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Avondale, PA For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day PA 63 LL GREEN
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? Delbert F. Jones
What was your unit and division? Co. B 502nd Prcht. Inf. Regt. 101st A/B Division
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? We jumped at the village of St. German-de Vaneville, France, at 0015, June 6, 1944. The first ten men to set foot on French soil and started the invasion of Normandy.
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? My rank at that time was Private first Class
What was your age on June 6, 1944? I was twenty-three years of age.
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? I guess you have heard of mushrooms? Well I am self employed and engaged in the mushroom business as a grower.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? I guess in was in the middle or near the last part of May. Then when we were paid in francs we knew it was going to be France.
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 trip across the Channel wasn't bad at all. We flew at a very low level over the Channel until we hit the French Coast; then we raised up to fifteen hundred feet to just before we hit the deep zone we drop to five hundred feet for the jump. We enountered some Anti aircraft fire and our plane was hit several time: I was glad to get off it
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). I don't think there was any rumors on our plane: we all knew where we were going and what we had to do after we got there. Our job depend on the success or failure of the whole invasion and we just land to do our job or bust. We were expendable and could be replaced: but Our mission Couldn't at that time
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- for Cornelius -Ryan 2 -
Your name- Delbert F. Jones
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day?
None were killed in our group that daybut our captin was wounded by gun fire and a morter shell got him in the face
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties?
I wasnt close to him at the time he was hit. But he told some of the fellow that if he died to go and visit his people if they every get back to the States
Were you wounded ?
Not in the Normandy action but later on I was wounded.
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 ?
Do you remember seeing- or bearing anything that seems funny new, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time?
Just before we left the plane a twenty millimeter shell came through the bottom of our plane right behind me and when though the top. The boy who was behind me patted me on the shoulder and tried to tell me what had happen; but I guess he was so scared he could talk just keep pointing and making a funny noise with his mouth
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else?
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 -
Your name- Delbert F Jones
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 ?
I cant remember to much about the things that happen that day. A lot of things took place. I guess we all did some stupid things that later turn out to be okay
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944?
We were over the French coast headed to our drop zone.
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944?
I beleive we were south of Loucasville on a roadblock
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?
These fellow were with me when we landed. John McFarlen, Abeline Texas Anthony Pocca, Pittsfild Mass [inserted]have him[end inserted] Frederic Wilhelm, Williamsport, Pa. Thomas Walter, Camden, New Jersey Owen [Council], Crawfordsville Fla. Raymond C Smith, Thornton, KY [inserted]have him[end inserted] [?alm Zana??kas] Towell, Mass August [Nan?goni] Chicago, Ill.
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
(over)
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Dear Mr Ryan;
I dont know whether the information I have given you is what you are looking for or not. I hope it will be of some help to you in writing your book about the first twenty-four hours of the invasion.
I will be available for an personal interview at anytime as far as I know now. I guess you would give me a few days notice, so I could make necessary arragements if needed. I believe I could do alot better by talking to you personally than with this questionaire.
As you probably know by now the first day of the invasion for the Airborne troop was a day of very little organization we operated in small groups withthe senior officer as Non-Com taking charge of the group. It was three day or more before everybody was back with their right outfit.
Hoping to hear from you again soon. Please note the change of my address.
Sincerley yours, Delbert F Jones
Delbert F Jones R.D #1