- for Cornelius Ryan 2 -
Your name B. B. Talley.
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day?
Yes. My job was to dispatch a continuous commentary of the landing. For about 9 hours, I sent a message each 15 minutes (approx) I have those, and filled in the data
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or shortly
during the day?
-^es. One of my drivers. Also my senior staff sergeant died of shock
or heart failure immediately reaching shore. General Ilelmick carried the staff
sergeafct snore and lay him on the beach. He did shortly thereafter. I was not with them. Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became
None
after D-Day.
casualties?
Were you wounded ? No. I knew I would not be. I was Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans,
and knew the stage and the script and every part every unit was to play. Therefore, I
went about my task quietly. I repeatedly wrote Mrs* Talley, "The German or the Jap has not
been bora
who can touch
me."
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?
Do you remember seeing* or bearing anything that seems funny now,
though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time?
Knowing myself as 1 d id, it seemed unusual then that 1 was not nervous or
excited,and it seems so now. I was mindful of what was going on around me, and took
precautions not to do anything foolish, but at no time felt fear. If that is bravery,
I can take no credit, l^y prayer was a simple one: "Thy will be done, and may I conduct
myself as I should. " It was, at the time, of little concern whether I crossed the
beach, and did not worry about it*
even
simply memorable, which struck Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or
you more than anything else? Yes.
EN