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SNIDER, Jack A. 5th Ranger Ia 9 Box 10, #51
5th Rangers Jack Snyder
HMS Prince Boudouin
On the beach "Brig Gen Cota, 29th Div. was walking up and down the beach as if nothing was happening (like a field inspection). He was assisting wounded and encouraging the non-wounded."
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Oskaloosa, Iowa 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? Jack A. Snyder
What was your unit and division? 5th Ranger Bn.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? 710 AM 6 June 44
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? 1st Lt.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 25
Were you married at that time? no
What is your wife's name? Presently married to Eleanor H. Kin
Did you have any children at that time? N/A
What do you do now? Lt Col Infantry.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? The night of 4 June 44. (The invasion was scheduled for 5 June 44 however due to weather it was postponed until 6 June.
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? 1. It was a wonderful trip until the night of 4 June 44 when we were informed that this one was for record. Prior to this trip we had made many practice invasions in the sta England & Scotland. All practices in England & Scotland were as if they were real; we had all the ammunition & equipment needed for the real thing and when we boarded the ship we never knew until we were on the beach whether it was real or not.
2. All the time passing was the same as all other trips until we were informd of the actual date (see back).
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 no rumors aboard ship. Every one of our men knew exactly what was expected of him and had been given every bit of every information that was available. Every one was briefed daily on the latest intelligence.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Jack A. Snyder
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No, but I remember every second of it.
Were any of your friends killed or wouded either during the landing or during the day? Two very close friends. One a 1st Lt & one a corporal.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? The 1st Lt predicted aboard ship that he thought he would get killed the 1st day and he did. I dont remember any conversation with the corp just prior to his death.
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? N/A
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Nothing funny but something very courageous. a brig Gen Cota, 29th Div. was walking up & down the beach as if nothing was happening (like a field inspection). He was assisting wounded and encouraging the non-wounded.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? The saddest thing that day was when I found out about the young corp (mentioned above) being killed That stayed with me forever.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Jack A. Snyder
In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity or self-reliancej others do incredibly stupid things. Do you remember any examples of either? Coming into the beach our Bn Commander ordered all boats to change course, violating orders from above; however it saved the Bn. We landed without a casualty due to this and another unit continued on to be almost anhilated.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Aboard the HMS Prince Boudoin
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? village Vervil sur Murre
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 L. E. Wills, then Lt 101st Airborne. Pressently assigned 6-3 Section, Hq MDW, Wash 25, DC
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