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GL-N Picayune Mississippi
For Cornelius Ryan
Book about D-Day
MISS 6

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? JAMES CORNELIUS SPIERS

What was your unit and division? 325th Glider Inf. 82 Airborne Div.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time?
Some where near Montyburge - after
midnight or near dawn, am not sure

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Private First Class

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 33

Were you married at that time? no

What is your wife's name?

Did you have any children at that time?

What do you do now? I am a Cattle Rancher

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?
We were told several weeks before the invasion
that we were to be a part of it.

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 beginning of the trip was like many
others we had been in - dry runs, and a few
not so dry.
We ran into a good bit of AntiCraft fire over
the French Coast.
The land where we droped was flooded
with about four feet of water.

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 knew where we were going, and also
about what to expect, for we had maps and
pictures of our landing zone also that our
landing would not a suprise, for we were
in the second wave. [inserted] Group [illegible] [end inserted]