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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 ANSlNER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
What is your full name? Serafino R. Visco
What was your unit and division? [*Attached to 1st Army*] (UP TO DEC 16, 1944 456th AAA) (VOLUNTEERED After DEC16 1944) CO F 104th Inf. 26th Division [*(Attached to 3rd Army)*]
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? (EASY FOX)(OMAHA BEACH) APPROX. 8 or 9 AM soon after DAY Light
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Private
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 27 yrs old
Were you married at that time? yes
What is your wife's name? Elouise
Did you have any children at that time? yes
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? When we left the states on the largest convoy leaving New York Dec 14, 1943 I believe was the date
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 left Plymouth England on June 2, 1944 full invasion equipment, French money plus 2 [inserted]paper[end inserted] bags in case of sea sickness, The water was very choppy we did not realize this was the real crossing we were on the boat four days and on the morning of the 6th we landed
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 rumors I heard that it was another dry run because the waters were so choppy when we heard planes bombing on nite of 5th & all firing we knew then it was the real thing.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name S. R. Visco
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No, but I'll never forget the details of what happened
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Not close friends but thousands of others were killed & drowned
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? There was hardly any conversation we were so surpried everyone kept pretty quiet it all seem ed like a nite mare.
Were you wounded? yes hit not on D. Day, (In Battle of Bulge)
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? It was more or less a surprise then I knew my combat days were over.
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Well the only thing that amused me was that most of the men on board our landing craft had a dice game going with the French money given us until we heard the shooting start
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? From D. Day to the Battle of the Bulge there were many such incidents. They occured daily.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name
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? [*Post D-day*] Yes, most of the men around me including myself discarded the inside of our gas mask so we could carry liquor given to us by the French farmers. This occured when I was in the Infantry during Battle of the Bulge
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Amid landing craft near Omaha Beach
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? We were up on a Knoll on Omaha Beach (Easy Fox) Concentrated with all troops that landed
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?
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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[*#2*] 709 NW 6th Ave Dania Florida
Miss Francis Ward: Dear Miss Ward: I read the article that appeared in the American Legion in ref. to a story being written about the D. Day Invasion. Our outfit left Plymouth England on June 2nd & we landed on Omaha Beach, (Easy Fox) the morning of June 6. I stayed in combat till Jan 7, where I was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. I do not know what inform- ation you are seeking but if I can be of any help