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Amphibious Force U.S. Navy DWYER, Harry A. Cal 17
Box 15, #19
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[*Northridge CAL 17 LL*]
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? Harry A. Dwyer, Chief Signalman, U. S. Navy (Ret)
What was your unit and division? Amphibious Force, U. S. Navy.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? On the morning of June 6, on the initial invasion.
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Chief Signalman, U. S. Navy.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 44
Were you married at that time? Y es
What is your wife's name? Mary Barbara Dwyer
Did you have any children at that time? Five, John, Henry, Mary Barbara, Robert J., and Ann.
What do you do now? Clothing Storekeeper, U. S. Veterans Hospital, Sepulveda, Calif.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? When we went up to England to hold rehearsals for the invasion. This was a month or more before the real invasion took place
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? [*Who?*] Due to my duties as Chief Signalman on the flagship of the Commander Transport Division 5, I was unable to get about the ship. How- ever I did help the Acme photographer get his gear and equipment ready for the invasion.
Most of the tropps aboard were impressed with the size of the invasion fleet and the the planes which formed a blanket. As far as I could ascertain, everybody was on the alert knowing what was going to happen.
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). The usual rumors of the Luffwafte and the German E Boats
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Harry A. Dwyer
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No, but I have a wonderful memory of the events that took part in our area and aboard ship while we were in the transport area.
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? None that I can recall at present. The complement of the ship, was still intact after the invasion.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? I talekd at length with the correspondents on board and got a par- ticular kick out of the method used by the photographers in keeping their equipment, especially the films, from getting wet while making the invasion.
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? - - -
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time?
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else?
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Harry A. Dwyer
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? None that I can recall at present.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? At the staging area in Portland , England.
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Portland, England, discharging wounded picked up at Normandy.
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 GALLED "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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Northridge, Calif., May 17, 1958.
Miss Frances Ward, READER'S DIGEST, 230 Park avenue, New York City, N.Y.
Dear Miss Ward:
I just read in the Our Navy magazine where you are compiling data on the Normandy invasion, and thought I would drop you a line. Perhaps I could help you out as I had a "box seat" at practically all the invasions on the Continent.
The ship I served in at Normandy was the flagship of one of the Amphibious Divisions. In fact, it was the ship that Larry eier of CBS made his broadcast from after the initial attack. I still have a copy of his broadcast.
As for myself, I am a retired chief petty officer, U. S. Navy and was connected with Our Navy magazine for almost thirty years. At the present time, I am contributing editor for Sports. While in the last fracas, I sis war correspondent duty for ON and was on the staff of Stars & Stripes and Yank magazines. Incidentally, somewhere "among my souvenirs," I have copies of the stories I sent in and will look them up.
As for Normandy, we hit the Omaha beach bright and early on the morning of June 6, and stayed until alost dusk, when we left for an English port with a ship load of wounded. On board were many cor- respondents, including the ACME photographer who bro ght back the first pixs of the wounded. They were the ones that were sent world wide from the scene.
According to orders at the time, all pictures and stories of the invasion were to go through a central communication center. How- evr, the center never did function and it was every man for himself, so Acme got the scoop on the world with the first pixs.
If there is any way I can help with the Normandy yarn, please feel at liberty to call on me.
Cordially, Harry A Dwyer Harry A. Dwyer,USN(Ret), 8427 Sylvia avenue, Northridge, Calif.