Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 009, folder 20: Paul A. Danahy

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Minneapolis

MINN 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 ? Paul A. Danahy

What was your unit and division? Division Staff (G-3 Section) 101st Airborne. Became G-2 on 6/ (cut off)

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ? Vicinity of St. Jones about 1:15 a.m. June 6.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Major

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 29 years

Were you married at that time ? Yes

What is your wife's name ? Thelma

Did you have any children at that time ? One. Paul Jr.

What do you do now? Manufacturers' Rep

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? Some time before - how long I don't recall exactly.

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 flew - jumped in shortly after midnight of June 5. Flight was easy, fairly clear, moonlit sky. Many of the boys slept. Being jumpmaster of the parachute stick I kept reasonably busy (rather occupied) in my contact with the air corps personnel.

What were the rumors on board the boat, ship or plane in which you made the crossing? (Some people remember scuttlebutt to the effect that the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it afire when the troops came in). None. It was a surprisingly placid group. In retrospect it is my conclusion that we must have considered ourselves well qualified to carry out the assignment given us.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Paul A. Danahy

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No, but a sergeant in my section kept a very detailed diary. His name was Sergeant BRUFF - I don't recall his first name. He was intelligent & mature and his diary may worth a [Bruff circled in pencil with handwritten Chek on This Bruff]

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day ? Yes

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties ? I don't recal that we gave very much consideration to being injured or wounded on the invasion. We knew a certain percentage would be killed and wounded but you know how human nature controls that [insert] thought [end insert] process - it is always going to happen to the other fellow.

Were you wounded ? Not in Normandy.

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 ? [check mark]

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time ? [left blank]

Do you recall any incident, sad or horoic, or simply memorable , which struck you more than anything else ? Verify this with Lt. Col. Henry J. Schweiter He served as my ass't G-2 during the entire European campaign. Because he is now a career officer it may forever remain an unverified rumor. His pilot overshot the Cotentin peninsula and was about to return to England with his stick of parachutists. As the story goes Schweiter insited that, the pilot make another pass and on his [insert] (the pilot's) [end insert] refusal to do so made his point stick by having his order carried out at gun point. It happened but it is one of many stories that take [cut off] conditions that perhaps could best [cut off]

[Note in margin} Lonnie: If you refer to this anecdote please me the yarn, particularly if this the only freference to is, not to so [illegible]print the story, that the pilot could be identifed and discredited. Hell that was 14 years ago. Danny [end note in margin]

- For Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Paul A. Danahy

In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity or self-reliancej others do incredibly stupid things* Do you remember any examples of either?

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? In a plane destined for Normandy.

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Normandy. Having had the dubious distinction of being in the plane lost farthest to the south on the invasion 21 other chutists and I were working our way back to American lines which we reached on D + 2.

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? Lt. Col. L.J. Legers (now on Norstad's staff in Paris) Lt. Col. Henry J. Schweiter (Army ) Col. William Stewart (Air Force) then serving as Air Officer at 101st A/B Div Hdqtrs

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 Ward Research, The Reader's Digest

INFORMATION DESIRED OR TO BE VERIFIED IS INDICATED BY AN "X" IN APPLICABLE BOX(ES)

[] LAST NAME - FIRST NAME - MIDDLE INITIAL Danahy Paul A

REMARKS

VERIFIED ON LAST ROSTER (Date) CLERK DATE ROOM NUMBER

DD FORM 14 1 APR 56. REPLACES DD FORM 14, 1 FEB 55.