Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 007, folder 15: Raymond R. Volponi

on the beach, the blank look on their face from the hell they took from our air force and Navy.

Speaking of a beach you would picture it as a sandy one. only there it was pebbles the size of a marble up to a soft ball. [crossed out] [?an?] [end crossed out] artillery shells landing there was more effective than the shell its self

I want to stress [crossed out]if [end crossed out] the fact again the part the Combat Engineers, Rangers, Para-troopers Navy and air Force did that day is unbelievable. "what a team?" and a day to "Remember"

Hoping what I have given you will help.

Ray Volponi

I can be available either here at hospital or at my mothers home 725 Portage St South Fork, Penna.

VETERANS’ ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL ALTOONA. PENNSYLVANIA

Miss Frances Ward Reader's Digest 130 Park Ave New York, N.Y.

Dear Miss Frances Ward I was a member of the [inserted] C.O.B. [end inserted] 1st Battalion 115 Inf Regiment of the 29th Division which landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day June 6-44 got as for as [?St. Lo?] where I was wounded July 12-1944. I may be able to give some account. I entered the service in May 14 1941 at Altoona, Penna and was assigned to the 29th Division May 18 1941. Went to E.T.O. Oct 5-1942. Wounded July 12-1944 Sent back to the States for further Hospitialization until April 1945 Reassigned to a Special Training Unit as a Military Instructor (Teaching [illegible]) Discharged Sept 3-1945 (85 [?poinys?]) Will be glad to give you any information that

PRESENTED BY FREEDOM CHAPTER, AMERICAN WAR MOTHERS, ALTOONA, PA.

would help providing it would not be of a confidential nature by that I mean the effectiveness of our weapon or under what conditions they were employed in

Thank you I Remain

Raymond R. Volponi V.A. Hospital Altoona, Pa. Room 520

July 7, 1958

Mr. Raymond R. Volponi Veterans Administration Hospital Room No. 520 Altoona, Penna.

Dear Mr. Volponi:

Thank you very much for your letter and for your willingness to help us with Cornelius Ryan's book about D-Day. I hope you will forgive the delay in replying to your kind offer of assistance; we are gratified, but somewhat overwhelmed, by the wonderful response which we are getting as a result of our requests for information.

During the next few months, both in this country and in Europe, Mr. Ryan will be interviewing many of the D-Day participants who agree to contribute to the book. Very probably, he will wish to talk with you during that period. In the meantime, since we are dealing with so many people, we have found it necessary to develop an individual file on each person who agrees to help us. Therefore, we hope you will complete the enclosed record and return it to me at your earliest convenience. We truly believe that these questions will serve you, as well as us, if they can help to crystallize some hazy memories and to indicate the sort of information whioh we are seeking.

I should be most grateful to know as soon as possible when and if you will he available for interview. We want very much to tell the story of your unit, and in order to do that we need the personal accounts of the men who were there. We particularly look forward to your reply.

Sincerely yours,

Frances Ward Research Department

FW:LL Enclosure