Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 015, folder 35: George Dewey Hoffman

D-Day-Release U.S.S. CORRY HOFFMAN, George Dewey Wash DC 9

Box 15, #35 Release with PG

64 9

USS CORRY

N[inserted]U[end inserted]- I

[*WASHINGTON It will be convenient to talk with Mr Ryan at any time GDH N - I N - 1 LL WASH [crossed out]7[end crossed out] DC 9 CO of destroyer sunk off Utah. Will probably have to be interviewed - must have a story yes!]*

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? George Dewey Hoffman

What was your unit and division? Commanding Officer, USS Corry (DD 463)

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? At H-30 minutes arrived Banc de San Marcouf, 2500 yards off shore. at H- hour [inserted]ship[end inserted] blown in two by a mine in conjunction with fire from shore batteries [*Ensign Brunette Blue 5 - 8*] What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Lieut Comdr USN What was your age on June 6, 1944? 33 [*Pentagon L156700 Ex wife Jefferson 2-0074*] Were you married at that time? yes

What is your wife's name? Lois Ward Hoffman

Did you have any children at that time? No

What do you do now? Captain US Navy - assigned duty in office Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Dept Wash D.C.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? in April 1944

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? 3 destroyers of our division lead the invasion craft up to the beach area, as close as we could approach, and then assumed close-in fire support stations for the landing.

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). Our destroyer division commander before sailing for Normandy [inserted]predicted[end inserted] that one or two of his four ships would be sunk. The CORRY was the fulfillment of his estimate.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2- Your name Geo. DHoffman

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? yes

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? No

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? yes

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? yes

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name

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 board USS CORRY en route NORMANDY

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? on board a returning APA bringing back survivors from Normandy to England

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? No

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

SUNK OFF UTAH ABOUT H-HOUR RED POINTERS MINE - Franny

CORRY, USS DD 463 Action Report 19 June 1944

Action Report & Loss of Ship Assigned to Fire Support Unit 3, operating in Utah area off Iles St. Marcouf, Baie de la Seine, during invasion of Normandy with Task Unit 125.8.3 on 6 June 1944. Struck mine and sank.

Station # 3. About 4000 yards off Utah Beach p approximately 2 miles, bearing 280 degrees from St. Marcouf Islands.

H Hour 0630 B 6 June '44.

Specifically assigned duties:

1. To arrive at transport area, having escorted convoy U-2B across English Channel at about H-4 hours. CO USS FITCH was escort commander.

2. To proceed down boat lane toward Red & Green beaches, in echelon formation, with USS HOBSON (CDD 20) and USS FITCH at about H-2 hours, with view to preceding first boat waves towards landings.

3. To depart boat lanes for fire support station # 3 at H-80 minutes.

4. In case of heavy enemy shore battery opposition, between H-2 hours and H-40 minutes, signal "Zebra" would be sent to bombardment ships, which would require CORRY firing on targets 13A and 14A approximately located between Montebourg and Fontenay, coast of France.

5. To arrive at station # 3 at H-50 minutes.

6. To commence direct fire at beach targets # 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92 and 94, extending from prospective beachhead, northwestwards towards Quineville, at H-40 minutes. Rate of fire to be 8 rounds per minute.

7. To cease firing at H-hour upon receipt of black smoke rocket signal, meaning "troops have landed; lift your fire."

8. To fire at target of opportunity after H-hour.

9. To answer call fire after landing of shore fire control party after H plus 210 minutes.

The CORRY car ried out all duties as listed in Par. 1 to 5 inclusive, except signal "Zebra" was not received and therefore targets 13A and 14A were not fired upon.

The rest of the schedule was upset as follows:

1. At H-85 minutes FITCH and CORRY[inserted]were[end inserted] fired on by shore batteries, unlocated, just prior to departing boat lane to report to respective fire support stations.

2. At H-70 minutes, while en route to fire support station # 3, speed about 3 knots, commenced firing almost simultaneously with FITCH on shore battery flashes on beach bearing about 260 degrees T from ship's position 2 mi. due west ofSt. Marcouf Islands. Fire was for purpose of covering FITCH at this time about 3000 yards north of CORRY.

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