Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 015, folder 53: Richard Leroy Munger

Task Force MUNGER, Richard Leroy O NY 75

Box 15, #53

Dead File

For Cornelius Ryan NY 75 LL Buffalo, N.Y. Book about D-day Black- he must have had a terrible day but he isn't at all coherent?

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 ? Richard Leroy Munger -609-22-17 What was your unit and division? Task Force "One Two Three" United Kingdom

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ? Omaha, Red Beach around 6:00 A.M.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? (S.M. 2/c) Signal Man 2/c (equal to a tenical Sergent of the Army) What was your age on June 6, 1944? 18 yrs old possibly 19 yrs old Were you married at the time? no What is your wife's name? I have none Did you have any children at that time ? none that I know off What do you do now ? I'm a brakeman (unemployed)

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? I didn't know until I was latched on to a L.C.T.

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 ? The trip itself on a L.C.M. being pulled across by this L.C.T. was awful, I don't remember converting much because I was too sick, (sea sick)

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). There were no rumors that I heard off and the Germans did not set afire gasoline on the water.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Richard Leroy Munger

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 so surprised that you felt nothing? I didn't feel any pain and I wasn't surprised.

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? Well, one thing did seem funny, is that we had to cast off this big hauser rope that pulled us across so that we could consume our fuel. But it was to heavy and water soaked, it was awfully funny that they didnt give us anything to cut it off with, but luckily, one of our crew had a English knife and he sawed at it for a long time before we were loose.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? yes, I saw the "Raingers" chink a rope ladder on a overhanging cliff. I was really surprised how they did that. I also saw a L.C. V.P. sunk with a man still alive hiding behind what was left of it, I sweard to him to come over to our L.C.M. which wasnt to far away from him. One man of our underwater demolition team ran off without his gear. One man on another L.C.M. was shell shocked one man wrote to my house telling my family he saw me killed. I was missing in action but I wasn't killed all this was on the sad side.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Richard Leroy Munger

In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity self-reliance; others do incredibly stupid things. Do you remember any examples of either from D-day? I mentioned one on the other sheet, We had a gunner mate who didn't fire his 50 caliber because he said he didn't see anything while the other gunner was firing like mad. I even swore at the one who wasn't firing to start fireing, but he didn't.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Tied up to this L.C.T.

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Tied up to a L.C.T. that was anchored and blood splattered (with a cable this time, but a storm was bruing and our cable ripped right through the side of this L.C.

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? Besides the underwater demolition and Raingers there were tanks landing, infantry and the English, "whatever they had" During the day L.C.U.'s landed with troops and also L.S.T.s landed with equipment and troops. We sank because we were full of shrapnel and bullet holes, but we (5) are still alove, thats if any of the other four didn't have any accidents during civilian life. I could tell you more after June 6, because we stayed there quiet a many days after.

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 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

Richard L. Munger { sender ? 15 Francis St. Buffalo 12, N.Y.

Dear Sir: I noticed from, a American Legion book "which" I belong to are looking for a Veteran of D-Day , Normandy Beach. I was one who hot that beach at zero hour with Army + Navy Demolition Units, on a L.C.M. (Landing CraftMechanized) I received citations, accomendations, + even a letter from Former Pres. Truman. I also have a few pictures of Normandy. I will write one down for you, all are different words, if you want one. My unit was Task Force One, Two , Three "U.S. Naval Advanced Amphibious Base" on June 6, 1944. (Thats when we landed) I am 33 yrs old, and unemployed my benefits have run out. I belong to a post and I am also a civil defense worker (no income) You were looking for someone that hit Normandy beach on June 6, 1944 and now you have found one. "I was there" Even though we were sunk by shratnal, I am looking for your reply. Jobs are hard to get so I would like to know what kind of gurantee, if I tell you just about everthing I see, heard and know about. I also was in Japan, Yours truly Richard L. Munger