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Carbondale, PA
PA 51
[in margin] GREEN-not he rambles

For Cornelius Ryan
Book about D-day

THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND 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 ?
ALBERT PHILIP MAZZA

What was your unit and division?
8TH INFANTRY REGIMENT 4TH DIVISION

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ?
LANDED ON THE NORMANDY BEACH HEAD CALLED UTAH BEACH 6:30 AM
JUNE 4, 1944. THE LANDING WAS IN THE VICINITY OF MONTE BURG

What was your rank on June 6, 1944?
SERGEANT ALBERT MAZZA

What was your age on June 6, 1944?
24 YEARS OLD

Were you married at that time? NO

What is your wife's name? NONE

Did you have any children at that time?
NO

What do you do now?
POLICEMAN (CITY OF CARBONDALE) PENNSYLVANIA

When did you know that you were going to he part of the invasion?
ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR WE WERE BEING ORIENTED AND GIVEN
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE LANDING

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 ?
EVERYTHING CAME TO MY MIND, SORT OF FRAGMENTARY THOUGHTS SUCH
AS WHAT IS IT GOING TO BE LIKE, WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO, AM I GOING TO COME
OUT OF THIS. THERE WASN'T MUCH CONVERSATION, MOST OF THE BOYS HAD THAT
SULLEN LOOK DURING THE ENTIRE CROSSING AND GETTING SEASICK. WE WERE
JUST PRAYING THAT WE WOULDN'T GET BLOWN UP BEFORE WE REACHED
SHORE. SOME BOATS NEVER REACHED SHORE.

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)
THERE WASN'T MUCH RUMORS, THE ONLY THING WE WERE CONCERNED
ABOUT IS GAS WARFARE. WE WERE AFRAID THAT THE GERMANS
WOULD USE GAS LIKE THEY DID IN PREVIOUS WARS. THE OTHER WAS
TRY YOUR BEST NOT TO GET CAPTURED, YOU WOULD BE SHOT DOWN IN
COLD BLOOD IF YOU DID. WE DID NOT HAVE SCUTTLEBUTT IN OUR LANE
OF TRAFFIC TO THE BEACH.