Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 008, folder 21: Daniel B. McIlvoy, Jr.

McILVOY, DR. DANIEL B., JR. Ky 5 Box, #21 Material Returned 6/29/59 see special folder 5 o 5 picked up wounded from L's & estab a temp aid station Talk about Father Connelly breaking [?dash ]

For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day KENTUCKY KY-5 AB-TE

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? Dr Daniel B McIlvoy Jr What was your unit and division? 505th Parachute Inf. 82/AB Division Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? 1:51 am (June 6) 10 miles from St Mere Eglise, missed drop zone + was P.W. for 3 days + about 25 wounded (enclosed narrative) What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Major Medical corps What was your age on June 6, 1944? 30 Were you married at that time? no What is your wife's name? now Helen Pauline Did you have any children at that time? no now-3 girls What do you do now? Physician- pediatrician ( [?daias] of children) When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? about 60 days before (y-60) 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? Tense, lots of conversation, lots of smoking, some worry over spiked fields 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). The fact that the Germans had erected spikes in the fields over most of Normandy, seemed to be of some concern

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Dr McIlvoy Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No, but I can remember it all very well! 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? Father Connelly (catholic chaplain) had no fear, was most consoling to all, broke his back in the jump but failed to report his pain or injury for 30 days, was then hospitalitized + sent back to the states Were you wounded? In Sicily + Holland jumps but not in Salerno or Normandy jumps 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? no pain or much surprised too keyed up Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time ? see attached folder (as a P.W. in house +wounded) The wounded get a great kick out of my acting as nurse + having to pour (urine) out under door (every time we stuck our heads out a sniper would shoot at us) Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? many sad, many heroic, many memorable, Heroic actions are frequently errors in judgement that one lived through (see enclosed sheet)

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Dr McIlvoy 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? Father Matthew Connelly Irvin Falls Idaho Major (Mr. J. T. Maness Box 695 Granbury Texas Lt Col Talton Long. 101 AB Div Camp Cambell Ky Murry Soldman R.F.O. #2 Monticello N.Y. I have lists of all medical officers + men of the detachment available if you call Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? airport at [Spandre ?] England Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? In a farm house between beach + Ste Mere Eglise with about 25 wounded men surrounded by German snipers 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? It is difficult to put into exact words my feeling about the 82 A/B. The men possessed such qualities of courage + cooperation, they all are hero's in my books. As for General Gavin my only way of expressing our admiration for his leadership was "I'm sure if he told us before any combat jump that this time we will jump without chutes", I'm sure 99% of the Division would have done just that! 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 ACKNOWLEDGSMENT 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 5/1/58 Frances Ward Research, The Reader’s Digest

May 2, 1958 Dear Doctor McIlvoy: A book about D-Day, June 6, 1944, is being prepared by Cornelius Ryan for publication in The Reader's Digest and in book form on the 15th Anniversary of the Normandy invasion in the spring of 1959. This will not be another strategic history, but the story of the twenty-four hours of Invasion day as individuals lived them and remember them. For this we must find the men who were there and, if they are willing, invade their memories. The story of the 82nd Airborne is obviously among the proudest, and therefore we were delighted to learn from General Gavin that someone is keeping a Company news sheet. We consider ourselves most fortunate in having received from Mr. Lassen a copy of his mailing list for the "E Com- pany Poop Sheet.” We understand from him that not all of his readers were necessarily members of E Company, 505th Regiment, and that not all of them did necessarily go into Normandy on June 6, 1944. We write to you in the hope that if you were in Normandy on D-Day, and more especially, in the hope that if you were there you will be willing to help us.

Mr. Ryan hopes ultimately to interview most of the people who agree to contribute to the book. These interviews will probably be conducted in the late spring and early summer of this year in the course of a cross- country trip which Mr. Ryan plans to make. In the meantime, since we are literally dealing with hundreds of people, we are finding it necessary to keep an individual file on each person who expresses a willingness to help us. Therefore we hope that if you are willing to help us, you win com- plete the enclosed record and return it to me at your earliest convenience. We truly believe that these questions will serve you as well as us, if they can help to crystallize some hazy memories and to indicate the sort of information which we are seeking.

We will look forward to your reply with great anticipation. We want very much to tell the story of the 82nd, and in order to do that we need you. Thank you so very much for any help which you can give us. Sincerely yours, Frances Ward Research Department Dr. D. B. Mcllvoy Graves - Gilbert Clinic 1109 State Street Bowling Green, Kentucky