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Ill N AB-N ILL-1

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 ? Irvin W. Seelye (nickname acc. to "Poopsheet") is TURK.
What was your unit and division? Co E 505 parachute regt. 82nd Airborne Div
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ?
I landed about 2 1/2 miles from Ste Mere Eglise France about 1/00 AM on the morning of June 6
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? P F C
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 24 years
Were you married at that time? yes
What is your wife's name? Isabelle H. Seelye
Did you have any children at that time? 1 girl
What do you do now? Teach social studies at the Crete- Monee High Schoool , Crete, Ill.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?
about three days before D-day

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 ?
air of anxiety and fear present. There was a good deal of nervous smoking, only a smattering of small talk and a lot of silent and visible praying. Each trooper was busy checking his own personal fighting equipment and hoping for a good chute opening and a safe landing. As we approached the coast of Normandy we realized that this was to be a rough affair. The anti-aircraft fire was internal; crashed and burning transports could be seen on the ground thru the open door. Tracer bullets were visible through the windows. Our own plane was bouncing on the flak bursts. Our own pilot (in order to make a rapid return to the U.K.) failed to reduce the speed to the usual 110 MPH when the signal to jump was given. Instead we leaped out at a much higher speed - I would guess it to be about 130-140 MPH.
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 )
Each of us was most anxious to bail out and we all left the plane in good order in a matter of seconds. I was glad to leave the plane feeling that it would be safer on the ground than bouncing about on the flak
The opening shock caused by the chutfe's opening at the high speed but I thought little about this during the half minute descent to the ground. In a matter of seconds I was out of my chute had my rifle assembled and bayonet affixed and looking for the others that were in the plane with me