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[*TIMES!!
Stratford, CONNECTICUT V-E
Good extract- telephoned
good stories
LL
CONN-4*]

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? AMERICO JOHN LANARO
'RICO'

What was your unit and division? 87TH MORTAR BATTALION
(4.2 MORTAR) attached to 8th regt. 4th Division

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? UTAH BEACH
ABOUT 55 MINUTES AFTER H-HOUR - all troops were
heavily concentrated on the beach-dispersion almost impossible-
T Ds and tanks pushed thru wall and troops followed
(More detail on back sheet)

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? T5 radio operator

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 19 years

Were you married at that time? No

What is your wife's name? ---(now Dolores Lanaro)

Did you have any children at that time? No

What do you do now? Painter

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? about 1 week
or more before June 6 - Col. strickland briefed us completely about
our being assault troops at Seton Hall. Sand table with all
details - recon photos and odds we were going in with against Germans.

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?
Water was roughest ever - Unloading into assault craft was
almost impossible. Most men I believe were too calmly confused
to be sea sick. I felt good. I had radio silence so I talked to
Navy man operating landing craft. I asked how close to shore he'd
get us and if he went in before us. He said 1 trip before us. Machine
gun fire cut down many. He said I'll get you as close as I can
and as he spoke we hit a sand barge and had to unload
right there - water thigh high but got chest deep as we went in. The
beach was that way according to briefing we had they were right.

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).
If you can think of a rumor you can be sure it was
rumored in those days. Rumors of all kinds & degrees.
Funny about rumors thou - you tell yourself it's just a
rumor but you still wonder and with a rumor there's
always that 'maybe'.