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Portsmouth, VIRGINIA (near Norfolk)
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. VA
What is your full name? ALVIS LESLIE RICHMOND
What was your unit and division? 82 AIR BORNE 508 PARACHUTE INF [?HDQ?] AND [?HDQ?] Co.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? 5 MILES SOUTH OF STE. MERE, EGLISE AT 2:15 AM
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? PVT
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 21
Were you married at that time? NO
What is your wife's name? ANNIE LEE RICHMOND
Did you have any children at that time? NO
What do you do now? WORK IN THE NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD. PORPERTY AND SUPPLY CLERK
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? AROUND JUNE 1 or 2
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? TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO AFTER WE GOT THERE IF WE GOT THERE ? ? AND TOLD SOME JOKES.
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). THAT THE GERMANS HAD SPIKES STICKING OUT OF THE GROUND WHERE WE WERE GOING TO JUMP. THEY WERE 18 PARTROOPS THAT JUMPED JUNE 6 I HAVE NEVER SEEN THEM SINCE THEN THAT HAS BEEN 14 YRS I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE LIVING OR DEAD ? ?
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name ALVIS L. RICHMOND 2417 CHARLESTON AVE P.O. BOX 333 PORTSMOUTH, VA
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? I FOUGHT ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT. HAD TO KILL OR BE KILLED.
Were any of your friends killed or [crossed out] wounded [end crossed out] either during the landing or during the day? YES
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? YES ONE OF THEY GOT SO SCARED THAT HE[crossed out] S [end crossed out] SAT DOWN AND HAD TO CRY. HE DIDN'T WANT TO KILL NO BODY. HE GOT KILLED WITH A BURP GUN IN THE BACK.
Were you wounded? YES
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? I HAD A LOT OF PAIN. MY RIGHT ELBOW WAS PARALYZED MY RIGHT LEG WAS ALSO PARALYZED. I PRAYED TO GOD AT THAT TIME TO LET ME DIE.
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 simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? YES ONE TROPPER WAS TRIGGER HAPPY. HE SHOT A COW BY MISTAKE
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name ALVIS L. RICHMOND P.O. BOX 333 2417 CHARLESTON AVE
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? NO
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? ENGLAND
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? FLYING OVER THE CHANNEL.
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? [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out]
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 Wand Research, The Reader's Digest
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P.O. BOX 333 PORTSMOUTH. VA JUNE 5. 1958 #2
Dear Miss Wars, Just finished looking at the AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE I was looking at the notice you had about Cornelius Ryan who is writing a history book of D-Day invasion in Normandy. I paricipated in the invasion I was with the 508 Parachute Inf. 82nd air borne I jumped at 1:00 am June 6 1944. Will be glad to give you more information.
A. L. Richmond