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Leominster, Mass MASS 6 Nothing
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 ? Joseph Leo Desjardins Jr.
What was your unit and division? U.S. Naval Construction Batt. Ill
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ? Arrived in Normandy, June 6 1944 at 0600 in the morning.
What was your rank on June 6, 1955? CM 3 C Now rate BUL3
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 33
Were you married at that time ? Yes What is your wife's name ? Clara Did you have any children at that time? Son
What do you do now? Retired from navy with disability from Korean war Am now Custodian of Police Department.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? When we were training for invasion, but did not know when it was going to happen.
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? Mostly reading.
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).
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Joseph L Desjardins
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No dairy allowed whatsoever.
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? None wounded.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? No.
Were you wounded ?
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?
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? I remember is being shell by [crossed out]gunmen[end crossed out [inserted]German[end inserted] it was not amusing.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? A transport being struck by a mine.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Joseph L Desjardins
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?
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On Transport
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? On Beach.
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?
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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May 24 1958 Leominster, Mass
Dear Sir I read your article in the legion magasine. I belong to one of the outfit, who took part in the invasion of Normandy. I was with U.S.N, construction battalion III Our outfit put out A book of pre, invasion Invasion, and after invasion of Normandy. If you are interested I could let you have the book, with actual photograph of the in. vasion.
Yours Truly