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[*Mt. Carmel, PA. PA 20 ? 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? Walter J. Zush P.O. Box 353 Mt. Carmel Pa
What was your unit and division? 745 Tank Bn. 'M' 1 Army 16 Infantry Division
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? [crossed out][illegible][end crossed out] Ohmaha Beach 5.30 June 6 in the morning
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? T-4
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 29
Were you married at that time? no
What is your wife's name? none
Did you have any children at that time? none
What do you do now? nothing [*?*]
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? June 5,1944
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? June 4, 1944 We were Told that we was To go on maneuvers with the [crossed out][illegible][end crossed out] [illegible] & 16 Bn division We were on a L S T & were not to come aboard [?until?] Departion.
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 never was told about The Germans or Invasion or about the Gasoline, We were only to that Tomorrow we invade France June 5, 1944
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- for Cornelius Ryan - Your name Walter J. Zush
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? for a few days & had to Burn up all my Vaulable pages & dairy Order from The Captain
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? only during The day
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? no
Were you wounded? yes
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? I went on with the fellars. had no pain because All I had in my mind was will I Ever see America Again
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Nothing funny.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Yes Sgt Patrick. Lt. two other fellas from the Aufit were riding a Jeep & hit a mine all were gone.
[*!*] I got Busted from the Capt for Slapp a private in the face, only 75 yards from the Enemy, from Sgt To Private [illegible] Bodies [illegible].
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Walter J Zush [*P.O. Box 353 Mt Carmel Pa*]
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? Yes Laughing at Germans Arttilery [?Bomb?] mis & Shelling 29 men To be exact No were To Turn That was when we were over the Siegel
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? at Sea
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? 200 yards from the Beach in Shore.
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? [*out*] 745 Tank Bn - Captain Simmons Sgt. Patrick Sgt Snearly 16 Inf. 18 Inf. Sgt Teichener 26 Inf. Sgt Carroll
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 GALLED "WHERE THEY ARE NOW; YOUR NAME AND VOCATION OR OCCUPATION WILL BE LISTED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
Cornelius Ryan
