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[*LL*] For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day [*NY 17*]
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? Howard Paul Price
What was your unit and division? 1st Battalion,18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Omaha Beach, 0630 Hrs, 6 June 1944 (Landed with 1st Bn 16th Infantry to establish contact)
What was your rank on June 6, 1944 1st Lieutenant
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 28
Were you married at that time? No
What is your wife's name? Sarah Katherine Price (Married September 1945)
Did you have any children at that time? No
What do you do now? Sergeant Advisor, to unit of Army National Guard (Duty Station: State Armory, 147 Warren Street, Glens Falls, New York.)
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? 18 May 1944
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? Trip was as pleasant as could be expected. Had made two (2) previous landingsAfrica and Sicily, so knew what to expect. Read Clifton Fadiman's "The Robe",up until the morning of the assault. The usual joking and kidding took place, mostly by the nervous type individuals.
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). As mentioned I had made two previous landings in assault waves, so knew what was ahead. For all concerned, my fears were, that the germans might pour oil on the water and ignite it. (I had heard this rumor).
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Howard Paul Price, M/Sgt
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? Being attached to 1st Bn, 16th Infantry, for the landing, I did not know many of the personnel.
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? -------
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Due to Landing Craft being struck with a Mortar shell, personnel had to swim ashore. One wounded man left behind in boat,was tossing his candy bars to personnel swimming in the water!
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Member of my team (Believe his name was Barrett and was awarded the Medal of Honor) repeatedly swam out in the water to rescue wounded drowning personnel although he was the target of rifleman from the bluffs ahead.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Howard Paul Price, M/Sgt
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? No
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On Transport Samuel Chase, enroute to Normandy
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? 500 yds north of Coleville Sur Mer, Normandy. (Omaha Beach-Rear )
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?
[*LL LL*] Colonel Robert H. York, C/O Adjutant General, US Army, Washington 25, D.C. James Donelly, (address unknown) Long Island
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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May 9, 1958
Dear Mr. Price: [*DSC*]
A book about D-Day, June 6, 1944, is being prepared by Cornelius Ryan for publication in The Reader's Digest in book form on the 15th anniversary of the Normandy invasion in the spring of 1959. 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 from the Department of the Army, of the part which you played in the invasion, we hope very much that you'll be interested in the project and will be willing to help us.
Mr. Ryan is presently in Europe trying to get the project under way there. He will be back in this country very shortly, and during the late spring and early summer of this year, both in this country and in Europe, he will be interviewing many of the people who agree to contribute to the book. Very probably, he will wish to talk with you during that period, if you are willing and able to see him. In the meantime, since we are literally dealing with hundreds of people, we are finding it necessary to keep an individual file on each person who agrees to help us. Therefore we hope that if you are willing to help with the book, 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 memories and do indicate the sort of information which we are seeking.
In Mr. Ryan's absence, I should be most grateful to know as soon as possible when and if you will be available for interview during the next two or three months. We will look forward very eagerly to your reply. We want very much to tell your story and the story of your unit, and in order to do that we need you. Thank you so very much for any help which you can give us.
Sincerely yours,
Frances Ward Research Department
Master Sergeant Howard P. Price, 6716557 U.S. Army Advisor Group (NGUS) (1369) New York, New York