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Oak Harbor, Ohio 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 FOLLOYING QUESTIONS.
What is your full name? Manard J. Priesman
What was your unit and division? Co. C 2nd Ranger Bn.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Omaha Beach. Left mother Ship 0345 Arived at 0600
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Platoon 1 Sgt. - Tech Sgt.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 24 yrs. old
Were you married at that time? No
What is your wife's name? ---
Did you have any children at that time? --
What do you do now? Commercial fisherman Prop. East Side Fishing
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? About 6 wks prior to the invasion under English guards
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? Most beautiful sight I'd ever seen with the ships going in all directions. Gambled and played cards most of the time.
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). We all wondered just where all were going. Didn't know where we were going to land
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Maynard J. Priesman
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? Wasn't allowed
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Yes 22 killed and 18 wounded out of my company. 65 men to a company
Do you remember any conversations yon had with them before they became casualties? A lot of them mentioned they were going to get it, but carried on, only to drop as they had said.
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? Like a bee sting, pain after
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? When the Germans throwed hand grennades over the cliff at us and Mike Gargass hollered, "Moron mashed potatoes," [crossed out] instead [end crossed out] instead of potato mashers like the germans called the hand grennades.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Seeing one of my buddies hair turn from black to white, also seeing another buddy wash along the beach, and pulled him up on high ground.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Maynard J. Priesman
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? When we ran out of ammunition and had to crawl along the beach till we found some.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Southhampton, Eng.
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Omaha Beach
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?
Ralph Goranson Frankfurt, Germany
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
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June 20, 1958 Mr. Maynard Priesman RFD Locust Point Oak Harbor, Ohio
Dear Mr. Priesman:
A history of D-Day, June 6, 1944, to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the Normandy invasion next year is being prepared by Cornelius Ryan 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 then. 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, we 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 with you during that period. In the meantime, since we are dealing with literally hundreds of people, we have found it necessary to develop an individual file on each person who agrees to help us. Therefore, we hope that if you are interested in the pro- ject, you will complete the enclosed record and return it to me at your ear- liest convenience. We truly believe that these Questions will serve you, as well as us, if they can help to crystallize some 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
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