World War II D-Day Accounts from the Cornelius Ryan Collection

VETERANS’ ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL ALTOONA. PENNSYLVANIA

Miss Frances Ward Reader's Digest 130 Park Ave New York, N.Y.

Dear Miss Frances Ward I was a member of the [inserted] C.O.B. [end inserted] 1st Battalion 115 Inf Regiment of the 29th Division which landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day June 6-44 got as for as [?St. Lo?] where I was wounded July 12-1944. I may be able to give some account. I entered the service in May 14 1941 at Altoona, Penna and was assigned to the 29th Division May 18 1941. Went to E.T.O. Oct 5-1942. Wounded July 12-1944 Sent back to the States for further Hospitialization until April 1945 Reassigned to a Special Training Unit as a Military Instructor (Teaching [illegible]) Discharged Sept 3-1945 (85 [?poinys?]) Will be glad to give you any information that

PRESENTED BY FREEDOM CHAPTER, AMERICAN WAR MOTHERS, ALTOONA, PA.

DUBOIS, Hamilton J. Md 10

Box 7, #54

For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day LL 2 MD10 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? Hamilton J. Dubois

What was your unit and division? Co. C 325 Glider Inf. 82nd Airborne Div.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? I don't remember the place + the time was at four o'clock What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Pvt. What was your age on June 6, 1944? 20 years old. Were you married at that time? No

What is your wife's name? NONE Did you have any children at that time? no What do you do now? I am back in the service + I am going to school at Fort Bliss until 10th of July. Then I will be back in my unit . I will be the 28 or 29 July before I will be at B-Btry 36th When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? about two days 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? Actually I was scared + nervise + couldn't say anything. I just kept my finger crossed + watching everyone getting sick from the glider flight. The trip was rough.

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 rumors were that the Germans had 88 M.M. guns waiting for us + would shoot at us + also they had lots of edge rows + they would be there with everything they had.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Hamilton J. Dubois

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No, we couldn't have anything on our possession. Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? yes, quit a few Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they beoame casualties? yes, they told me if they came out of the war O.K. They would go into business of there on + wanted me in the business with them 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? yes, when I got hit it burned a little + blood started to come out plenty. So I call the medic + they came + stopped the blood. Then I was sent to the hospital in France Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? none at knowledge Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? yes, when a friend of my got killed behind a hedgerow + I had to step right on him to get out of enemy fire

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Hamilton J. Dubois

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 ? not that I know of any

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? I was on my way to Normandy from Lester England Where were you at midnight on June 6 , 1944? I was on my way to the hospital in France 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 should we write to ? not that I know of any because the one I know are all dead.

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

May 28, 1958

SP/3 Hamilton J. Dubois Battery "B" 36th AAA Missile Battalion Devidsonville, Maryland

Dear Specialist Dubois:

Thank you very much for your letter and for your willingness to help us with Cornelius Ryan's book about D-Day. I hope you will forgive the delay in replying to your kind offer of assistance; we are gratified, but somewhat overwhelmed, by the wonderful response which we are getting as a result of our re uests for information.

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 so many people, we have found it necessary to develop an individual file on each person who agrees to help us. Therefore, we hope 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 crystallise some hazy memories 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. We want very much to tell the story of your unit, and in order to do that we need the personal accounts of the men who were there. We particularly look forward to your reply.

Sincerely yours,

Frances Ward Research Department

FW:LL Enclosure

SMITH, Wilbert Leroy Ia 14 29th Div - 116th Inf Box 7, #11

IA 14 Woodburn IOWA LL

For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day

Green

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? WILBERT LeROY SMITH

What was your unit and division? Co. F. 116th INF. 29th DIV.

Where did you arrive in Normandy and at what time? OMAHA Beach 6A.M. JUNE 6

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? PFC

What was your age on June 6, 1944? NINETEEN

Were you married at that time? No

What is your wife's name? ROSALIE FRANCIS SMITH

Did you have any children at that time? NO

What do you do now? FARMER

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? March or April of 44

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 weather was very bad we were in the Channel an extra day because of it. We read, slept, played poker. We also had boat [illegible] + we had formations, + inspection

Were there any rumours aboard 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 remember to much. We were supposed to have an easy time. Element of surprise + a light (If any) concentration of German troops

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 -

Your name Wilbert L Smith

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? Yes

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? No

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 surpised that you felt nothing? It actually wasn't pain. It was just like a sharp slap. A sting.

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did no, of course, seem amusing at the time? There wasn't anything funny then.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Yes one of my buddies was hit bad. I stopped by him for a minute. He looked up at me, saluted + said "This is it Smitty." Then he died

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 -

Your name Wilbert L Smith

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? I wasn't on the beach long enough to observe very much. Also there was much confusion.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? on the English Channel

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1945? on the English 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?

Earl William Walter Wilbenn - So. Boston Va. Killis Thorton, John Thorton - So. Boston Va. Carl Hall. - [illegible]. Herman Saunders - So. Boston Va. Ned Allred. va. Jack Satterfuld - So. Boston Va.

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