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[marginalia] E 911 Eastwood Dr. Columbus, Ga. black Reached thru Ekman
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? S. F. C. Howard G. Miller
What was your unit and division? 506 PIR 101 ABN. Div Co. C.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Ravenoville Sometime after midnight June 5, 1944.
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Pfc.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 20 yrs. of age
Were you married at that time? No
What is your wife’s name? Frances
Did you have any children at that time? No
What do you do now? I am with the Airborne Dept. of the Infantry School, Ft. Benning, Georgia.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? Sometime in 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? It was just another airplane ride; I slept all the way.
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). There were plenty of rumors, but we did know that the Germans had placed posts on the D. Z. for us to land on.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Sfc. Howard G. Miller
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? A couple of friends were slightly wounded; they later returned to duty.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? I told one of the guys that he couldn't hunt snipers with a 45, but he went on and found out for himself; for a sniper got him.
Were you wounded? No
Do you remember what it was like—that is, do you remember whether you felt any pain or were so surprised that you felt nothing?
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? None that I can recall at present.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? None
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Sfc. Howard G. Mi11er
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 from D-day? I saw a machine gunner sit stupified while a German soldier on a motorcycle rode right through our lines; he made no effort to shoot.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Somewhere over England in an airplane (C-47).
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? I was in a ditch in a churchyard in Ravenoville, Normandy, along with the other men who jumped in the same plane with me.
Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours of D-day, June 6, as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to? No
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