Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 012, folder 47: Vincent J. Tuminello

TUMINELLO, Vincent J. NY 64 Box 12, #47

Massepeque, L.I., N.Y.

For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-day NY 64

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? Vincent J. Tuminello

What was your unit and division? 1st Army 3892 QM T2K Lo. att. 1st Div

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Omaha Beach on the French Coast 1900 Hours on June 6

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Cpl

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 27

Were you married at that time? No

What is your wife's name? Sadie

Did you have any children at that time? No

What do you do now? Bricklayer

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? When we started to waterproof our trucks and when we were att to the 1st Division 16 Inf

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 put on an LST-286- Landing ship tank or truck etc. the first thing we did was to chain the vehicles down so wouldn't roll or move for the English Channel is or was pretty rough. Each vehicle was loaded with ammunition and food rations. I remember a few conversations I had with the crew of LST 286- (continue on paper)

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 ). I don't belive there was any rumors board ship for our commanding office Capt Abel called his group of men (Troops) for a conference. Told us what time we were to hit the beach and what to expect. According to paper we were to advance 3 miles, our mission [last line illegible]

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Vincent Tuminello

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? We lost some of our vehicles for use had to ride in four feet of water. One of our men on our team hit a mine - was wounded. Last I saw of him.

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 so surprised that you felt nothing?

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time?

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Yes. On June 6 as we were coming into the coast of France I saw my first casualty. I saw an English sailor dead floating right by our LST, later we saw a (LCI) land craft Inft floating pass us with some dead GI's that really made me feel very bad I guess they neve had a chance

\\" ~ o1 . d7 ~ ~ -~ a_ 4£- -~-,;Ul- ~ ._d cf) I y ,/4,r ~ ~ ~ /vi~ J ~ ~ ~ k ~ ~

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Vincent Tuminello

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 from D-day? Yes. After we got on the beach we really didn't have the 3 miles that Capt Able said on paper. We just got to the top of the hill and we had to leave the (trucks) and started to dig in (fox hole). Later we had orders to move out. One of our officers dont remember which one, told me to make --

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? I was on the USN LST 286 - English Channel

Where were you at midnight on June 6 1 1944? I was on Omaha beach digging fox hole

Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours of D-day, June 6, as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to? No with the exception of a few boys that were in my outfit.

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 ·-

continuation

Question (In time of Great Crisis people generally show ether great ingenuity or self Reliance)

Sure all Vehicles leave [*ask*] the area I was the last to [*illegible*] leave. I was directing the last Vehicle out for he had a hard time getting out with fox holes all around him [crossed out]w[end crossed out] There were some Germans firing at us. one bullet when through the oil gauge on the truck missing the diver and myself, as we road out of the feild, a guide told us [crossed out]they[end crossed out] Company went right I had no Idea where they went, [crossed out]or were[end crossed out]! I was just about to go

[*129*]