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Annapolis Md. LL *Interview MD 15

For Cornelius Ryan
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?
JAMES ANTHONY FANTO

What was your unit and division?
6th Beach Battalion U.S. Navy
[inserted] (beach traffic control?)- ask here, Mayhew [end inserted]

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ?
at Omaha Beach 6:30 to 7:00 P.M. June 6th

What was your rank on June 6, 1944?
Radioman 1st class

What was your age on June 6, 1944?
23 yrs

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?
I am Radioman Chief in the U.S. Navy

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?
When we marshalled in Dorcester in Southern
England which was jumping off place for the invasion

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?
The trip was memorable in that it was very bad
We, meaning myself and drivers of vehicles belonging to my
outfit made the trip across the channel in an LCT and it
rained most of the time, we sailed around for quite awhile
as we found it the invasion would be delayed due to
inclement weather. The LCT was cramped and we ate "C"
rations all the way and slept under the vehicles
and talked about various things such as The's
leaflets and the reception we would get mostly we talked
of the discomfort we were in as fighting men

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 ).
Being on an LCT small in crew and
carrying only drivers with our communications jeeps, medical jeeps, and
1/2 ton carrying marker buoys. We had heard mostly of snipers, and
underwater charges to set off as we landed, and that the
beaches were zeroed in on all sections by German guns, the
one that amazes me and was true, that the Germans had large
guns mounted on railroad stations and zeroed on the beaches.
We were mostly worried about being put in close enough to the
beach to get on with our vehicles, as it was I had to swim
we get dropped in too much water too far out.