had successfully crossed the beach and gotten to the top of the bluff but there he lost his nerve He was lying facing down clawing the earth with his hands and crying "I can't do it" "I can't go on"! I was carrying a 2 foot map board slung over my shoulder and standing up and I wasn't getting hit so I'm afraid I kind of lost my temper I said something unfit for print and added "look I'm standing up carrying a map board and I'm not getting bit get up and lets go" Something shocked him out of his crying fear and he did go on with A couple days later he came to me and thanked me for it and I didn't have the heart to show him the hole in my map board

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? 12000 yds off Omaha Beach or the Navy Transport "Charles Carroll" watching the beautiful but awesome display of fireworks as the parachutists landed Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? In an (ex-German) foxhole on the ridge on rear of Utah Beach just to the right of St. Laurent but met overlooking Omaha Beach shivering from the cold and the sound of a wounded German about 25 yards in front of me wondering when the counterattack was coming Do you know of anybody else who landed within thos2 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? yes General Charles D.W. Canbane who was then my regimental commander and is now commanding the 11th Corps in Indianapolis Lt Col Lawrence E. Meeks who was my battalion commander and is not at ^US ARMY Reserve Headquarters in Raleigh N.C. Archibald Sproul who was our battalion adjutant and is now National Guard Commander of the famous 116th Va N Regiment in Staunton , Virginia Mifflin Clowe who commanded I Co on D day and is now Mayor of Winchester , Virginia He is also a Lt Col in the 116th V Charles East who commanded L Co also lives in Staunton , Va Chubby Proffit , Clay Purvis, Clay Dudley all of whom were damned good sergreants in K Co "the Monticello Guard" and all of whom live in Charlottesville, Virginia. This was my olf company too when I came on duty in 1941 as a "buck Sgt."

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

Dear Miss Ward, 9 April 58

I am happy to hear that you plan to write an article for the anniversary of "D" day in your so widely read magazine. Although to most of us who survived, it's horrors need no remindin,g ample publication of those horrors may serve as an additional deterrent to future wars.

I was a young captain at the time and proud to be Plans and Operations officer (S-3) of -- the Battalion of the proud old Virginia National Guard Regiment the 116th Infantry, 29th Division. Although it was our first day of combat, we felt we were as ready as any regiment in the Army and were highly honored to be selected to assault Omaha Beach alongside the battle- tried 16th Infantry of the 1st Division.

Our corps commander Major General Leonard T. Gerow had remarked to us a few days before that "we'll take that beachhead if it takes every man in the Corps" and for the first few hours on the morning of "D" day we began to think it might, but we made it, even though my regiment alone lost over a 1000 men that day.

See what happens when you start reminiscing I'll he happy to assist in any way possible if you should need me.

Sincerely Carroll B. Smith Lt. Col. Inf Combat Developent Office, USAIS Fort Benning, Georgia.

P.S. Do you have the semi official publication entitled "OMAHA BEACH" for reference, if not I'll lend you my copy CBS

May 22, 1958

Dear Colonel Smith:

Thank you for writing to us concerning Cornelius Ryan's forthcoming book about D-Day. Since Mr. Ryan is now away, and has been away from New York for the major part of the last month, he has asked me to write you expressing our mutual thanks and our mutual hopes that you will continued in your willingness to help us.

As your source of information may not have clearly indicated, this book will not be another strategic history of the invasion operation, but a story of the twenty-four hours of D-Day as men lived them and remembered them. For such a story, we can only go to the men who were there, and if they are willing, invade their memories. Thus Mr. Ryan hopes ultimately to interview many of the people who agree to help us, and so I should be grateful if you would let me know whether or not you would be available for interview at your present address during the preioud between now and the end of July of this year. I should be grateful also if you would be willing to completed the enclosed record and return it to me at your earliest convenience. We have assembled these questions in the hope that they may serve you as well as us, by helping to recall some long-forgotten incidents and indicated the sort of material which we are seeking. We need the answers to them as a basic file of vital statistics on each of our informants, and also, as a means of preparing for interviews for Mr. Ryan, these sheets will serve as a reminder of salient facts and references which he will wish to pick up later on.

We know that the story of D-Day is the story of many men and many units. Mr. Ryan wants very much to do justice to your outfit, and in order to do so he needs your help and the help of any others to whom you can direct us. We shall look forward very eagerly to your reply. Thank you so very much for any help that you can give us.

Sincerely yours,

Frances Ward Research Department

Lieutenant Colonel Carroll B. Smith, 0445178 Combat Developments Office U.S. Army Infantry School Fort Benning, Georgia

8 Aug 58.

Dear Miss Ward,

Please forgive my tardiness. I started on this quesionaire on the night of 6 June 1958 but do to trips and other things I'm just getting around to finising it ton-night. Also please pardon my sloppy handwriting. I was just scribbling it down as I relived it in memories. It has been a long time now and memories fade somewhat but I hope this will do some good anyway.

I'm sorry I don't remember exact addresses of some of the people I listed, but if you contact Col Archibald Sproul at the 116th Army in Stanton, Viriginia or Mifflin Clowe, Mayre of Winchester, Virginia they may be able to fill in some details. We were all very proud of that old Regiment and the men in her. I was particularly proud of her becuase I enlisted as a private in that Regiment, (K Co, Monticello Guard) in Charlottesville Virginia and stayed with her all during the war at the end of which I was a Major as Regimental Operations Officer. We Virginians are just naturally proud of our Regiment. I'll be home on leave at 108 Perry Drive, Charlottesville Virginia from 20 August until 1 Sept in. case you wish to contact me there. In fact, I'll hope to see some of these people I listed while home and will tell them about you. Sincerely Carrol B. Smith

February 16, 1959.

Lt. Col. Carroll B. Smith, 045178 Combat Developments Office U.S. Army Infantry School Fort Benning, Georgia

Dear Colonel Smith:

We last wrote you on May 22nd asking you to fill out a questionnaire in connection with a book on D-Day which is being prepared by Mr. Ryan for publication in the Reader's Digest in book form.

Due to the overwhelming response to this request, we have been deluged with material and have not had a chance to write to each and everyone as yet. However, we do want to thank you for being patient with us and to tell you how deeply grateful we are for your cooperation in sending us your question- naire and letter of August 8th.

In order for us to edit your material for use in the book, It will be necessary for us to have your signature on the attached release, which we would thank you to return In the enclosed self-addressed envelope.

Again many thanks for your help.

Sincerely, for Cornelius Ryan aw encl