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O - E El Paso
For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day TEX 7
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? FRANCIS M. WALKER
What was your unit and division? C COMPANY 14th ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION, 6th ENGINEER SPECIAL BRIGADE
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ? Approximately 5:30 A.M. 6 June 1944, off Omaha Beach, near Vierville - sur - Mere
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Sergeant
What was your age on June 6, 1944? Twenty-one
Were you married at that time? No
What is your wife's name? Georgia Irene Walker
Did you have any children at that time? No
What do you do now? I am a Sergeant First Class in the Army, presently attending a service school at Fort Bliss, Texas
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? One or two days prior to June 6th, in a marshalling area, when we we given French francs for our American money
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 boarded an LCT late at night June 5th, immediately departing for our rendevous point in the channel, and as far as I can remember, most of the troops spent the time sleeping or resting - not much conversation. Later, after we had eaten breakfast, about 4:30 A.M., I spent the remainder of the time at the rail, being seasick.
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 don't recall any rumors
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name FRANCIS M. WALKER
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? No
Were you wounded? I was injured in attempting to disembarke the landing craft.
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? I mostly felt disappointment in not being able to go with the rest of my squad, the pain came later.
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Yes - a fellow taking a bulldozer up the beach, abandoned it when the Germans got his range, leaving it in gear. It continued in a different direction from the operator, and in a few seconds suffered a direct hit.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? A sailor on an L.C.T., which had broached on the beach, "duelling" with a German pillbox, the outcome being inevitable due to the fact that the sailor had no cover whatever except an open 20mm gun emplacement, and the Germans inside the pillbox. But for a few minutes, the sailor managed to keep the gun firing.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name FRANCIS M. WALKER
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? My stupidity was the cause of my injury. I failed to move to a safe position while tha landing craft was backing off the beach to try another run. As a result, my leg was struck by a ramp extension. Also, the landing craft skipper refused to put us ashore at the designated spot due to the fact that the firing was heavy at that point, and continued to do so until delivered an ultimatum by our commanding officer
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On board an LCT in the English Channel enroute to Normandy
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Still on board the LCT (due to injuries received) 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? RICHARD O'MAHONEY RD.2 MERCER PENNSYLVANIA.
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.
I will be available for interview at present address
Cornelius Ryan
Frances Ward Research, The Reader's Digest
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14 April 1958 El Paso, Texas
Miss Frances Ward "Reader's Digest" 230 Park Avenue New York, N.Y.
Dear Miss Ward, An item in the Fort Bliss News brought to my attention the fact that the Reader's Digest is seeking interviews with personnel who participated personally in the D-Day landings. I was a member of "C" Company, 147th Engr. Combat Battalion, which was a part of the Sixth Engineer Special Brigade an amphibious engineer brigade which supported the landings on Omaha beach. If, in any way, I can be of help in this matter, I would be glad to do so.
Sincerely Sfc Francis M. Walker RA 33410562 3014 Richmond Ave El Paso, Texas