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[handwritten] PA 27 [handwritten] Springfield, PA. [handwritten] might catch him [illegible] [handwritten] The man who spent day walk back to [illegible]
For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day
THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR, PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASIO 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? [handwritten] Robert L. Strayer
What was your unit and division? [handwritten] 2nd. Battalion - 506th Para. Inf. 101st Airborne Div.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? [handwritten] 1:26 AM 6 June 1944
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? [handwritten] Lt.Colonel
What was your age on June 6, 1944? [handwritten] 32
Were you married at the time? [handwritten] yes
What is your wife's name? [handwritten] Mildred S.
Did you have any children at that time? [handwritten] No
What do you do now? [handwritten] Insurance business -
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? [handwritten] Approximately one month prior to the actual invasion.
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? [handwritten] Smooth until we crossed over the channel Islands when we were fixed at - when we reached the coast of France the machine gun fire etc. hitting the plane sounded like hail. Very littel conversation during the trip over. Everyone occupied with own thoughts. When time for hookup - a big sign of relief went up. We were glad to get the hell out of the plane & get into some action - since the idea of sitting on our duffs & getting shot at without fighting back was not our style.
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). [handwritten] When Red lite caem on the pilot of the plane sent the crew chief back & wished us all "luck". Said he would drink an xtra scotch & water for us when he returned to his base within the hour! The lucky stiff! Rumor had it that all jump areas were spiked - ie: the Krauts had put big wooden stakes (ends pointed)
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 -
Your name STRAYER, Robert
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? yes - but it was lost at a later date.
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Yes - many of them, - since our unit had been training together for 2 years prior to the invasion I had made many friends. - One was lost in swamp and drowned unable to get of chute)
[note in left margin] one plane shot down - w/one of my co. commandos & his bdy. ptt [end note in left margin]
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? Yes - Lt. Col Bob Wolverton of the 3rd Bn. (Who was killed immediately upon landing_ [crossed out] had [end crossed out] & I had made an agreement to meet at the 1st possible time after the landing - we both wished each other "Good luck."
Were you wounded? Injured - A panel split on my chu & consequently I landed very hard - both ankles & my right knee were injured.
Do you remember what it was like--that is do you remember whether you felt any pain or were you so surprosed that you felt nothing? - Yes - I came down so fast & without the usual opening shock I felt my chute wasn't going to open - so I thought "this is it"- but th I really hit the ground hard & [crossed out]othe [end crossed out]although I was shook up considerably - I knew I was still alive. As I tried to stand up to collapse my chute - I fell forward & realized my knees & ankle were hurt.
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Yes - As I lay on the ground right after bailing out of the plane, I got my knife- out to cut myself out of the 'chute harness. I started hearing noises - near a hedgerow - I immediately conjured up a vision of Germans creeping up on me etc. - I tried to get my squirt gun (which we called them) assembled. - but I was in such a position that this was very difficult. Finally as the noise got louder I decided I had better see if it was friend or foe. I took my cricket from around my neck & clicked it, - when to my surprise instead of an answering crick I heard a loud "Moo" - Was I relieved!
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable which struck you more than anything else? My first sight of dead soldiers, - American - was an uncanny feeling. My first reaction & still is - "How stupid wars are"! - Didn't have time to think much about it as I was too busy,
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Strayer, Robert L.
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?
My initial battalion's objective waas [crossed out] securing [end crossed out] capturing the town of Poupeville & thus securing tje causeways for advancement of sea borne forces. Our battalion was scattered over a distance of miles & consequently was far away from the objective. Gen. Maxwell Taylor - Div. Commander landed near Poupeville & gathered together a small force [crossed out\ of 12 [end crossed out] about a dozen initially & with them attacked the town & when other reinforcements arrived the town was captured. This showed ingenuity & self reliance.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944 In airplane crossing Channel in preparation for drop in Normandy. Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? At Cobre with Colonel Sink - Regimental C.O. checking on progress of fighting to date.
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. Richard D. Winters - Reinman Rd. Rd #1 Plainfield, N.J.
One of my former company commanders & executive officers & later on Battalion C.O.
Incidently War Dept. records will show my battalion brought back more men & regrouped quieter than any others. I attribute this to the fine & rigorous training we had. Two examples - we did the force march from Tocca, G. A. to Atlanta, Ga. in Dec. 1942 -- That waas mentioned quite extensively in the newspapers - aas the "Paratroops outmarch the JARS!"
Also the pig gut excercise in the fall of 1942 was by my battalion. It was the subject of an article, I believe in the Readers Digest @ a later date.
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,
Will be available for interview any time in Phila. Am in New York on business once in a while
Cornelius Ryan
Frances Ward Research, The Reader's Digest
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STRAYER, Colonel Robert L.
101st Airborne
Pa 27
Questionnaire given to Mrs. Ryan to tie in with chronology of 101st Airborne.
August 1, 1958