Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 011, folder 12: Alan Charles Bodet

Bodet, Alan Charles O Miss. in D-Day Book Release 1st Inf.Div

Box 11, #12 Release with PG

[*See Page 2 pistol - Lt - truck incident O -- E LL Jackson MISS 4*]

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? Alan Charles Bodet

What was your unit and division? 32nd. Field Artillery Battallion, First Infantry Division (Headquarters Battery)

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Omaha Beach, 8:30 A.M. June 6, 1944 in the 28th. wave.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Corporal

What was your age on June 6, 1944? Twenty-four years.

Were you married at that time? No.

What is your wife's name? Margaret Morrison Bodet.

Did you have any children at that time? No.

What do you do now? Assistant Cashier- Deposit Guaranty Bank & Trust Co., Jackson, Miss.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? May, 1944

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? During the crossing the Channel was choppy and sky overcast. I passed the time by reading the book "King's Row". I drove a jeep ashore and I can remember wondering if the waterproofing would hold out until I got ashore.

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). The only rumor I can remember was to the effect that there was expected to be very little opposition at my point of landing. It was later explained that the terriffic opposition experienced was due to an enemy division holding "manuvers" when we landed!

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Alan Charles Bodet

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No.

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Motor sergeant of "A" Battery, I believe, but do not recall name.

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? No.

Were you wounded? No. Shell balst knocked me over in jeep.

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? When the shell blast removed the steel helmet from my head I left the jeep hurriedly and dove between an Army "Duck" and an old log.

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Several men stepped into bomb craters in the water and disappered only to rise again with arms flailing and no thought of danger other than drowning. Jeeps also disappered in craters only to become visable again with a compeltely wet driver.

[*who?*] Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? There was a 2 1/2 ton truck pulling a 105 mm howitzer that was stuck in the sandy beach. An infantry lieutenant was trying to get some men to push so the gun could be taken ashore. When no one would help, he took his 45 automatic and in no uncertain terms demanded taha all within earshot should push the truck and gun or die on the beach by his hand. The truck and gun were forthwith pushed onto dry ground. This reflected the heroism of the officer because of his understanding of the necessity of the gun to be brought ashore to support his men. The reaction of the men who were threatened was rather humorous in that they seemed to forget the enemy's threat in order to remove the more definite one presented by the lieutenant.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Alan Charles Bodet

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?

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On board a landing craft in the English Channel.

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? About ½ mile inland from 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?

Some names I can remember, but not where the men are now.

I will be available for an interview as mentioned in your letter.

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

DEPOSIT GUARANTY BANK AND TRUST CO. "Grow With Us"

ALAN C. BODET ASSISTANT CASHIER

JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI

Miss Frances Ward Reader's Digest 230 Park Avenue New York, New York

Dear Miss Ward:

In response to your article published in one of our local newspapers seeking members of the armed services who were participants in the invasion of France during Word War II, I submit myself for your consideration.

From early 1942 until my return to the United States I was a member of the 32nd Field Artillery Battalion of the First Infantry Division. My rank was Corporal and my serial number was 34155967. Most of my time was spent in the liasion section between the Headquarters Battery of the 32nd Field Artillery Battalion and the Regimental Headquarters of the 18th Infantry Regiment. During my overseas duty with the First Infantry Division I was an active participant in the invasion of Oran, North Africa, Arsew, Sicily and Omaha Beach, France, as well as each and every other campaign or battle in which the First Infantry Division was concerned.

As I recall , my contingent went ashore on the 28th wave about 8:30 A.M. the morning of June 6, 1944. At that time the enemy infantry had been forced inland so that we were not under direct small arms fire. However, enemy planes and artillery were increasing their activity in an effort to hold the Allied Forces on the beach. Our success in the invasion was that of a near miss, in that we suffered a terrific loss in both precious lives and much needed equipment. My memory of those fearful hours on the beach is one of horror laced with a bit of humor. Horror because of the great waste of men and weapons and the heartbreaks caused as a result. Horror to see the hundreds of soldiers torn and bleeding in death being washed back and forth by the waves as though the great English Channell were trying to wash them clean and seek forgiveness for the part it played in carrying them to their destruction. Horrible was it in many ways, too, but humorous also. I say it now, but there was no thought of humor then. Humourous to see friends step into a bomb crater in the water and go under on1y to be held up by their steel helmets; to see a jeep completely disappear and then rise again above the water. Humourous, too, it was to hear the American boys in their personal threats to the Germans for the predicament in which we found ourselves. Humourous? Yes, but on1y as an American can be when placed in a situation humor is the on1y thing which keeps him going, keeps him from being absorbed by the very thing from which he hopes to be eventually free.

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