ENPages
Page 1
lst Div. WOROZBYT, John B. Ga 6
Box 12,#54
Material released 6/29/59 see special folder
Dead
N.Y Aug.
[crossed out]Bailing on run in[end crossed out]
Page 2
[*GEORGIA (Will be in N.Y. in Aug.) GA 6 LL*]
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? John B. Worozbyt
What was your unit and division? "L" Co. 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Omaha Red Beach at approximately 5:30 or 6:00 A.M.
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Sgt First Class (SFC)
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 31 years
Were you married at that time? Yes
What is your wife's name? Viola R. Worozbyt
Did you have any children at that time? Yes, one son, age 4 when I left for overseas.
What do you do now? I am a M/Sgt in Hq Admin Co., 2d Infantry Division Fort Benning, Ga., assigned as NCO in charge of Craft Shop #4.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?
It became apparent that we were headed for something big during our training in England which started in January 1942.
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?
The water was rough, weather clear.
We were too busy at the time to carry on conversations as we spent most of the time bailing water out of our boats with our helmets. Despite the fact that there were 2 pumps working, we had to bail water out also.
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).
There were no rumors that I can remember.
Page 3
- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name John B Worozbyt
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day?
It was almost an impossibility to keep a diary as censorship more or less prohibited it, and all letters written home were strictly censored.
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Yes, My company commander was wounded., my platoon leader and 2 of my men killed immediately after the landing at 10:00 A.M. Three were seriously wounded, and 5 slightly wounded.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties?
Shortly before my platoon leader Lt Monteith (who was awarded Congressional Medal of Honor posthmously) was killed, he expressed great concern for my safety and the safety of my men. When I made report on the number of men wounded I still had blood on my hands from administering first-aid to one of the casualties. It was then that Lt Monteith, thinking it was my wound, cautioned me to be careful, and to see that the men were safe. Shortly thereafter he was killed. He was a man that I had the utmost admiration and respect for.
Were you wounded? Yes, I was hit by a piece of shrapnel in the neck. Al- though it was not too serious, I thought at the time that my number was up. This ·was because D'Day was my third beach landing. There was not time to patch the wound (cont)
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?
as it was too risky at the time and we continued on. At the time I felt as though the complete side of my neck had been shot away.
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time?
In view that action was heavy we had time for nothing else but to gain our objective, and care for the safety of each man involved in the landing.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, vrhich struck you more than anything else? When we first hit the beach we learned many men were killed before they had a chance to leave the water. More than anything else I remember the men of the 4th section who went down when their boat sank with one wave. At the time we thought all men were lost, but learned later that two of the 28 were drowned and the rest were picked up about 2 days later.
Page 4
- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name John B Worozbyt
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? We were on board a ship.
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Sitting in a foxhole with men of my section protecting the right flank of my unit. We were attacked the same night by the Germans.
Do you know of anybody else who landed within those 24 hours (midnight Jun 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 don't know at the time what other units were involved in the landing. We had no advance information.
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
Page 5
4724 Sedgefield Ave. Columbus, Georgia 10 April 1958 Fairfax 4-2167
Reader's Digest 230 Park Avenue New York, N.Y.
ATTN: Miss Frances Ward
Dear Miss Ward:
Reference a notice in the Daily Bulletin of this week, a publication put out by Fort Benning installation for the interest and information of its person- nel, requesting U. S. Army personnel who participated in D-Day landing to write you. My husband, M/Sgt John B. Worozbyt, RA 6879448 presently stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., through modesty hesitates to write you of his participation in the landing in France, on D-Day, 6 June 1944 when he was a member of the 1st Infantry Division, "L" Co, 16th Infantry Regiment. But I, his wife and press agent through love and admiration for him and so many others like him take the opportunity to write you of his little part in this landing. Perhaps it would simplify matters if I attempt to rewrite an item once written about him in a post newspaper, which I am extracting for you as follows:
EXTRACT March 29 1954
"The inscription on the picture of Brig. Gen. Charles H. Royce says: "To my best soldier in Co. "L", 16th Inf. Regt." The photograph was a present to M/Sgt John B. Worozbyt, Sergeant Major at 1st Bn, Hq, 136th Inf Regt., who has the distinction of being probably the most decorated man in the 47th Division today.
During his eighteen years in the Army, Sgt. Worozbyt has distinguished himself so many times that it isn't difficult to understand why General Royce called him his best. He holds the Silver Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster and "V" device, four Purple Hearts, the Good Conduct Medal with clasp, and the European Campaign Medal with seven battle stars and an arrowhead for participating in a beach landing. He has also been awarded the Occupation Medal twice, and wears the clasp signifying that he took part in the Berlin Airlift of 1948-49, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the American Defense Medal, and the French and Belgian Fourrageres.
His citations read like a script for a movie. He won his first Silver Star in Troina, Sicily, in August 1943. When his company commander was seriously wounded, Sgt. Worozbyt crossed an expanse of terrain that was under heavy enemy fire and evacuated the wounded officer to safety. On D-Day in Normandy, France Sgt Worozbyt voluntarily advanced to an exposed forward position to direct his unit's fire, enabling his men to break through a heavy barrage of enemy fire. For this heroic action he was awarded the first Oak Leaf Cluster to the Silver Star. He won his second Oak Leaf Cluster in Germany on Nov 18, 1944. His pla- toon leader had bean killed, and Sgt Worozbyt's platoon was cut off from the