Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 015, folder 49: John Mikula

MIKULA, John USS Murphy (destroyer) Pa 23 Box 15, #49

OMAHA USS MURPHY destroyer

torpedoman 3/c

[crossed out] On arrival:

There was tenseness aboard ship, men weren't as talkative as usual. Everyone was at battle stations. My station was at starboard side K-guns with depth charges. I was wearing head phones tied to the bridge, portside and aft stations. There were long intervals of silence and everyone was so tense that I pressed the talk button on the phone and said, "Ours is not to do or die; ours is but to freeze or fry." This broke tension as men on stations laughingly acknowledged [crossed out] illegible [end crossed out] the message. [end crossed out]

D DAY NIGHT

"Our radar got the beep of a small craft slowly approaching ship from rear. The night was dark and foggy and the ship was darkened. The entire ship was alerted of the approach of a German torpedo boat. Gunners mates broke out machine guns. Everyone waited. There was a 'thump' on the stern, portside, which brought sailors on the run. 'I say,' came a voice from below, 'we're lost/' It was a whale boat with four British silors who had been on an errand and failed to return to their ship. They were questioned and kept aboard until daylight."

Ford City, Pa Pa 23 Couple of good stories

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? John Mikula

What was your unit and division? USS MURPHY DD603 (Destroyer)

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? [crossed out] shortly after [end crossed out] About midnight, June 5, 1944 near Omaha Beach

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

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 29 Were you married at that time? No What is your wife's name? Did you have any children at that time?

What do you do now? Newspaper Reporter

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? [crossed out] morning [end crossed out] Evening of June 3, 1944. While anchored in Bay at [inserted] Belfast,[end inserted] Ireland ship was "sealed," no one allowed off or aboard nor communicate with other ships.

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? Water choppy, tenseness aboard ship, members weren't as talkative as usual. Everyone at battle stations. My station was at starboard side K-guns with depth charges, wearing head phone [inserted] tied [end inserted] to bridge, [crossed out] and [end crossed out] portside and aft [crossed out] illegible [end crossed out] stations. Day was hot, the night was cold, long interval of silence on phones. Everyone tense. I pressed talk button on phone, [inserted] I said, [end inserted] "Ours, is not to do or die, ours is but to freeze or fry," this broke tenseness on stations as men laughingly acknowledged message.

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). The sea area at landing beach was supposed to be "loaded" with torpedo boats - similar to our P-T Boats. German subs, too were expected.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name John Mikula

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 bearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time ? Army men were building roadway up hillside on shore, from beach to top of hill, men [crossed out] illegible [end crossed out] [inserted] crouched walking [end inserted] to pillbox on hill, silhouetted against sky and [crossed out] shore [end crossed out] brush. Watching the action from about 2,000 yards, on sailor remarked, "I'm glad the army didn't draft me." Night of June 6, radar got 'beep' of small craft slowly approaching ship [inserted] at rear. Night dark and foggy, ship darkened, [end inserted] entire ship was alerted of approach of German Torpedo Boat. "Gunners Mates broke out machine guns. Everyone waited, tense, a 'thump' on the stern, portside, brought sailors on the run. "I say," a voice came from below, "We're lost." It was a whale boat with four British Sailors, who had been on an errand and failed to return to their ship. They were questioned and kept aboard until daylight.

[crossed out] Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than any else? [end crossed out]

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name John Mikula

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? Omaha Beach

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Omaha Beach

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?

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

#2 John Mikula 1610 Fifth Ave. Ford City, Pa. May 28, 1958

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

Dear Miss Ward:

According to an item in the American Legion Magazine, you are looking for information from anyone who took part in the D-Day affair, June, 1944.

I was aboard the USS Murphy, DD 603, as a torpedoman. We took part in the D-Day invasion and also in the land-sea battle at Cherberg.

If I can be of assistance you can contact me.

Yours very truly, John Mikula

John Mikula