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[*Minneapolis, Minn. LL Sugg: black MINN 6*]
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? CARL T. GOODMUNDSON
What was your unit and division? CS DIVN ON USS QUINCY
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? BETWEEN OMAHA AND UTAH BEACH ABOUT 3AM JUNE 6-44
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? SIGNALMAN SECOND CLASS
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 24
Were you married at that time? NO
What is your wife's name? NORMA L GOODMUNDSON
Did you have any children at that time? NO
What do you do now? TELEGRAPHER FOR GREAT NORTHERN RAILROAD
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? AS I RECALL GENERAL EISENHOWER CAME ABOARD OUR SHIP JUNE 4-44 AND THAT IS THE TIME WE KNEW WHEN WE WOULD STRIKE. OF COURSE WE KNEW BY SCUTTLEBUTT A LONG TIME BEFORE THAT.
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? IT WAS A VERY DARK NIGHT A LITTLE ON THE CHOPPY SIDE FOR SMALL CRAFT. WE DIDN’T GET MUCH SLEEP AS WE WERE AT BATTLE STATION MOST OF THE WAY. I REMEMBER WE WERE DEBATING WHETHER THE ENEMY KNEW WE WERE COMING IN OR NOT.
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). I DO NOT RECALL ANY SCUTTLEBUTT OTHER THAN MENTIONED ABOVE.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name CARL T GOODMUNDSON
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?
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?
Dc you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? I REMEBER THE LITTLE MINE SWEEPERS GOING IN VERY CLOSE TO THE BEACH IN THEIR WORK AND UNDER FIRE CONSTANTLY. ALSO SEVERAL DESTROYERS GOING IN TO HELP DRAW AWAY FIRE FROM THE MINESWEEPERS AND TRY TO WIPE OUT THOSE GUN EMPLACEMENTS. ONE DESTORYER WAS SUNK IN NEAR THE BEACH AND WENT DOWN TO THE MAIN DECK. THE MEN WERE TRYING TO GET OFF IN BOATS ON THE FAR SIDE WHILE UNDER SMALL ARMS FIRE
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name CARL T GOODMUNDSON
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? JUST OFF LINDS END ENGLAND
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? [crossed out]JUST OFF LANDS END ENGLAND[end crossed out] ANCHORED IN NORMANDY BEACH AREA
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? I DO BELIEVE MY IMMEDIATE COMMANDING OFFICER LT ELI SNIGHT WHO WAS HEAD OF SIGNAL DEPT ON THE QUINCY PROBABLY COULD HELP YOU AS HE HAD ACCESS TO MORE DETAILS OF WHAT WE WERE DOING. BEFORE THE WAR HE WAS WITH THE STATE DEPT IN WASH D C AND LIVED IN VICINITY OF CHEVY CHASE MD WHEN WAR WAS OVER I AM QUITE SURE HE WENT BACK TO THE STATE DEPT. I DO NOT KNOW HIS ADDRESS. THE CAPTAIN OF MY SHIP DURING NORMANDY WAS CAPTAIN SENN
AFTER READING THIS OVER I FEEL MY CONTRIBUTION IS VERY SMALL. IT IS [crossed out]FUN[end crossed out] FUNNY HOW ONE FORGETS.
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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WAYZATA MINN MAY 31-58
DEAR SIR
I READ IN THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE ISSUE OF JUNE 14,1958 THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR VETERANS OF D DAY NORMANDY JUNE 6,1944.
I WAS ABOARD THE HEAVY CRUISER USS QUINCY ON THAT DAY. I BELIEVE YOU WILL FIND THAT IT WAS THE QUINCY WHICH FIRED THE FIRST NAVAL SHELL ON D DAY NORMANDY. WE ALSO FOUGHT AT CHERBOURG AND THE INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE. FOR YOUR INFORMATION WE WERE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO FIRE THE FIRST NAVAL SHOT ON JAPAN AT KAMASHI HONSHU BUT OUR SPOTTING PLANE HAD BEEN DISABLED AND WE DID NOT HAVE A TARGET SO THE SOUTH DAKOTA FIRED FIRST. ANY INFORMATION I CAN GIVE I WILL BE GLAD TO DO SO. AM NOT SURE HOW MUCH I CAN REMEMBER OF THAT DAY. [*Very important
#2*]
YOURS TRULY
CARL T GOODMUNDSON 304 NORTH AVON ROAD MINNEAPOLIS 27 MINN
P.S. I WAS A SIGNALMAN ABOARD THE QUINCY