Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 015, folder 48: Robert Linwood Merrick

US Coast Guard MERRICK, Robert Linwood O Mass 2

Box 15, #48

LL MASS 2 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 ? Robert Linwood Merrick What was your unit and division? U.S. Coast Guard

Where did you arrive in Normandy , and at what time ? I arrived in Normandy at approx. 6:46 A.M. on June 6, 1914. We landed the first troops hit French soil on Red beach I believe

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? S- first class

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 29 yrs old Were you married at that time? yes What is your wife's name? Antionette F. Merrick

Did you have any children at that time? no

What do you do now? I am a Captain in New Beaford Fire Dept.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? On February 22, 1944 when we landed in Scotland with the largest convoy to ever cross the Atlantic. 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 on gun watch going across channel, which was pretty rough. We were told by the Captain that we were about to take part in the greatest invasion in history and were told that if we were captured by the enemy not to reveal any information about U.S. Troops etc. He wished us all good luck. We sweat it out.

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). We only heard that the Germans had fortified the beaches and had moved their anti-aircraft guns back aways to fire at us. This proved correct because our boats were fired upon with 88's and and bigger aircraft guns. Our first seven or eight L.S.V.P. were swamped by artificial sand bars. Our first wave never did get ashore.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Robert L. Merrick

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No we did not have time. We unloaded troops as fast as we could and unloaded their fighting equipment loaded on 1st casualties of beach and took more cases right back to Portsmouth hospital in England. Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Not to my knowledge 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 bearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? The only thing that paralyzed us was the so called dry runs we made during April and May 1944. We used to pick up troops with all their gear and proceed in Channel towards France during night. Then we would circle up and down French coast. We were later told that the Germans were traveling up and down coast in tranis at this time expecting an invasion.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply you more than anything else? The thing that impressed me more than anything else was the tremendous air power Uncle Sam had. As I looked up into the sky that morning I saw nothing but our own fighters. There were so many at times that you actually could not see the sun. I watched a tank fight between the German tanks and the American tanks from the crows nest of our ship during a lull and saw American tank blast German tank to kingdom come.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3Your name Robert L. Merrick

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? I only remember how brave the soldiers were that we took ashore. Some were afraid and prayed, while others were glad that this was the real thing. They had trained long and hard and were all determined as heck to win as soon as they could and get home. Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? All loaded ready for invasion about to start at Tor-Bay England or first outride in Channel on our way Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Falmouth England loading up ship with replacements for France

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 I hope these brief answers are of some help. Of course fourteen years ago is a long time, and all of us veterans' have more or less some memories that we just want to forget and do If I can be of any further help please feel free to call upon me. Like I explained in my last letter I was in U.S.C.G. on an A.P.A. 13 assault transport. All in all I made 3 major invasions. This one, southern France + Okinawa in Pacific

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

May 24, 1958 #2 Dear Miss Ward I took part in initial invasions on D-Day in Normandy. I was on A.P.D. 13 on assault transport. We landed the initial troops on French beaches I was a Coast guard. If you let me know what you are looking for perhaps I can help you. Respectfully Robert L. Merrick New Bedford Mass. 249 Central Ave.