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Please pardon my not having this typed Dr A
New Orleans, LA. LA 8 RED or GREEN Has diary
For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-day
THOUSANDS OP 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? DR NICK JOSEPH ACCARDO
What was your unit and division? 1ST. BN., 8th. Reg. 4th. INF Division-
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? UTAH BEACH - 7:00AM. or 4 Hour + 30 min. D day.
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? 1st. LT.
What was your age on June 6 , 1944? - 27
Were you married at that time? Yes -
What is your wife's name? EUNICE KNOP ACCARDO.
Did you have any children at that time? NO.
When did you know that you were going to he part of the invasion? 3rd, week of May 144[1944]- when we were herded into the marhsalling area at Torqway, ENG.
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? Very pleasant aboard A.P.A-13 (Previously known as Jos- T. Dickman) - Loafed[laughed], played Dice, Read(Tree grows on Brooklyn), prayed, ate like there was to be no more; whatever, I did I always returned to what was in store for me & the rest, there was relief among are that at last this wasn't "just another dry sun" - this would be it - the "1st step home."
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). Many were concerned about being aboard the A.P.A "13" because of the forboding history of that number. Ken Crawford of Newsweek - was concerned seriously over the fact that he had been fed ice cream 3 times in the channel, at Oran Ice cream appeared once - things didnt 1st turn out too bad, at Sa
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 -
Your name Dr. Nick J. Accard
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day ? yes // Bruno mentioned this
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day ? yes
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties ?
Were you wounded ? no- not on the Beach-
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 ? yes, I amusedly realized for the 1st time while bobbing up + down like a cork in the channel in our L.C.V.P. what the "V" stood for- obviously for vomiting- after I had filled the second paper container so thought provided by the Army.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else ? Jack Lahah of Boonesville N.Y. on aid man for Co. B. was the 1st fatally injured. on the beach in our medical section He sheltered with this body a wounded rifleman + died froma shell fragment Sen. "Teddy" Roosevelt strutting up + down the beach with his Swagger stick as non chalantly as a dandy on Park Avenue. His very presence + attitude was an inspiration to all of us
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name DR. NICK J. ACCARD
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?
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Receiving communication from [?Fo?] Bruno aboard A.P.A-13- + praying -
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Trying to sleep in a ditch along side a [?indary?] road on the outskirts of St. Mere & [?glise?] - some snipers tormented us all night.
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? Dr. Arthur B. [?Luvive?] - 2312 Blue Bonnet Blvd. Houston, Tex. (101st Para. medic). Dr. Malton Salatich - (3rd [illegible] Med. 8th Reg) Mason Blancle, Bldg. New Orleans, La. Dr. Stan Morgan (82nd airbore med.) Lafayette, La.
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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THE READER'S DIGEST PLEASANTVILLE * NEW YORK
August 13, 1958
Dr. Nick J. Accardo 6309 Paris Avenue New Orleans, Louisiana
Dear Dr. Accardo:
A book about D-day, June 6, 1944, is being written by Cornelius Ryan for publication in The Reader's Digest and in book form next spring on the fifteenth anniversary of the Normandy invasion. It will not be a strategic history of the invasion operation, but a story of 24 hours as men lived then and remember them. Most fortunately, with the help of the Department of Defense, we have been able to reach many of the men who participated in the invasion during those 24 hours. We have been in contact with Father Bruno, who tells us that you were with him on Utah Beach and that you too might be willing to help us.
Mr. Ryan has just returned from work on the book in Europe and will be doing his most intensive work in the country during the remainder of this month. Very probably he will be in touch with you himself soon. Since he is so pressed for time I thought it better that I write you first and ask you, first, if you would be willing to complete the enclosed form which we are using as a basis for personal interviews; secondly and more hopefully still, if you might agree to let us read the portions of your war diary which pertain to D-day. Father Bruno mentioned the diary to us as a possibly invaluable part of the D-day story.
I should be grateful too if you would let me know whether or not you could be interviewed in New Orleans during this month. We will look forward to your reply with particular hope and eagerness. Thank you so very much, sir, for any help which you can give us.
Sincerely yours, Frances Ward Frances Ward Research Department
[inserted] Yes, did he delighted to help -- (give me 1 week's notice for an interview--) Mr. Ryan -- Dr. A---
RESEARCH DEPARTMENT, 230 PARK AVENUE, NEW YORK, N.Y. TELEPHONE MURRAY HILL 4-7000