Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 007, folder 30: Spencer J. Huggins

[inserted] Columbus 90th Div 35th Regt. 1st Bn [end inserted]

HUGGINS, Spencer J. Ga.7

[inserted] Dead File

Box 7, #30 [end inserted]

[inserted] V - E

p. 2 - op [?French curtains?]

not much [illegible]

[illegible]

GA 7 LL [end inserted]

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? SPENCER J. HUGGINS 2901 Rice Street, Columbus, Ga.

What was your unit and division? Headquarters Company, First Bn., 359th Ing. Reg., 90th Infantry Division

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Utah Beach Approximately 10:00 A. M. 6 June, 1944

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Private First Class

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 33 years

Were you married at that time? Yes

What is your wife's name? Florence

Did you have any children at that time? No

What do you do now? Am a Master Sgt. assigned to the Infantry Center, Fort Benning, Ga.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? Approximately ten days prior to invasion.

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 choppy and the crossing aboard the L. C. I. was a little rough. Time was passed mostly playing poker, sleeping, checking gear or just asking one another - "wonder what it's going to be like when we meet the enemy face to face?" and secretely asking ourselves - "will I make it back to the good old U. S. A.?"

What were the rumors on board the boat, ship or plane in which you amde 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).

None that I can recall.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Spencer J. Huggins

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? No

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties?

--

Were you wounded? No

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? No

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simple memorable, which struck you more than anything else? As we were moving inland that afternoon, I remember seeing an old old man with two small girls by the hand; where they came from we, of course, didn't know... and we just went plodding on our way while they stood and stared at us.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Spencer J. Huggins

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 barge I was aboard dropped the ramp several yards short of the beach and as the pre-arranged signal was to move out when the ramp dropped, we did so. As the radio man, who was carrying a pack board with radio equipment which was very heavy plus his other gear, stepped off the ramp he lost his footing and went right on down. Two men were alert to the situation and pulled him up and helped him to shore.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Abord the L. C. I. in Plymouth Harbour Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Approximately two miles inland.

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? No

PLEASE LET US HAVE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE YOUR EXPERIENCE 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 CHAPTER CALLED "WHERE THEY ARE NOW; YOUR NAME AND VOCATION OR OCCUPATION WILL BE LIKSTED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

P. S. I will be available for interview at the present address.

[inserted] L. S. H. [end inserted]

Cornelius Ryan

Frances Ward Research, The Reader's Digest

Fort Benning, Georgia 2 MAY 1958

Miss Frances Ward Reader's Digest 230 Park Avenue New York, N. Y.

Dear Miss Ward: In reference to your query which was published in the Daily Bulletin at this Post date 7 April 58, the following is submitted in hopes that it will be of some value to your article titled "History of D-Day" to appear in the Reader's Digest. I was assigned to the Communications Section of Hq. Co., 1st Bn. of the 359th Infantry Regiment - 90th Division as a P. F. C. on D-Day - June 6, 1944. We embarked the L. C. I's. in the late afternoon the 4th of June, 1944 at Plymouth, England. We departed the evening of June 5th and arrived off the coast of Normandy in the early hours of June 6th. At approximately 10 in the morning, D-Day, we went ashore, while attached to the 4th Infantry Division and proceeded to carry out our assigned mission. I have in my possession an unofficial copy of the History of the participation of the 90th Division in the Second World War.

Very truly yours, [inserted] Spencer J. Huggins [end inserted] M/Sgt. Spencer J. Huggins 2901 Rice Street Columbus, Georgia