Page 2

Pittsburgh, PA.

2 Interview

Survivor of
Co. A 116th
Inf.
(Bedford
outfit)

PITTSBURGH

PA 61

For Cornelius Ryan
Book about D-Day

THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND 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? WOODROW J. WELSCH

What was your unit and division? CO.A.116 INF. -29 DIV.

Where did you arrive in Normandy , and at what time?
OMAHA BEACH sector called Dog Green
The time I don't remember to the minute but it was
some time between 0630 and 0730

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? T-5

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 29

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? Still digging holes in the ground. I
ran a hi. lift dig foundations for new homes in a plan
called [?Hi Tor.?] Woods Which is in the outskirts of Pgh.
They classify me as an Opperatering Enginear

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?
At least a few months But we did not know we were
going to be the first wave until about two weeks
before D-Day.

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?
The water was really Rough. We had made a lot of dry
runs in the Channel but I think this was the worst.
Some the boys wrote letters other played cards read books and
a few talked about home wondering if the folks back there
knew what we were about to do. There wer also a
few that thought this was another Dry Run. In
fact I did a little bit myself until I saw a boat
section get a direct hit.

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).
There were many too numerous to mention If
you would pay an attention to them all they would
drive you crazy