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MARYLAND (?)-
Check w. [?Fowler?] 29th Div
MD 19

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 ?
William James Wiedefeld, Jr.

What was your unit and division?
"M" Co. 115 inf. 29Div.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time?
To the left of les Moulins draw. Between 9 and 9:30.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944?
Tech Sgt. Plat. Sgt. 2nd. Machine Gun Plat.

What was your age on June 6, 1944?
24
Were you married at that time?
Yes.
What is your wife!s name?
Melba Rose Wiedefeld.

Did you have any children at that time?
No.

What do you do now?
Postal Clerk.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?
In Sept. of 1943. At Slapton Sands in England we were told that we would be the
assault troops. Who. And where we did not know.
We also were told by Col Slappy At a meeting that Two out of every three would die.

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?
Rough.. A lot were sea sick, They had given us paper "PUKE" bags these were full,
Tin hats were full, and fire buckets were emptied of sand and filled, The steel
deck you could not stand on.
One thing that was said "If they are going to kill us get us of these damn
TUBS."
"If" wegot on tthe beach they could not take us off.

We passed our time by cleaning our wepons,getting our gear ready, Asking
Our friends to say hello to our familys and frends
As we just might not make it.

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).
We heard many stories, but we knew what we were getting into,