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For Cornelius Ryan Philadelphia, Pa LL Book about D-Day
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? Lawrence J Flanagan What was your unit and division? 8th Inf. regiment 4th Inf. Division Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Utah Beach- 06.50 on the morning of June 6. What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Private What was your age on June 6, 1944? Were you married at that time? np What is your wife's name? Did you have any children at that time? no What do you do now? Salesman for food brokerage When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? At the marshalling area about two or three days before June 6. 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 ? Had a steak breakfast. Went up along English coast till it got dark then went to bed till they called us for breakfast. A fellow in K. Co fell off rope ladder to smaller boats broke hip
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 Air Force told us not to worry, if we didn't see any of our planes, because that meant they were winning. We should worry if we saw planes, that meant they were being pushed back.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Lawrence Flanagan
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? no. I have a regimental book. Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Platoon leader was wounded, later died. Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? no Were you wounded? not on D-Day but was wounded later a couple of times 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? The first time I was wounded was a air burst from a 88 on a German tank flak or shrapnel felt like stones falling on me. Later in Seigfried line a rocket hit me and I was stunned lost most of my shirt. Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? While crossing the beach we saw signs "Actung Minen" We had a fellow with us that had a mine detector so about fifteen or twenty of us lined up behind him in single file till Major Collins came over and told us he was making a path for tanks not us Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? One of our machine gun, gunners on D-Day was shooting at German soldiers and as they were trying to get over a hill he would just follow them up and just as they thought they were safe he shot them.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Lawrence Flanagan
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 was crawling along a small hedgerow and a sniper was hiding in a tree he fired over my head a couple of times and missed I could not see him so I put my fingers up my nose at him, he fired again and I stopped being so foolish.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On Flagship of Invasion Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Somewhere near St. Mese Eglise. I am not sure
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 Carl Dunst 913 Lamont La. Roxboro Pa. section leader machine guns LL Wm Clayton 623 Oak Park Rd Lansdale Pa. carried Flame Thrower LL V. Reilly RD Box 113 Pottsville Pa. LL James Blackstock 1431 N. Howard St Phila Pa. had join shot off later LL Roy Dempsey 7907 Knollwood Rd. Lawson, Md LL James Fellico 969- 51st Brooklyn N.Y.
PLEASE LET US HAVE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT TOE CAN INCLUDE YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE BOOK. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE YOUR STORY ON SEPARATE SHEETS IF WE HAVE HOT 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 26, 1958 2808 Longshore Ave #2 Phila. 49, Pa
Dear Sir: I read a article in the American Legion magazine suggesting anyone who was in the Invasion of Normandy June 6, 1944 contact you. I wish to state I landed on Utah Beach with the 4th Division, 8th Inf. Regiment we spearheaded the landing on Utah Beach lead by General Van Fleet who was then a Colonel. I was only a soldier and might only be able to give you a small picture of what went on but there were not many American soldiers on the beach ahead of us. I also keep in contact with some of the other fellows who landed on June 6. If I don't hear from you I want you to know I thank you and wish you all the luck in the world on your book. I thought I did something that day and to have some one write about it makes me proud I did it. Sincerly yours Larry Flanagan formerly sergeant