Page 2

Miss Wood: I am available for interview at
anytime. ED Raff
10June58
Germany
For Cornelius Ryan
Book about D-Day
Carrie ashore
with 4th Div.
leading tanks
att. to 82nd P
- saw
disaster
glider operaion
of D-Day
aft
Has 2 other people
at VII Corps Hq
GER3
THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR, PARTICIPATED IN THE
INVASION OF NORMANDY BETWEEN MIDNIGH JUNE 5, 1944 AND MIDNIGHT JUNE
6, 1944. IF YOU WERE ONE OF THEM, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

What is your full name?
Edson Duncan Raff

What was your unit and division?
Hq 82nd Airborne Division.
I was co armored Task Force
(w/ mission of breaking
through to 82nd AB Div
consisting of 1 Co
Med Tanks, 1 platoon
Armored cars, 1 Co
325th Infantry (airborne)
riding tanks

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time?
Utah Beach
Between 1200 + 1500 6 June 44

What was your rank on June 6, 1944?
Colonel

What was our age on June 6, 1944?
37 years

Were you married at that time?
Yes

What is your wife's name?
Virginia Chouey

Did you have any children at that time?
Son Thomas Duncan
Son James Chouey

What do you do now?
G-1 Hq VII Corps

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?
May 1944

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 trip across Channel on British LCT was
smooth all the way. Except for burning of 1 landing
craft no incidents occurred. Major Raph Ingerson
and I spent time on Top deck w/ officers of ship.
In conversation I mentioned that this was a
hell of a way for a combat paratrooper to make
an invasion - by sea. I wished I could be jumping w/ res
of trooper

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 rumorsreference Germans. Their failure to
appear in the air during previous two days
Channel marked by flags put out all by Allied mine
sweepers gave terrific sense of security
from any enemy land or sea opposition.