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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? Jonathan Scott Joyner
What was your unit and division? E Co. 501st Parachute Jny Redgt. 101st Airborne Division Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? At St Mere Eglise 12:05 A.M June 6 - 1944
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Sgt.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 24
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? United States Post (?Mire?) Lawton, Okla. When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? About 4 days before it starte. We studied maps of 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 was very (?comen?) at 1st. No one talked A few sleep and smoke. All had there own thought of home. I know that I did.
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).
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Jonathan Scott Joyner
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 Yes during the day ? My lead scout was wounded and my platoon leader was killed. Lt Schmidt Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties ?
Were you wounded ? No. 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 hearing anything that seems funny now, even We were though it did not, of course , seem amusing at the time ? taken some prisoners and someone ask one of our fellows how he would like to be in Broklyn and one of the prisoners said where in Broklyn and. And the German and this fellow lived about 3 blocks apart.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic , or simply memorable , which struck you more than anything else ? The Navy was giving us support and 3 or 4 rounds of heavy Artillery fell over F. Co. oun our left flank and almost (?) find them out. (B) The way other unit would join in and help one another out. One time there were about 4 different Parachute outfits under one command.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Jonathan Scott Joyner
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 ? No Comment
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? In (?) England
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? France
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?
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 MOT 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
