Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 015, folder 27: John Lewis Gillette

2nd Beach Bn HARRISBURG GILLETTE, John Lewis U Pa 26

Box 15, #27

Rambling --- not clear on times or days

Dead File

N - E Germania, PA. LL (Communications ship to shore) PA 26

John Lewis Gillette Germania, Pennsylvania July 14, 1958

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 GOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

What Is your full name ? John Lewis Gillette

What was your unit and division ? U.S. Navy Service No. 608-6023 Second Beach Battalion Company C Platoon 7 % Fleet Post Office New York City, New York

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ? We landed on Utah Beach head between 6 and 6:30 A.M. June 6, 1944

What was your rank on June 6, 1944 ? Signalman Third Class

What was your age on June 6, 1944 ? Age 22

Were you married at that time ? No What is your wife’s name ? No Did you have any children at that time ? No What do you do now ? Instructor in the Public Schools in New York State Driver Education Instructor Spencerport Central School, Spencerport, New York Wheatland-Chili Central School, Scottsville, N.Y. Teacher

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion ? I was attached to the Battalion around April 1944. A few weeks previous to the invasion we were given orders to water-proof all equ ipment-- issued new equipment etc. About 1 week before the invasion our officers held an important meeting in a quanset hut. It was at this meeting I knew the invasion was close at hand. Lt. Potter and Lt. Robert Crane asked for volunteers to go with them on a reconnaiss ance for our company. No one volunteered. These boys had gone thru Hell -- Sicily-Salerano etc. After each invasion they heard rumors-

John Gillette 2nd paper.

"There outfit would go back to the States". Some other battalion would replace us. Keith C. Collopy said, "Gillette and I volunteer". Lt. Potter said, "Is that all right with you Gillette and I said, "Ye "Yes"..... Keith and I were Green-horns that was just attached to this season[inserted]ed[end inserted] outfit..... I would like to mention here that they were the finest officers I had in my Navy Career.

I recall a rumor - Lt. Potter came from a [crossed out]well[end crossed out] wealthy family. He had traveled in Europe previous to the invasion. His family had the operations of some very large hotel in Chicago. He was well liked by his men.

Lt. Robert Crane was a tall slender handsome man. Other officers wanted to use us for some details — Lt. Crane would tell them we were busy-- get some one else. You could depend upon what he said. Some times he would come into the Enlisted men quarters and visit with us. Previous to the invasion I tried to write home that the invasion was near at hand. He came in my quarters with my letter. He said, "Gillette do you want me to cut out that portion of your letter or do you want to". At least I knew what he was cuting out. Other officers would cut everything out of your letters. After the invasion -- the Second Beach Battalion was transfered to the states. Lt. Crane tried to keep me with the Batallion but he informed me I would be left in England.

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 were issued new clothing. You would not recognize me as a sailor. I wore Arny clothes-- paratrooper's shoes-- Army regulation helmet with liner. We had our Navy dog tags. We had a black band around the outside of the helmet to identify the men in our Batallion.

We were merged with an Army outfit that marched considerable the

John Gillette 3rd paper

day before we embarked aboard ship at Torquay, England. I was happy to board ship as my feet were sore breaking in the new shoes. We were located below the water line. I layed in my bunk fully clothed while waiting for further orders. There was a certain amount of uneasiness in the atmosphere. General Bradley announced D-Day would be tomorrow morning. We were at sea in the channel when the announcement was made. Religious services were held for all denominations. Conditions were crowded-- extra equipment etc. That was the first time in 6 months I had ice-cream since I arrived in England. Rangers were arranging their equipment. The Checking rifles--ammunition etc. hand grenades etc. Around 4 A.M. -- Different units were De-Barking from the transport. This one Ranger asked me to adjust his straps on his pack. I thought it wasmuch heavier than my pack. He was a larger man. What were the rumors on board the boat, ship or plane in which you made the corssing? ( 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). I did not know of such information at the time -- Thank God... Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No Were any of your friends killed or wounded wither during the landing or during the day? Some members or our batallion were killed -- I did not know them personally to remember their names. Were you wounded? No Did 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? Around 5 A.M my Unit was called on main deck-- for departure. It was dark-- early morning. Lt. Robert Crand was there with us. I

John Gillette 4th paper.

could see bomb flashes on the beach-head. Our air-craft was trying to soften up the beach-head before we landed. We were ordered to go overboard into the LVCP waiting for us alongside the transport. The English channel was a little choppy. Lt. Crane tole crew members to releive us of our packs. They were ordered to lower our packs to us. We carried our Carbine Rifles with us to the small boats. The height was around 15-20 feet to the water line. The rope net along the side of the transport would swing and sway with the movement of the ship. We would strike the ship with a smaxhing blow and would hang on for dear lid=fe as it was a long drop between small craft and ship into the channel. I beleive Lt. Crane broke a rib in his descent into the boat. I beleive he said-- There are probaby celebrating in New York -- Times Square at that time. There were 3 navy men in the small boat--the rest of the personnel were [Crossed out] Arym [End crossed out] Army. One Colonel or Major. We circled in small craft untill the signal to go in. The 1st wave hit the beach at 6 A.M. I don't exactly what wave we were in-- but it was shortly afterward. Paper sacs had been provided for troops to vomit in ( sea-sickness) in the small boats. That did not bother me too much as I had seen service in the Pacific before the European assignment but when someone gave orders to keep my head down-- I smelled the naseating ordor-- I became sick myself. It was a British sailor operating the small craft. At that time I did not care what was on the beach-- I was sick and I wanted out of the craft. A few hundred yards from the beach- he stopped the small boat-- the boatswain-- used a stick about the height of a man to measure the depth of the water and lowered the ramp. We stepped into water waist high and waded into shore. Wally Dreher-- Springdale. Penna. a sailor shprter than I was