Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 007, folder 29: Francis James House

HOUSE, Francis James 90th Div 019 Box 7, #29

Dead DAWN CO. K, 359th INF__90thINF. DIV. UTAH WORLD WAR I SERGEANT ON BEACH Our company had a 1st sgt. by name of Norcop, a verteran of the first war with many years in the Army. On the landing, I being ayoung healthy man though I would be among the first ashore. We had waist deep water for about 250 yards, plus enemy fire to contend with. As I neared the beach, there was the 1st sgt. standing on the beach all alone, waiting for his company to come in.

E Liverpool , Ohio V-Tele call 0 -19 For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day [*RED or GREEN*] [*LL*] 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? FRANCIS JAMES HOUSE What was your unit and division? CoK - 359th INF - 90th Inf DIVISION Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? OUR PARTICULAR LC.I. [*UTAH*] ARRIVED AT THE BEACH BEFORE DAYLIGHT. AT THAT TIME I DID NOT KNOW THE NAME OF THE BEACH OR EVEN WHAT PART OF FRANCE IT WAS. WE STOOD BY DURING THE NAVAL AND AIR BOMBARDMENT What was your rank on June 6, 1944? PRIVATE FIRST CLASS What was your age on June 6, 1944? 22 Were you married at that time? NO What is your wife ’s name? SINGLE YET Did you have any children at that time? SINGLE AT THAT TIME What do you do now? POTTER - HOMER LAUGHLIN CHINA CO. NEWELL, W. VIRGINIA ENGAGED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DINNERWARE THE WORLD'S LARGEST MAKER OF FINE DINNERWARE - CHINA When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? ON JUNE 2, 1944 WE WERE TRANSPORTED TO DARTMOUTH IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND AND LOADED ON AN L.C.I. WE DID NOT KNOW WHY 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 WAS EXTREMELY ROUGH DURING THE NIGHT OF JUNE5 AND THE MEN COULD NOT SLEEP IN THE RACKS PROVIDED ON THE L.C.I. WE KNEW WE WERE PART OF A BIG PLAN, [*?*]HOWEVER WE DID NOT KNOW WHERE WE WERE GOING, SOME SAID IT WAS BRITTANY IN NORTHERN FRANCE

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 WERE WARNED THAT THE WATERS AND BEACHES WOULD BE FILLED WITH OBSTACLES SUCH AS CEMENT AND IRON POSTS AND BARBED WIRE PLUS FLOATING MINES. THIS DID NOT PROVE TO BE TRUE IN MY PARTICULAR SECTOR. WE DID NOT KNOW AT THIS TIME WHERE THE LANDING WOULD BE.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Francis J. House Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? I did not keep a diary, however I believe I can remember most of the events Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? to my knowledge I don't know of any killed, a few were hurt. In this kind of operation facts are usually hard to get Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? the men were understandably anxious. I believe that if they had been better briefed and knew more about the situation some of this anxiety would have been relieved. I do not believe the men were genuinely afraid nor do I think they were overly heroic. because of their lack of information they didn't have any choice but to wait and see. Were you wounded? I was wounded 3 times in world war II however I escaped injury during the normandy landing 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? a gun shot wound is usually more of a surprise than anything else. I can remember seeing the blood running and could not believe that it was me who was hurt. a shrapnel wound can be very painful Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? our company had a 1st Sgt by name of Norcop a veteran of the first war with many years in the army. on the landing, I being a young healthy man thought I would be among the first ashore. we had waist deep water for about 250 yards plus enemy fire to contend with. as I neared the beach there was the 1st Sgt standing on the beach all alone waiting for his comany to come in. Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? For me seeing the bodies in grotesque positions in the swamps atop (Utah? Omaha Beach) was hard to believe at that time these were mostly German with all to many Americans with them. I got the impression of wax figures, but I was soon to realize this was not so. death was so common place that little attention was paid even when an acquaintance was the victim

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Francis J. House

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? the landing itself was comparatively simple, after we got to the top of thehill the trouble started. our company was under constant artillery fire from German(88's). some of the men seemed to regard the whole operation as some sort of picnic. however they soon learned that caution is the better part of valor

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? midnight June 5, 1944 I was on an L.C.I. in the channel off the coast of Normandy

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? midnight June 6, 1944 I was near a small village in Normandy called St Mere Eglese (I hope the spelling is correct) 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? Robert Vaughn- 6th Street Newell , W. Virginia Mr Vaughn was a member of the 101st Airborne division which participated in the Normandy landing [*Have him? yes*]

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

#2 Francis J. House 1255 Oakwood Ave. E. Liverpool, Ohio June 6, 1958

Miss Frances Ward 230 Park ave New York N.Y.

Miss Ward: I read in the June issue of the V.F.W. magazine that a history of the Normandy landing is being compiled.

I served with Co K-359th Inf- 90th Infantry Division and went ashore on the afternoon of 'D' day; Captain William Bauschausen commanding officer Lieutenant Stanley K. Sammons was platoon leader.

I will be happy to furnish whatever information I can or whatever you can use. Respectfully Yours Francis J. House