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E 21 Benning Ga black For Cornelius Ryan Reached through Elsman Book about D-day GA 22
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 ? Fred J. Carden What was your unit and division? 508th Parachute Regt 82nd Airborne
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Etienville 2:25 A.M. 6 June 1944 What was your rank on June 6, 1944? PFC What was your age on June 6, 1944? 20 Were you married at that time? No What is your wife!s name? Catherine Did you have any children at that time? No What do you do now? U.S. Army Ft Benning Ga Co "A" ISD (as on jump status instructor in ABN Tech)
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? 28 May 1944 but we did not know it was going to be Normandy until we boarded the aircraft
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 flight across the channel was a very calm one the weather was good the moon was full we could see the ships below from the time we left the English Coast line until just prior to reaching the French Coast line we got the comand to stand-up I hook up over the coast line the anti-aircraft fire rock the aircraft it was hard to stay on our feet in the aircraft
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). (no rumor) we had been briefed that the germans had place anti airborne obstacles on many open fields which could be used for drop zones I did not see any for I landed in a small orchard
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Fred J Carden
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? yes Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? no but I do recall that it is hard to belive that your friends were killed when in some cases that you were just talking to him and then ten minutes later he is dead Were you wounded? No Do you remember what it was like—that is, do you remember whether you felt any pain or were so surprised that you felt nothing? I do remember that I was almost wounded I shall never forget I was several nights after we landed I was on -- -outpost duty on round was fired that night it came so near my face I thought I had been hit hard to put in words how I felt Do you rememner seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? I remember on the night of the jump I had a hard time getting out of my parachute and I used my trench knife to cut the harnes when it broke day I found I had cut my hands in the process of cutting my harnes was so scared was not aware of it at the time I passed one man hanging help less in a tree thinking I was a german he was calling comrade to me
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? It was very hard to take to see your friends laying wounded and all that could be done had been done by the medics waiting for the seaborne troops to link up with us it was a very happy occasion when they did link up with us and take care of our wounded Hats off to the seaborne forces I feel that and know the first waves on shore had a rought time since the germans we waiting for them we had one advantage the germans did not know where we were to land
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Fred J Carden
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 from D-day? the only thing I recall was on the night of the jump which I don't remember doing and -- that was pulling the rip cord on my reserve parachute the reserve being white and the main parachute being camaflouge the reserve being white stood out like a sore thumb in the darkness
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? in flight to Normandy Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Hill 30 near Chef-du-Pont
Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours of D-day, June 6, as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to? none that I know their whereabouts --------------------------------------------------------- request that I be notified what issue this story will be in Fred J Carden
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 nWHERE THEY ARE NOW;’1 YOUR NAME AND VOCATION OR OCCUPATION WILL BE LISTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. i Cornelius Ryan Frances Ward Research, The Reader *s Digest