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This guy is handy for interview at any time For Cornelius Ryan' Book about D-Day NY 34 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? CHARLES ALFRED WALL
What was your unit and division? G-3 Engineer Special Brigade Group
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Landed at approx 900AM, 6 June 44
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Lt. Col GSC (Inf)
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 43
Were you married at that time? Yes
What is your wife's name? EVELYN F WALL.
Did you have any children at that time? Yes - a daughter, born February 1942
What do you do know? Vice President in Charge of Finance and Treasurer - BROADCAST MUSIC, Inc. President - ASSOCIATED MUSIC PUBLISHERS, Inc. (Serious music subsidiary of BMI) 589 Fifth Avenue, New York 17, N Y
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? Dec 1943
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? Calm, Had many conversations with illegiable Gen 1st Div and Staff, own HQ staff, and Naval Staff on Command Ship before debarking
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 olanned to set it afire when the troops came in). None - we had authentic information.
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~ for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Chas A Wall Did you by any chanoe 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 - several
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they beoame casualties? Yes
Were you wounded? Yes
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? Didn't realize it until end of day, slight.
Do you remember seeing- or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Yes - landing incidents afloat and ashore
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Yes - episode of rescure of my Hq. clerk on landing in deep water.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Chas A Wall
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? Yes
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On board Hq ship
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? In a bunker ashore
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? Yes - many
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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June 3, 1958
Col. Charles A. Wall c/o Associated Music Publishers, Inc. 589 Fifth Avenue New York 17, New York
Dear Col. Wall :
A history of D-Day, June 6, 1944, to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the Normandy invasion next year is being prepared by Cornelius Ryan for publication in the Reader' s Digest and in book form. 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 invasion 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 of the part which you played in the invasion, we hope very much that you will be interested in the project and agree to help us.
During the next few months, both in this country and in Europe, Mr. Ryan will be interviewing many of the D-Day participants who agree to contribute to the book. Very probably, he will wish to talk with you during that period. In the meantime, since we are dealing with literally hundreds of people, we have found it necessary to develop an individual file on each person who agrees to help us. Therefore, we hope that if you are interested in the project, you will complete the enclosed record and return 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 crystallize some hazy memor ies and to indicate the sort of information which we are seeking.
I should be most grateful to know as soon as possible when and if you will be available for interview during the next few months. We want very much to tell the story of your unit, and in order to do that we need your per sonal account. We look forward eagerly to your reply.
Sincerely yours,
Frances Ward Research Department FW:LL Enclosure