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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? Dallas Morgan Stults
What was your unit and division? Co. F. 18th Infantry - on Detach- Hq Co Div. Hq. 1st Inf. Div. - Service with - 1st Inf Div.
Where did you arrive in |Normandy, and at what time? Easy Red Bach, France - June 6 1944 8.30 A.M.
What was you rank on June 6, 1944? P. F. C.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 20 Years old Were you married at that time? Yes What is your wife's name? Mattie Stults Did you have any children at that time? Yes - Carol Lee Stults What do you do now? Coal Miner = Unemployed
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? May 19, 1944, My company was put in D.I. staging Area.
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? Just, that we were made stay in ship = It was hot, with so many men. We played Hearts Cards, I read my bible and tried to keep my mind off of the future.
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 were trained, so much, that every time they moved us, every one would say, this is another dry run. But when they give out live amo. We knew this was it.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Dallas Morgan Stults
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 V during the day? Yes Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? No
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? Yes, as I crawled along the beach, a shell hit a tank that had just come out of a boat. The shell was one that smelt like some kind of gas. Some one yelled gas. I put my mask on and died a thousand times, with gogles all foged up, holding my breath. When my gogles cleared, I expected to see men dying with gas, but we had two big fat chaplains in our Div. I saw them walking along, no mask on, carrying so many bags, they looked much biger than there were. I laughed then.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable; which struck you more than anything else? Yes = I dug a fox hole near a pill box. While there, the pill box was being used as a Aid Station. I watched men come, bringing the wounded. for Surgery, some out in the open. those doctors done their job well
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Dallas Morgan Stults
In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity or self-reliance; others do incredible stupid things. Do you remember any examples of either? Yes = When we moved out, snipers were all around. Many men were pined down and a 1st Lt. Ellsworth R. Clark, who was the leader of my platoon, got up and started walking, the squad he had with him followed. that helped a big unit of men to move on.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On L.C.I. boat in Channel
Where were you at midnight on June 6., 1944? About 1000ft. beyone creast of hill from 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? I have the names of many men, but no addresses
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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Monterey Tenn, May 27 1958
Dear Sir, I read an article in the Nashville Banner, asking anyone who participated in the Normandy Invasion, June 6, 1944 to notify you. I was in the First Infantry Division attached to Hq. Co. Div. Hq. My unit landed on Easy red Beach a part of OMAHA beach, about three hours after the first troops landed. Any way I can help in the history you are writting, I will be glad to do so.
Sincerely Yours
Dallas Stults
Dallas Stults.