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St. Paul (6) (1177 Burns Ave.) MINN O-TE LL Silver Star with Duckworth when killed MINN5
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? Benjamin Edward Telinda
What was your unit and division? 1st Inf. Div. Co.E. 16th Inf. Reg. ASN 33137502
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? On Omaha Beach. Just daylight, approximately 5 A.M.
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Staff Sgt.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 31 yrs
Were you married at that time? No
What is your wife's name? Louise
Did you have any children at that time? No
What do you do now? Locomotive Fireman on the Chicago Great Western Railroad.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? After returning to England from Sicily in January '44 there were rumors we would part of the 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? We were briefed several times about the French coastline. We all talked about making the invasion.
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 gaso1ine on the water and planned to set it afire when the troops came in). I can't recall that there were any such scuttlebut aboard our boat.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Benjamin E. Telinda
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? yes.
[Crossed out]Duckworth again -- This diff. A. [illegible] Descrip.[end crossed out]
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? A close friend, John Plictha (not sure of spelling) told several of us on board ship that the German's haven't made the bullet yet that would get him. Yet I saw him get a direct hit from an anti-tank weapon and get pretty well blown up. After hitting the beach, we took cover behind a ditch where we were trying to spot a sniper who was sniping at our men. While we were there Lt. Duckworth pulled out a bottle of Scotch and he and I along with another of my squad had a drink. 5 min. later the Lt. raised his head over the bank and the sniper got him in the temple scattering his brains on the other fellow and me. Naturally he died instantly
Were you wounded? No, just stunned from a close shell before we hit the beach.
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?
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Previous to Lt. Duckworth being killed there was one of our troops wounded and in danger of drowning as the tide was coming in. Two other soldiers and I dragged him to safety for which we were awarded the Silver Star. After this another Sgt. in my company said, "Men if we don't get off this beach we'll all die." Then we fought our way inland to the wooded area. The obstacles were many and rough and the engineers [inserted]were[end inserted] spotting mines ahead of us. We gained by feet about 500 yds that day before we dug in for the night.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Benjamin E. Telinda
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? I remember quite a bit about it but no specific thing comes to mind right now.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On the boat crossing the channel
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? In a foxhole in Normandy where we had dug in for the night
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?
Since being discharged from an Army Hospital in March '45, where I had spent 6 months due to nervous exhaustion, I have had no contact with any of my company. I was knocked out of action with a close shell in the Hurtgen forest in Germany.
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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June 30, 1958
Mr. B. E. Telinda 1177 Burns Avenue St. Paul 6, Minnesota
Dear Mr. Telinda:
Thank you very much for your letter and for your willingness to help us with Cornelius Ryan's book about D-Day. I hope you will forgive the delay in replying to your kind offer of assistance; we are gratified, but somewhat overwhelmed, by the wonderful response which we are getting as a result of our requests for information.
During the next few months, both in this country and in Europe, Mr. Ryan will be interviewing many of the D-Day participants who agree to contribute to the book. Very probably, he will wish to talk with you during that period. In the meantime, since we are dealing with so many people, we have found it necessary to develop an individual file on each person who agrees to help us. Therefore, we hope you will complete the enclosed record and return it to me at your earliest convenience. We truly believe that these questions will serve you, as well as us, if they can help to crystallize some hazy memories and to indicate the sort of information which we are seeking.
I should be most grateful to know as soon as possible when and if you will be available for interview. We want very much to tell the story of your unit, and in order to do that we need the personal accounts of the men who were there. We particularly look forward to your reply.
Sincerely yours,
Frances Ward Research Department
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