Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 015, folder 25: Edmund John Gagliardi

PITTSBURGH LC Flotilla GAGLIARDI, Edmund John Pa22 O 19

Box 15, #25

5:15 a.m. OMAHA USS LCT 637 FLOTILLA 19

sc 3/c

ON THE BEACH

After we had unloaded DD tanks we were to proceed to a certain Liberty ship and pick up a load of 2nd Div. Medics to take them to the beach. We did and were about to discharge them when one of the medis would not go ashore. His officers told us that this was not his first invasion and that we should let him stay aboard until we could turn him over to the proper authorities for medical care. He had cracked up. He did not leave our ship for three days. He stayed in the head did not eat or sleep and just held on to a pole in the head, shaking I never saw a man so scared in my life, even to this day.

Dead

N-I Ambridge PA LL PA 22

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 ? Edmund John Gagliardi 8215184

What was your unit and division? LCT (6) flotilla 19 staff U.S.S. LCT (6) 637

Where did you arrive in Normandy , and at what time ? Omaha Beach 5:15 AM flag ship of LCT's carrying DD tanks

What was your rank on June 6, 1944 ? SC/3C What was your age on June 6 , 1944? 20 years of age 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? police officer for the past 11 years Ambridge Police Dept. When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion ? about 3 or 4 days prior to the invasion 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 ? we had made the trip 2 or 3 days. headed toward France, and then we would turn back. but I do remember on the morning of June 6, they got us up about 4 AM and told us we were going all the way this time. (we got to bed about 1:30 AM that morning and I was telling another flotilla staff member, a colored stward mate, that this would probably be another dry run)

What were the rumors on board the boat , ship or plane in which you ma.de 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 scuttlebut on board our LCT was that the Germans had mined the entire beach with mines and had placed objects and debris along the beach so we would be either blown up or trapped or hung up on some object along the beach, and a perfect target for thier 88.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Edmund John Gagliardi

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? No Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? none

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? none

Do you remember seeing- or bearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? D-Day evening our C.O. of the L.C.T. said we should anchor out far enough away from range of shore batteries and suggested we keep away from other ships which would make us more of a target. We had gone out about two miles and dropped anchor and thought we were far from other ships, but instead the next morning June 7 we were in the middle of the English Navy.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? after we had unloaded the DD tanks we were to proceed to a certain liberty ship and pick up a load of 2nd Division medics to be taken to the beach. We had picked them up and about to discharge the medics onto the beach when one of the medics would not go ashore his officers had told us that this was not his first invasion and that we should let him stay aboard untill we could turn him over to the proper authorities for medical care. He had cracked up, he did leave our ship for three days. He stayed un the head, did not eat or sleep, just holding onto a pole in the head shaking and scared. I never saw a man so scared in my life, even to this day

/ name? did he say anthing/ details?/

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Edmund John Gagliardi

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? No

The Sec of the Navy awarded the USS LCT (6) 637 the Navy Unit commendation for heroism in action against enemy aircraft, shore batteries, and mines during the Normandy Invasion, June 6 to 12 1944.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On the English Channel headed toward France.

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Anchored about 2 miles from shore of the Normandy Coast.

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? Ralph Avitabile 73 Haven St. New Haven, Conn

Alex Dolgon 332 Kean St. Brooklyn N.Y

Sam Goldenberg 5459 W. Berks Philadelphia 31, PA.

Vincent Castelli 1319 Adee St. Bronx 69 New York N.Y.

John Sunday 8 N. Gilbert St. Shenandough, PA.

Com. Lanceferd B. Pruitt 2416 Prairi Ave, Mattoon, Ill.

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 Digest

Edmund J. Gagliardi 632 Beaver Road #2 Ambridge, Pa.

Miss Ward, I served with the U.S. Navy on D-Day in Normandy I was on an L.C.T. and was with flotilla 19 staff Our L.C.T. had D-D tanks on board and we hit the beach one half hour before H hour. I would be glad and it would be a priviledge to help your author Mr. Ryan. yours truly, Edmund J. Gagliardi