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Brooklyn, N.Y. LL For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-day blue (or green) NY74
THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND 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? Hyman Edelman What was your unit and division? Co. E. 8th Infantry 4th Division Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Utah We hit the beach H-hour 6:30 A.M. What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Private What was your age on June 6, 1944? 29 years
Were you married at that time? No What is your wife 's name? I am married now, My wife's name is Lillian Did you have any children at that time? I have two girls What do you do now? I own a Retail Wine + Liquor Store When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? June 5th 1944 What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? remember, for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time? Up until June 5th the trip ^on board ship + conversation was as ordinary as if we were in the states. We did go through quite a few air -raid drills When we heard the news that we were to take part in the invasion, a sadder bunch of G.I.'s one will never see. As for conversation, there was very little. We all kept pretty much to ourselves. I do remember seeing some of the boys lips moving. I guess they were praying silently. I for one believe I didn't speak to anyone until I was well in on French soil
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 biggest rumor was that we were to take part in a large scale maneuver which was to last about a week or so. that was one rumor that certainly fizzled out in a burry. As for the rumor that the Germans poured gasoline on the water, that one wasnt on board ship, at least I didnt hear anything.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2Your name Hyman Edelman
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? When we got into our small landing craft there wasnt any conversation at all. I do remember however one of my buddies was singing. His name was Mason He was killed as soon as we hit the beach ---What was he singing? Were you wounded? Yes 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? I was shot by a sniper It felt as if somebody stuck me with a small pin. I ran another ten feet and then dropped. We were moving up to a hedgerow one at a time. I had a premonition of being hit. I prayed that if I were to get killed it should be fast, no suffering Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? As soon as we got off the beach, about 300 or 400 feet in we spotted a small pup tent It looked American. It was in the middle of nowhere. How it got there we never knew.We were baffled as we were the first foot troops to hit the beach. A few boys were sent out to investigate it carefully. There wasn't a thing in it.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Included in our equipment most of us carried a few hand grenades The first breather we had on French soil I took stock of myself. I looked at one of the grenades + a cold sweat come over me. The pin was held by a hair. I don't think I'll ever come any closer to being blown to pieces Another incident I remember very clearly happened about a week after D day It was about two o'clock in the morning, two buddies + myself were on duty to guard our position. It was very quiet at the time when someone yelled 'who is there' and fired a shot. It whizzed right past my head. With that I hit the ground. I made whoever it was to come forward He was one of the boys in my company. We took him back to the First Sargent I never did find out what happened to him . He didn't return to our outfit. Post D-day
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Hyman Edelman
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? We were told that when we get into the small landing craft heading for the beach we were told time + time again not to stick our heads above the boat. A few of the boys in our company did. They never did hit the beach We were also told not to be too curious as far as German souvenirs are concerned. We were told many would be booby-trapped. Many G.I.'s didn't heed this warning + never got off the beach alive. Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? on the the big boat on the English Channel waiting to disembark into the small craft at 2:30 AM + then wait to hit the beach at 6:30 AM Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? About a mile or so in on French Soil
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? Sam Karper 500 Grand Ave NY NY Mr Karper I'm pretty sure can give you quite a bit of information. He started as a clerk in the orderly room and finished off as 1st Sargent. He's quite a guy + I believe he can help you very much.
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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It wasn't until June 5th, 1944 on a beautiful sunny day that we found out we were going to be part of the invasion. We were all assembled on deck when we heard speeches by our Brigaden Gen. Teddy Roosevelt + General Eisenhower. I'll never forget Brig. Gen. Roosevelt's closing words 'I'll see you tomorrow morning 6:30 on the beach' He certainly was there. I was wounded June 19, 1944 at Valognes, France I'd like to pay tribute to a great soldier + real gentleman , Lt. Col. McNeeley (our Battallion Commander) He saved my life. When I dropped after being wounded, I hollered 'Medic'