Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 009, folder 43: Francis A. Rocca

101st 502 Pathfinder Was told they'd be dropped close to German billetrs, landed instead in the walled garden of the Parish house at St. Germaine de Vereuille (sp?)

Rocca, Francis A. PF Page 22

Pittsfield, Mass. Blue (Boston) Pathfinder 101st For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-day AB-1 Mass 22

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 A. Rocca, 245 Francis Ave. Pitts Mass

What was your unit and division? 502nd Pro HT Inf. 101st Airborne Div. Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ? St. Germaine De Vereuille 12:15 A.M. What was your rank on June 6, 1944? P.F.C. What was your age on June 6, 1944? 29 Were you married at that time? no What is your wife *s name? Did you have any children at that time ? What do you do now? Machine Operator G.E. Co. When did you know that you were going to he part of the invasion? 4 to 5 weeks before 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 crossed the channel at dusk. We could see the cliffs at Dover as we hit it. Nothing much happened Till we hit the Coast of France, in Fact it seemed no Different then a Regular Trainning Mission. Our Flight of 3 Planes was the Pathfinder Group for the 502 Our Planes were the Frist over Normandie that night. We came in so fast we took the Germans by surprise before they could open up on us we had flown past their positions. 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 ). There were no rumors on board our plane we were thoroughly breifed and our part of the operation and we knew exactly what to expect.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Francis A. Rocca 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 ? Some Were you wounded ? Not that day Do you remember what it was like—that is, do you remember whether you felt any pain or were so surprised that you felt nothing? Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? We were to be dropped close to German Billets. When we jumped we were directly over this small town and I landed in the walled in garden of the Parish House. When I think back how scared I was because at any moment I expected to see a squad of German soldiers pour out of the building. I have to smile, all that the house contained was 2 Frenchmen & one French woman more scared than I. Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Our 1st job that night was to set up Flourescent panels, marking the direction for the planes to come in, and one large light blinking out a coded letter for identification, scattered as we were it was quite a job to organize and get set for the 1st Eschelons which were to come in at one o'clock. We set up alright and succeeded not on in attracting our planes to our DZ but also the fire of half the German Army it seemed. You could write a book alone on just what went with one regiment of Jumpers alone that night.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Francis A Rocca 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 from D-day? Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On board plane over the Normandy Peninsula "Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? On outpost in France Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours of D-day, June 6, as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to? John Steinfeld Meadowbrook Rd Danbury Conn. LeRoy Wilson 2344 Ohio Parkway Rockford Ill. Dr. Harold Headley 7486 High St Waynesburg Pa. Fred Wilhelm 1008 Penn St. Williamsport Pa. Garland Robinson 2012 Ottowa Ave. Ottowa Ill. K.W. Kochenour 243 W. 13th St. Harrisburg Pa. Jay Shenk 361 Summit Ave. Apt. 1 Jersey City NJ

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

July 22, 1958

Mr. Francis Rocca 45 Francis Avenue Pittsfield, Mass.

Dear Mr. Rocca:

A history of D-Day, June 6, 1944, to coincide with the 15th anniver- sary 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 De- partment 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 pro- ject 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 liter- ally hundreds of people, we have found it necessary to develop an in- dividual file on each person who agrees to help us. Therefore, we hope that if you are interested in the project, you will complete the en- closed 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 hasy 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 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 personal account. We look forward eagerly to your reply. Sincerely yours,

Frances Ward Research Department FW:LL Enclosure