ENPages
Page 2
[inserted' Washington, D.C. (Pentagon) WASH DC-11 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 Peyton Tabb, Jr. What was your unit and division ? 237th Engineer Combat Battalion VII Corps Where did you arrive in Normandy , and at what time ? UTAH Beach - H-hour What was your rank on June 6 , 1944? [crossed out] Major [end of crossed out] Captain What was your age on June 6 , 1944? 25 Were you married at that time ? No What is your wife's name ? Mary O. Did you have any children at that time? No. What do you do now ? Regular Army - Colonel, Corps of Engineers When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? February 1944 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 ? Trip made by LCT. Embarked 3 June at Dartmouth. Principal recollections are the bad seas on 4-5 June, during which time I sprained my ankle on the wet deck. Thereafter spent most of my time "in the sack". Other time spent checking equipment and watching maneuvers of small craft was sunk by quiting one day out when it became unseaworthy. What were the rumors on board the boat , ship or plane in which you made the crossing? ( Some people remember scuthlebut to the affect that the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it afire when the troops came in ). Don't recall many rumors. The men of my unit on board were well briefed on most all aspects of the operation - so there was little room for rumors. There was speculation as to whether the Germans would try to interfere - say with submarines as they had on Exercise BEAVER before D-day.
Page 3
- f o r C o r n e l i u s R y a n 2 - Your name TABB, R.P. Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No - strictly forbidden! Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Yes, quite a few in the battalion and in other units on both beaches. Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? No. Were you wounded? No. Do you remember what is 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 hearing anything that seems funny now even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? My Operations Sgt & myself planned to land in a weasel - which promptly swaped off the ramp of our LCT. From all the gear board I decided to salvage a protable radiol The Sgt. could barely navigate with his nose above water. I beling a head & taller followed with radio held overhead. After fighting thru the surf with this gadget we flopped down for a breather then tried the radio. It didn't work- and never did! Afterwards of course we thougth of all the personal gear we wished we had salvaged. Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? The TEXAS main batteries firing preparatory fires as we passed by on the way in. The outstanding bravery and example of General Roosevelt who walked the length of the sea wall exposed to all fire, urging the 4th Div. infantry to move off the beach and on to their initial objectives.
Page 4
- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name TABB, R.P. 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 ? At the moment I don't recall any outstanding examples that are not part of official records. Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On board LCT (Nr Plymouth) Where were you at midnight on June 6 , 1944? On board LCT (In channel) 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 know several officers - whose names are a matter of record in various unit histories
I will be available for interviews in Washington D.C. any time this summer should it be desired - RP Tabb 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
Page 5
May 9, 1958
Dear Colonel Tabb: A book about D-Day, June 6,1944, is being prepared by Cornelius Byan for publication in The Reader's Digest in book form on the 15th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion in the spring of 1959. It is being written with the complete cooperation and assistance of the Department of the Army and the Department of Defense. This will not be another strategic history of inva- sion day, but a story of the twenty-four hours of D-Day as people lived them and remembered them. For this, we can only go to the men who were there and, if they are willing, invade their memories. Having learned from the Depart- ment of the Army, of the part which you played in the invasion, we hope very much that you’ll be interested in the project and will be willing to help us.
Mr. Ryan is presently in Europe trying to get the project under way there. He will be back in this country very shortly, and during the late spring and early summer of this year, both in this country and in Europe, he will be interviewing many of the people who agree to contribute to the book. Very probably, he will wish to talk with you during that period, if you are willing and able to see him. In the meantime, since we are literally dealing with hundreds of people, we are finding it necessary to keep an individual file on each person who agrees to help us. Therefore we hope that if you are willing to help with the book, you will complete the enclosed record and re- turn it to me at your earliest convenience. We truly believe that these questions will serve you as well as us, if they can help to crystallise some hazy memories and do indicate the sort of information which we are seeking.
In Mr.Ryan's absence, I should be most grateful to know as soon as pos- sible when and if you will be available for interview during the next two or three months. We will look forward very eagerly to your reply. We want very much to tell your story and the story of your unit, and in order to do that we need you. Thank you so very much for any help which you can give us.
Sincerely yours,
Frances Ward Research Department
Colonel B.P.Tabb, Jr., 024680 Office of the Chief of Engineers Building T-7 Gravelly Point Washington 25, D.C.