ENPages
Page 2
Cleveland Ohio LL
For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day O-13 went in very late D-day little here I think
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 nemo? Anthony Robert Nero What was your unit and division? 23rd Inf. 2nd Inf Div.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ? next to Omaha Beach- Red Fox along the 60 mile front. sometime after 10 PM
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Private What was your age on June 6, 1944? 34 years Were you married at that time? no What is your wife's name? " Did you have any children at that time? No What do you do now? Before and after I worked for RKO film distr and allied artnt. Now I am disabled W/M.S. and work as a real estate salesman when able When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? June 3, 1944- we left the port of Swansee 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 first boarded a transport holding few companies than transfered into ship at chanel holding 1/2 company on deck, the other 1/2 bottom. I was bottom half. the language used it not printable.
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 ). I remember the inferno burning along the water front for miles and the burning of our heavy equipment such as ducks- jeeps- bulldozer d 2ns men as well
Page 3
- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Anthony Robert Nero
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? I had a diary up to that time, however I landed with my fatigue pantsammunition- rifleWere any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day ? many of my friends were drowned before getting on beach. many killed while trying to take enemy entrenched in pillboxes. Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties ? yes, I would rather be home on the farm or home making money like some people that didn't have to be in the war. when, I get home I am going to lead a different life. Were you wounded ? just a little schrapnel
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 ? you don't feel pain at first, a little while later Do you remember seeing* or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time ? some of the boys were shot with wooden bullets that seemed funny at the time. They were of different colors. We never did find out the motive. the word got around that the wooden amunition were poison treated. other were saying to get soldiers our of action and for harrassing. Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else*? except for aiding friends that were shot up badly, with first aid kits and A sgt. from Pennsylvania took a 1st Lieut. by his throat, and told him he wasn't qualified to handle men. that the book wasn't going to do him any good.
Page 4
- for Cornelius Ryan 3 Your name Anthony Robert Nero
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? Going back to France for the second time we had some new men that hadn't been to France before. One soldier lost his head and jumped from deck into the channel on the French side Another soldier jumped after him, saved him. I remember the soldier saying, they are beyond Paris, you should have been here the first day
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Huging the French shores awaiting our turn
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? First orders we got was to rest. I believe it was in St. George. that we were going to take over St. Lo in 3 days, but it took much longer.
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? I knew 3 boys from New York that were all killed later, on land mines. I tried to contact a friend of mine from Tupelo, Miss. His name Ereskine Ivy, but never got an answer. Another named, Troy Keifer from Lawerencebury, Miss. Can't contact him either. I am sorry that I don't remember the names of all my Buddies. I entered the Army June 41 got out near 46. After the invasion I was hospitalized, after release, [crossed out]when[end crossed out] went to another outfit.
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.
P.S. * M.S. (Multiple Scelrosis)
Cornelius Ryan
Page 5
i was with the 2nd Inf. Div. 1st Army making invasion our group boarded troop ships in channel 3rd day of June waiting for D Day watching 1st waves go into action from ships until our turn that evening A. Robt Nero 2174 Stearns Rd #2 LL Cleveland 6, Ohio