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[marginalia]Pennant LL p. 2 NJ6
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 ? JAMES B. MCKEARNEY JR. What was your unit and division? HQ. Co. 3rd BN. 501st PARACHUTE INF 101st AIRBORNE DIV. Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? VEIRVILLE at 0110 What was your rank on June 6, 1944? S/SGT. What was your age on June 6, 1944? 31 Were you married at that time? YES What is your wife ’s name? HELEN J. MCKEARNEY Did you have any children at that time ? NO What do you do now? REFRIGERATION & AIR CONDITIONING BUSINESS When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? ABOUT 30 May 1944 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 plane flew very low over the channel. Some fellows wanted to know if they could turn back. A lot of senceless chatter - chain smoking - the door of the plane was open - all you could see was planes and more planes. Suddenly the shore line, the pilot took the ship up - the Green Light out you go - Geronimo!
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). There were no rumors on our plane but the Germans did have anti paratroop and glider obstacles on the ground.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name James McKearney
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No. But a vivid memory Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? yes- many Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? two of my best friends Jake Wingard from Trenton N.J. + Duke Spangler from Kansas City , MO each agreed if anything happened to write the wives. I had to write to both Mrs. Wingard + Mrs Spangler how their husbands died. Were you wounded? yes [?] 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? I had a different sensation eachtime Do you remember seeing* or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? yes- on D + 2 Jake Wingard came riding into Heisville with a horse + cart and the entire horse + cart was decorated like a float with roses and poppies Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? The 3rd Bn. moved up to the hedgerows G-Co in the lead HG - H and I following My connecting file man fell asleep and we lost contact- in the middle of the night -with no briefing as where we were going etc; for 15 minutes until we regained contact with the est of the Bn. I thought I would go crazy!-
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name James Mc Kearney In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity or self-relianoej others do incredibly stupid things. Do you remember any examples of either?\ Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On board the plane over the channel Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? at Heisville
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? Archie C. Phillips Jensen Beach Trailer Park Jensen Beach, Florida.
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 IP WE HAVE NOT LEFT SUFFICIENT ROOM, FULL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WILL BE GIVEN IN A CHAPTER CALLED 'WtfHERE THEY ARE NOW; YOUR NAME AND VOCATION OR OCCUPATION WILL BE LISTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP, I'll be glad to help in anyway possible to give credit to the 501st Parachute Inf.
Cornelius Ryan Frances Ward Research, The Reader's Digest
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Hay 28, 1958
Mr. Jamas McKearney 4711 River Avenue Pennsauken 8, Hew Jersey
Dear Mr. McKearney:
A history of D-Day, Jane 6, 1944, to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the Normandy invasion next year is being prepared by for publication in the Reader's Digest and in book form. It is being written with the complete cooperation and assistance of the Department of the Army and the Department of Defense. This will not be another strategic history of invasion day, but a story of the twenty-four hours of D-Day as people lived them and remembered them. For this, we can only go to the men who were there and, if they are willing, invade their memories. Having learned of the part which you played in the invasion, ve hope very much that you will be interested in the project and agree to help us.
During the next few months, both in this country and in Europe, Mr. Ryan will be interviewing many of the D-Day participants who agree to contribute to the book. Very probably, he will wish to talk vith you during that period. In the meantime, since we are dealing with literally hundreds people, we have found it necessary to develop an individual file on eacj person who agrees to help us. Therefore, we hope that if you are interested in the project, you will complete the enclosed record and return it to me at your earliest convenience. We truly believe that these questions will serve you, as well as us, if they can help to crystallize sane hazy memories and to indicate the sort of information which we are seeking.
I should be most grateful to know as soon as possible when and if you will be available for interview during the next few months. We want very much to tell the story of your unit, and in order to do that we need your personal account. We look forward eagerly to your reply.
Sincerely yours,
Frances Ward Research Department
FW:LL Enclosure