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(1818 Treemanshug Ave) Easton, Pa. LL Possible excerpt For Cornelius Ryan PA70 Book about D-day (can't find letters)
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? Gaetano Capobianco
What was your unit and division? Co "I" 8th Inf. Reg. 4th Div.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Utah Beach, 5:30 a.m. [*?*]
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Pfc.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 24 yrs.
Were you married at that time? no
What is your wife's name?
Did you have any children at that time? no
What do you do now? Butcher for American Store
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? [*10*] In England, six months before because of the type training we received
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? Started for invasion at night on June 5, the weather was clear. Breifed by Gen. Roosevelt on "The Flagship" with Division Gen Barton and Regiment- al Commander James Van fleet. During briefing Gen. Roosevelt stated it would be a bloody beach and Cherberg was our objective.
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). Heard rumors Germans were having manuvers in section of Normandy where we were to land.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Gaetano Capobianco
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No 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? Not much conversation had to keep moving. We looked like we were all doped up.
Were you wounded? yes June 29, 1944
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? Felt pain and knew I was hit. Hit bad enough to put me out of action.
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time?
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? We were all happy to see the Gliders and paratroopers come in. I remember one incident when I was in a hedgerow while gliders were landing when suddenly one of the gliders coming toward me crashed into a tree above me and the pilot was killed instantly and hung grotesquely over the tree until the medics and other buddies removed the body.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Gaetano Capobianco
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? On D Day night when we dug into a defensive position my buddy and I found a parachute and lined our slit trench with it and he remarked if we must die we might as well die in silk.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On the Flagship Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? On Normandy beach about five to six miles in
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? Nicholas Capobianco (brother) 110 Heller Ave Pen Arygle, Pa Leo Heil 612 Race St. Scranton, Pa.
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 (over)
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Question number (10) about takeing part in the invasion. Six months before we figured that would be in it. We did not know really till about two weeks befor. We were stationed outside of Plymouth England at the time. We were restricted to the camp. We were not able to talk to any people. Every day we would go into a room that had a map of the place were we were to land. It showed roads and gun enplacement, farmhouses, hills, open fields.