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For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day NY 22
THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE Am, PARTICIPATED I N THE INVASION OF NORT'IANDY 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? M. DAVID ALTMAN
What was your unit and division? G-3 Section, Headquarters First United States Army
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Grande Camp., on the morning of June 10th, we went ashore from the Augusta.
What was you rank on June 6, 1944? Technical Sergeant
What was your age on June 6., 1944? 33 Were you married at that time? No, but I am now. (I married an Army Nurse) . What is your wife's name? Florence Did you have any children at that time? No
What do you do now? Chief, Budget & Analysis Office, Office of the First United States Army Quartermaster, Governors Island, New York 4, N. Y.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? October 1943.
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? Since I was aboard the U.S.S. Augusta, the trip was smooth. (See my letter of. transmittal).
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 cam in). I do not seem to remember any particular rumors.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name M. DAVID ALTMAN
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? Unfortunately, no.
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? No. However one of the enlisted men assigned to G-2 (I can't seem to recall his name was watching one of the enemy air raids, and a piece of flak skinned his cheek - it was nothing serious, and now that I recall it, it was amusing at the time.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? -
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? _
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? See above.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Nothing unusual.
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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 own personal reaction was that of fear but only during enemy air raids. I suppose I wouldn't be normal if I did not display this emotion. However, at other times, I was quite calm.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Aboard the USS Augusta.
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Aboard the USS Augusta.
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? It amazes me how I cannot seem to remember their names, and of course I would not know their addresses. However, I have a copy of SECRET orders which lists some of these names. The copy is now in Connecticut and as soon as I make my next trip there, I'll obtain it.
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 OCCUPATIO N WILL BE LISTED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
Cornelius Ryan
5/8/58
Frances Ward Research, The Reader's Digest
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1181 Sheridan Avenue Bronx 56, New York April 17, 1958
Miss Frances Ward Readers Digest 230 Park Avenue New York City
Dear Miss Ward:
At 2400 hours, 4 June 1944, I was aboard the USS Augusta together with General Bradley and some of his staff. We were in the English Channel preparatory to the invasion of the Normandy Coast which was scheduled for 0600 on the 5th of June, 1944. The fact that the [crossed out] scheduled [end crossed out] invasion of the Normandy Coast was scheduled for 5 June 1944 was not generally known. General Eisenhower postponed the invasion to the 6th of June because of the bad weather on the 5th of June.
I was Chief Clerk of the Plans and Operations Division of the G-3 Section of First Army Headquarters, directly responsible to Major General Truman C. Thorson (then Colonel), who was the G-3.
My duties aboard the USS Augusta were to log in and out messages received and sent to the various units assigned to the First Army. In addition, I was acting as secretary to General Bradley when he had occasion to write messages and/or correspondence.
Beginning 0600 on the 6th of June, the USS Augusta shuttled back and forth between Omaha and Utah beaches.
If you are interested, please let me know and further details will be furnished.
Very truly yours, M. David Altman
M. DAVID ALTMAN (Formerly T/Sgt)