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Roanoke, VA.
For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day
VA 22 Green [?LR?] 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? John F. White
What was your unit and division? Company G,ll6th Infantry Regiment 29th Inf. Div.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Omaha Beach 6:30 A.M. 6-6-4-4 We were the first wave of assault troops designated to land at H hour.As I recall we were a few minutes late, but it was about the time listed above.
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? 2nd Lt.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 22
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? I am employed as the Prosthetic Specialist in the Medical Out-Patient Department of the Veterans Administration Regional Office Roanoke Virginia. It is my job to purchase have fitted and deliver all types of artificial appliances such as artificial limbs, braces, hearing aids, special shoes etc. for veterans required to wear and use these appliances because of injuries received while they were in service.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? It is difficult to recall exaatly when we were sure of this, but we had a pretty good hunch what was going to occur after we began intensive amphibious minivers around the latter part of 1943.
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 channel crossing was very serene and quiet. We steamed out of the port about dusk and reached our rendezvous about 3:00 or 3 :30 a.m. After breakfast we waited awhile and watched and heard the aircraft going over and the commencement of the shore bombardment. Some like me just waited and wondered how it was going to be. Others made forced atteapts at lightheartedness, but for the most part the majority of men were comparatively quiet. And of course we went over our maps and orders with our respective units for the last time. Sleep was pretty hard to come by and I doubt if anyone else slept a great deal that last night. I am sure that I did talk with people,but I cannot recall what we talked about or how much talking was done. Each of us knew, of course, that someone was going to be hurt on this operation, but one can't bring himself to even think that it will be him-it is bound to be the other fellow. I don't recall that anyone in our outfit even vaguely admitting that he might get 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 olanned to set it afire when the troops came in). I don't remember any rumors such as those you mention here. There must have been- there always are when you get that many people together,but I can't recall any.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name John F. White
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? Many of my friends were killed and wounded that day. I had been in this 2nd Battalion for nearly 2½ years and had gotten to know most of the men and officers pretty well. However, my closest friend and roomate during the time I was in the outfit was killed on the second day.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? My roommate mentioned above was the Executive Officer of Co. G and we were not together on the incasion since he was in another boat. However, we did talk a great deal on the ship before we got into the small boats and I remember that we said we would see each other soon after the actual invasion and refofmed the company. I also remember quite vividly that all during our association his main aim in life had been to get this war over with so he could return to his home and finish out the few hours he had to go with his masters degree in mathematics and then teach school. He was a fine man and his death upset me more than any other aspect of the whole war. His name was Arthur V. Hendricks, 1st Lt. from Albilene Texas. Post D-Day
Were you wounded? Not on D day, but later at St.Lo.
Do 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?
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? This did not appear to be very funny at the time, but even though we had our weapons covered by a plastic type bag during the run in, many of them failed to function on the beach and it was nevessary to find cover behind an old wall and clean our weapons so that they would fire. I remember thinking at the time that this was a heck of a time to be participating in a session on care and cleaning of the basic infantry weapon. Actually, we were quite a bit disorganized at first and we were kept busy trying to locate ourselves on our maps and regroup as we had originally been organized. That first day seemed to go by an awful hurry. I can recall some rather amusing events which took place later after the beachhead was established, but as I understand it you are primarily interested here in the events happening on D Day June 6.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? There were many incidents of heroism on that day, but I can't seem to be able to pin any particular one down in my mind that happened then. The main effort during the day was to get inland off of that beach and as fast as possible.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name John F. White 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? For the most part as I remember the men rose to the occasion and accomplished what was necessary. There were many outstanding examples of leadership-non-commissioned officers taking over when and where their commanders had fallen and all ranks performing their duties in a matter which was most creditable to the U.S. Army and our outfit. Especially do I recall the acts of the Medical Corpsmen who, thoug h, unarmed braved the heaviest fire to reach wounded mem who called for them and needed them. As for stupid acts, if one committed such an act, he in all probability paid for it with his life. We had trained long and hard for this invasion. We were good and we were tough and we knew what to do and how to do it. Of course, this was our first experience under fire and naturally confusion was present, but after we got our bearings and more or less settled down we proceded on to our prearranged objectives. You might say that self-reliance and acts of heroism were the rule that day rather than the exeption.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Debarkation Port Dorchester England.
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Somewhere 6 or 8 miles inland in Normandy near a small village, the name of which I have forgotten. It could have been Ste.Mere Gelese, but I am not sure.
Do you know of anybody else who landed within those 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? Many men from this area were in the 29th Inf. National Guard and left here when that division was mobilized in 1941 and went on through the whole campaign. From time to time I run across a good many of these men, but I can't remember many addresses. If you shpuld visit this area I'll be glad to give you any leads which I can.
I don't know whether the little material I have given to you will be of any assistance or not. However, it is very difficult to remember actual detailed incidents after such a long period of time. Maybe, if you should get down here to talk to me, I might be a little more helpful.
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 SEPERATE 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
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#4 2623 Northview Drive Roanoke, Virginia
May 31, 1958
Miss Frances Ward Readers Digest 230 Park Avenue New York, N.Y.
Dear Miss Ward:
I am writing in answer to your inquiry in the June issue of the American Legion Magazine concerning veterans who participated in the June 6, 1944 invasion of Normandy.
I served as a 1st Lieutenant in the 116th Infantry Combat Team, 29th Infantry Division during WWII and did participate in that invasion. I landed with the first wave of the assault troops and continued with that same infantry regiment until the St.Lo engagement at which time I was rather severly wounded and evacuated from the theater of operations.
If Mr. Ryan feels that my recollections of the invasion would be of any value to him, I would be happy to cooperate in any way.
Very truly yours, John F. White John F. White