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FPO San Francisco CAL 28 LL BLACK
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 ? Arthur Wass Neild
What was your unit and division? U.S.S. Augusta - CA31
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ? Do not recall - only remember arriving in the late evening at 5 June
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Machinist Mate 1/C What was your age on June 6, 1944? 21 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? Hold rank of Lt. U.S.N. - currently executive Officer aboard USS Whitfield County (LST 1169)
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? After getting underway across the English Channel
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 ? Uneventful What were the rumors on board the boat, ship or plane in which you made the crossing? (Some people remember scuthlebut to the effect that the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned, to set it afire when the troops came in ). Don't remember any rumors
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2
Your name A.W. Neild
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?
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Lost one man over the side while riding at anchor during the storm. Being the flagship the Augusta did very little shore bombardment, However she was accredited with destruction at a railroad train many miles inland & one German aircraft.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 Your name A. W. Neild
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? no Where were you at midnight on June 5 1944? off Normandy Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? off Normandy
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
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5 May 1958 N Dear Miss Ward On compliance with the request published in the Navy Times, this is to inform you I served aboard Adm. Kirk' s flagship, the USS Augusta. My period of service aboard the August included the 24 hours beginning midnight the 5th of June 1944. At the present I am attached to the USS Whitfield County (LST 1169) , c/o Fleet Post Office , San Francisco, Calif-
#2 SincerelyLt. A.W. Neild NEILD