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Lexington
AB - E
KY 8

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? Robert Mercer Robinson

What was your unit and division? Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion
505th Parachute Regiment
82d Airborne Division

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time?
Ste. Mere Eglise 0030 hours 6 June 1944 [inserted] Pathfinder? [end inserted]

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Pfc

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 21 years

Were you married at that time? No

What is your wife's name?

Did you have any children at that time? No

What do you do now? Captain, Infantry, U.S. Army

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?
We knew that we were to be part of the invasion several months before
but we did not know where or when it was to take place. About two weeks before
D-day we were sealed in our camp and later transported to the airfield so we
knew that it would be in the next few days. Our final briefing was not until 5 June.

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?
We spent several hours in the air before the drop but the plane was rather
quiet. I spent most of the time looking out the open door and thinking about the
jump. Approaching the drop zone awaiting the signal to jump I could see the
fields and roads below and it was very quiet until we approached right near the
field and then I could see the tracers and hear the noise of battle. Coming
down I could see some of our ammunition blowing up for evidently some of our
equipment bundles had gone off when they landed.

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).
We had no rumors going in but on the night of the sixth there was a rumor
that the invasion had beeen repulsed on the beaches. Here we were sixteen miles
inland and a delay in the link up would surely stretch my three K-rations.