Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 015, folder 47: Kermit Raymond McCardle

O USS Augusta McCARDLE, Kermit Raymond KY 17

Box 15, #47

N-E

OMAHA USS AUGUSTA

Send back his material ok 4/24/59

Omaha U.S. NAVY Augusta

KY 17 N-E Louisville, Ky LL For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-day In view of code names in folders, Mr. Ryan may want to call this man

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 ? Kermit Raymond McCardle What was your unit and division ? U.S.N.R. - U.S.S. Augusta Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ? 3,000 yds off Omaha Beachhead at 0200 6 June 1944 What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Radarman 3/c What was your age on June 6, 1944? 38 Were you married at that time ? yes What is your wife's name ? Mabel Pauline McCardle Did you have any children at that time ? one son, now A 3/c Jerold Lee McCardle What do you do now ? River Terminal Foreman Louisville, Ky for Shell Oil Co. When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? 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 ? See "on the spot" memo enclosed 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 ). none particularly except speculation as to where we would hit first

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 -

Your name K.R. McCardle

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day ? yes Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day ? mo 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 so surprised that you felt nothing ?

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time ? no

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Before "shove off" from Plymouth I recall the "evening patrol" of a lone German plane who was allowed to make a daily run up and down the Channel (at very high altitude, which was forced on him by AA fire) so he could get an eyeful of fake materiel put out for just such purpose. I recall walking the English countryside and seeing guns & equipment under every available shrub, or tree.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 Your name K.R. McCardle

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 from D-day?

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Traveling at "flank speed" up English channel (to lead invasion.

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? asleep awakened for duty at 0100 6 June 1944

Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours of D-day, June 6, as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to? already indicated

PLEASE LET US HAVE THIS QUESTIOWNAIRE 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 ACKNOWLEDGMENT 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

June 8th - 1958.

Miss Frances Ward, Reader's Digest, 230 Park Ave., New York, N. Y.

Dear Miss Ward:

With reference to the history of D-Day in Normandy to be written by Mr. Ryan, as mentioned in June American Legion Newsletter, I am very much interested in seeing such a history published, and offer the following for what it is worth:

It was my privilege to serve as a Radarman on the U.S.S. Augusta (Admiral Kirk’s Flagship) during D-Day invasion. My particular job was in Combat Information Center -Aft, using special Radio equipment to locate and identify enemy Radar signals, in order that our ship could "jam" their signals. Of course at "General Quarters" my unit of five or six men were sealed under hatches, with only the chatter of six 20 MM guns on the decking directly overhead, to give us the real feel of war, but our Radar and Radio gave us the whole picture.

Also serving on the Augusta was a former son of Louisville, Lt. John Mason Brown (Author), 17 East 89th St., New York, who acted as the eyes for the crew members of our ship, who could not see the battle. Altho I knew Mr. Brown by sight I never met him, but I enjoyed the clear pictures he gave us over the ships intercom system. If Mr. Brown has not already been contacted,I believe he should be ,and I hope he will see fit to add his part to such a story. I thought of writing him myself, but decided against this. This I will leave to your discretion, but in case you contact him, give him my belated "Thanks" for a job well done.

I have typewritten pages of daily memo starting June 1, 1944, running through June 29th, which I made up as a refresher for me to write my own history of D-Day, but that never was done. These are brief but complete. Also I have copies of "Stars & Stripes", Plymouth, England, paper"Western Evening Herald", and the"Daily Sketch", all of which give information as to what was happening after D-Day.

Also I have a handwritten list of the Ships, and their call letters, that were in our Armada, plus a copy of the history of the U.S.S.Augusta as copied over from her log. As fine a ship as ever sailed the sea.

If any of the above can be of help. please let me know.

[*MC*] Yours sincerely, K. Raymond McCardle, 3315 Oleanda Ave., Louisville (15),Ky.