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6 506 read nothing LL ALA5
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? C W. Anderson
What was your unit and division? Co.H.12th Inf.Regt.4th Inf.Div.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? 0900hrs 6th June 1944 UTAH.BEACH.
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Pfc.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 22
Were you married at that time? No
What is your wife's name? N/A
Did you have any children at that time? No
What do you do now? Police Supervisor
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? Approx one week to ten days
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 English Channel Water was rough, after being on guard from 2000to2200hrs 5th June 1944 I got back to my bunk an taken one of them sea sick pills to keep from being sea sickness an then I got into my bunk anwent off to sleep,
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). Every one were undre the Impression that we were on another dry run
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name C W.Anderson
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? N/A
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? No
Were you wounded? No
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?
To be truthful I was frighten an don,t know wheather i felt any pain
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? No
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? No
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name C W.Anderson
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? No
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Out in the middle of the English Channel,
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Approx three thousand 3000, yds. InLand from Utah Beach Head. along with my platoon sitting beside a 30 Cal. machine gun an in one of the Famous hedgerows that they have in France,
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? No
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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291st Military Police Company (SVC) Redstone Arsenal Huntsville Alabama
April 29th I958
From Sgt.C W Anderson RA 34 389 600 29Ist M P Co.(Svc) Redstone Arsenal,Ala.
To Miss Frances Ward Reders Digest 230th Park Ave, New York,N.Y.
Dear Miss Ward Looking through army times the other day an i came upon your letter seeking information concerning the men who participated in D Day landing at Omaha,&Utah, Beach after midnight of June 5th I944.
I am one of the many thousand who participated in the landing at Utah.Beach an the unit in which i served with was H.Co.I2th Inf. Regt.4th Inf.Div,
If i can be of any help in seeking the information in which you need for your story in readers digest write to me at the above address or P.O.B.435. Leesville,S.C.
Your Truly Sgt. C W Anderson C W Anderson