Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 011, folder 04: Robert Marion Allen

Allen, Robert M. Iowa in D-Day Book 1st Division Release

Release with PG

Box 11, #4

Co A 18th Inf. Omaha Good incident on beach

[*Mainly corroboration Tie-In with Roncalio

O - E LL IA6

Oelwein, IOWA Note Anecdote on Teno Roncalio*]

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? Robert Marion Allen

What was your unit and division? Co A, 18th Inf. Reg't, 1st Division

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Omaha Red Beach, about daybreak on June 6th.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Private First Class

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 19

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? High School Social Studies Instructor and Athletic Coach.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? About two months previous to the invasion. We were oriented on different phases of the initial landing. We were shown aerial photos of the area and had large rubber models on tables of our area of 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? After leaving Weymouth harbor, all boats were assembled in an area in the Channel. This was to be my first action in the war. I had no concept of what to expect except what my fellow buddies had told me. They had been in combat in North Africa & Sicily previously. That evening on the Channel I commented to our First Sgt what a nice night it was and compared it to a boat ride on the Mississippi River. His reaction to my comment put a fear into me. He explained in a few short hours I would witness something I would never forget.

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). As far as our boat was concerned, there were not to many rumors being passed. There had been a time when we were warned of the use of poisonous gas and of course some mentioned this but nothing of other importance was passed around.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Robert M. Allen

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? Only a mental picture of the first 24 hrs which I remember more [?than?] any other day of combat. The first sight of the beach, the first soldier I saw die and my reaction to seeing the first Germans.

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Yes.

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? Not any direct quotes.

Were you wounded? Not on D-Day, but in Germany on March 30, 1945 after which I received a Medical Discharge.

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 was shot in the leg in a small village near Siegen, Germany while street fighting. The shock naturally counteracts the pain which surprised me.

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? To my knowledge all our actions were on the serious side. Don't take me wrong that there couldn't have been some humor in the area. This particular day was the longest that I have ever endured. [*hurrah!*]

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? A Lt. in our Reg't brought forth the first bit of heroism I witnessed on the invasion. There was a Battery of "88's" just over the slope in which we landed. In the process of securing high ground after the initial assault, Lt. Roncollio crept along the hedgerow and silenced the guns. After performing this mission he returned to our area. Around his neck he had some German binoculars. After being questioned on this he stated, "he shot the command- ing officer, who happened to be a woman, and took the binoculars". The actual killing of a woman German Officer was not known by him at the time of shooting the officer [*Tino Roncalio, Cheyenne Wyo. We have him*] ~

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Robert M. Allen

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? The greates example of heroic effort on D-Day to my estimation was the work of the Medical Corps. My view of efforts done by the Army doctors was some- thing that would be hard to describe. Their work will never be over-emphasized. Casualties were heavy in our Division of the beach and many were saved by the efforts of the Medical Corps.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? English Channel

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? On Omaha Beach, preparing to move out on assault. Our objective was Caumont, France.

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? [*LL have*]Dale Boyd, Pocahontas, Iowa. Dale was a 1st Lt. in Company "A". He is a graduate of the University of Iowa in the School of Journalism.

Donald Parker, Stillwell, Illinois. Don was Communications Sgt. of Co "A". [*Have them*]

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

(over)

Dear Mr. Ryan:

This has been written very rapidly. Trying to remember various points which you ask has been difficult in a hurry.

I think you should be commended for your efforts in writing a story of this nature. Not because I was apart of the Normandy Invasion but because of the interest shown by those who contribute to writing of world affairs of yesterday & today.

I was one of the fortunate who survived D-Day and came home. My greatest ambition some day is to return to Europe and see France, Belgium, & Germany in a different light.

I certainly appreciate your answer to my original letter and hope your interest in this field will bring you many letters from veterans who were in on the invasion.

Will be looking forward to your story on D-Day in the future.

Sincerely -Robert Allen