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Laurel, DELAWARE
For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day DEL I
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? Marion D. Weatherley
What was your unit and division? 7th Corps 1st Division 237th Combat Engineer
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Utah Beach, June 6, 1944 at 6:18 AM
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Corp T5
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 32
Were you married at that time? No
What is your wife's name? Gertrude
Did you have any children at that time? no
What do you do how? 100% disabled veteran
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? We were to a staging area on on the outskirts of Plymouth, England around June 1, 1944 While there we were told we were going into action but not what was to be the point of action
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? The trip through was rough and stormy. Part of the time was taken up by preparing our equipment. I held conversation with one of the sailors aboard ship. He told me that when we got a steak dinner and all the trimmings with ice cream for dessert that would be the big meal before landing.
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). The only thing I can remember is a speech by General Roosevelt who spoke to us and at the end [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] said " Go in and give them hell boys. See you on the beach"
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Marion D. Weatherley
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? Killed Haskell Simpson Gunther [?Schwaize?] Wounded [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] James P. Estes Pine Ridge, Ark. 5589 Lenox Ave [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] Edmonton Detroit 53a Michigan [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] Kentucky
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? Gunter [?Schwaize?] stepped in a hole over his head going in and I pulled him out and when we got to shore he said "It's kinda hot", and I said "Come on let's go" And the enemy by then had him spotted and got a direct hit
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? Some officer from the 8th infantry of the 4th division asked me if I had a cigarette I pulled a pack out of my helmet and held it out to him and before I could get the pack back it was empty
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, 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? About six miles from the beach at a place called Poupeville two girls aged about 6 or 8 yrs old as ive walked passed were handing the boys roses. I took mine and put them in my pocket Bible which I still have with the roses still in it.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Marion D. Weatherley
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 ? One night I was pulling guard duty on the siegfried line. One of the boys was on scout [crossed out] duty at [end crossed out] [crossed out] the [end crossed out] patrol at the time I thought I heard something and shouted "Halt or I'll fire" He kept coming and as I was about to pull the trigger he "hee - hawed" - like a donkey. I knew who it was then because he done it before. Another we were out looking for snipers and were fired upon and saw something move in the bushes and shot at it and it was a cow Post D-day
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? In the English Channel waiting to go in.
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? About 8 miles inland around St Marie de [?liche?]
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? Clyde Branson James J. Hutchinson Dixon 15 Comfort Place Kentucky Clifton R. 7 D, #1 N.J.
Frederick Peters Vallonia Indiana
I'm sorry I do not have names and address of other oufits. I have more names and address of my own outfit if they would help you in any way
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 HOT 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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I have two papers that were give to the entire battalion They are as follows.
2nd Ind HQ 237th Engineer Combat Battalion, APD. 339 U.S. Army 18 June 1945
To: Each officer and enlisted man, 237th Engineer Combat Batt 1. It is with great pride and pleasure that I relay to each member of the 237th Engineer Combat Battalion the [illegible] tribute to the VII Corps Engineers paid by Lieutenant General J Lawton Collins, Corps Commander, and particularly, the commendation and praise accorded our battalion by Colonel Mason J Young, Corps Engineer. I consider the commendation a personal tribute to each member of the Battalion, and one of which we can justly feel proud
2. The outstanding record of the 237th Engineer Combat Battalion has been built on the splendid performance of duty, willing, sacrifices and high courage displayed consistently by each individual which has enabled us to accomplish with distinction the most difficult and trying mission
3. I am personally appreciative of your outstand ing performance and extend to each of you my thanks and congratulations for the distinction which you have earned for the battalion
Our entire Battalion got the the Presidential Citation Unit Badge, The ETO Badge.
I dont [crossed out] dont [end crossed out] know about the rest but I have the bronze arrowhead and the silver star for five major battles.
Herschel E. Linn Lieutenant Colonel, Corp of Engineers Commanding