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SPITZER, Arthur Dewey [?Neg?] 29th DIV Va 40
Box 7, #12
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Staunton VA. Nothing
VA 40
THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AMD 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? Arthur Dewey Spitzer
What was your unit and division? A.P.O. 29th Div. 116th, Inf. L. Company
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? [crossed out] Oh [end crossed out] Omaha Beach on June 5th H+60
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Cpl.
What was your age on June 6 ,1944? 24 years old
Were you married at that time? No
What is your wife's name? -
Did you have any children at that time? -
What do you do now? Work at E. I. DuPont [illegible], Virginia
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? We started the assault training at Slapton Sands
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? Went over the channel at night. Tried to sleep.
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). Don't remember
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Arthur D. Spitzer
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? Yes
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? Surprised- a very slight sting. a leg wound
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? The Germans turned rockets loose on the beach and they sounded like a herd of elephants.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else?
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Arthur Dewey Spitzer
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 ? Saw Tech. Sgt. Frank [?Peregary?] capture Germans outside of Grand Camp.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Crossing the channel
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? inland on Omaha Beach
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? The other men from the same company.
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