Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 016, folder 15: Richard Eugene Scrimshaw

D Day Book SCRIMSHAW, Richard Eugene

USS Butler D-Day Va 21

Release to PG

Box 16, #15

[*14 - 81 HHHH 243 - 266 23 4 32*]

15th destroyer UTAH USS BUTLER squadron

Coxswain

BOMBARDMENT I went on watch at midnight to 0200 as a special detail. John Hammond and I had the first bow watch. We were to stand in the bow back to back armed with rifles and shoot and sin, mines should they be floating around.

After being relieved, I stayed topside as the entire ships' company was at general quarters and the air force bombing had just started. The bombardiers had their good eyes working as their job was nearly 100%. We had no trouble from the shore gun emplacements, but the 88s on rail were a big headache.

The aircraft that took place in the invasion had black and white stripes painted.

CORRY SINKING Shortly after the invasion opened, the Corey as hit and while she was sinking the Germans continued to shell her. We were astern of the Corey and we moved in, still firing at the beach, to pick up survivors. We picked up 31 officers and men. The wounded were given medical treat- ment and made comfortable and the others were given dry clothes and they were made comfortable.

One of the greatest things I saw: the Corey's ensign was shot down. A sailor, whoever he was, removed it and ran forward and raised it again on the main mast. The deed was not one where medals are handed out for whom you save or how many you killed; but whoever he was she should get a medal for he showed that even though the ship was gone, the spirit was not.

ON BOMBARDMENT AGAIN We had been in action before, but this invasion we had men laying on top of the gun turrets spraying water on the guns to keep them cool. The gun barrels got so hot from rapid fire the paint peeled off.

pp. 2, 3 N-TE Alexandria , Va LL VA21 WASHINGTON DC (works at Wash. natl. Airport) *was aboard the Butler which picked up Corry survivors

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? Richard Eugene Scrimshaw What was your unit and division? 15th Destroyer Squadron Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? We arrived in Normandy Utah Sector about 300 June 5th 1944. What was your rank on June 6, 1944? COXSWAIN or B.M. 3/c /Telephoned 6/11/ "at least we aren't going to die for another 24 hours" What was your age on June 6, 1944? 19 (12-16-24) Were you married at that time? No. What is your wife's none? Marian Valetta Scrimshaw Did you have any children at that time? No.

What do you do how? I work for Capital Airlines as a Lead Mechanic, Section 3201-6, Hanger 2 at National Airport , Washington, D.C. I am a licensed Aircraft and Power Plant Mechanic.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? We knew for sure when we had our briefing after we left Ireland June 3, 1944. We had an idea as early as March the Big Invasion was coming but just when we didn’t know.

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 across the channel was a normal one. Except for the large amount of ships under way. When we first started in the channel moved along fast then to a slower speed as we were to be at the right place at the right time. After supper I went topside to look around and at sunset sacked in as I had a special watch to stand from midnight to 0200. 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) We heard such rumors that the harbor was loaded with floating mines, our mission was a suicide one that the real invasion was to take place later; that we would have no air coverage because we shot down too many of our own aircraft during the invasions of Africa and Sicily.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Richard E. Scrimshaw

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No I didn't keep a diary, but the set of snapshots which I have, is the same as having a diary. Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? No one on ship was killed or wounded, but I had friends that I went to /who?/ school with that I later learned were killed. One was a paratrooper in the 101st Div. Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? The last time I talked with him was back in March when we were home on leave together.

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? No, as I was not wounded. Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? This is a hard one to answer right now; as there were incidents that took place later that did. Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? All three could easily be answered. MEMORABLE- When they announced over the ships loud speaker that morning that if we looked the Stars and Stripes was just raised on the beach and it was ours. The combined efforts of all had paid off. (D-day? Utah?) /find out about this/ HEROIC: I think that one of the greatest things I saw was when we were moving in to help the Corey. The ships Ensign was shot down. A sailor, whoever he was removed it and ran forward and raised it again on the main mast. The deed was not one where medals are handed out for whom you save or how many you killed; byt whoever he was he should get a medal as he showed that even though the material thing as a ship was gone the spirit was not. SAD: There were many and it is hard to pick one out - /describe Corey, etc.. any names, other special deeds?

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Richard E. Scrimshaw

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 think that everyone aboard showed great courage. After my watch on the Bow I went to my regular G.Q. Station. Maybe somewhere else on ship it cou ld of happened.

[*who? get details*] Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On midnight June 5, 1944 another man by the name of John Hammond and myself had the first watch on the Bow. We were armed with rifles and our job was to sink any floating mines before the ship came in contact with them.

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Midnight June 6, 1944 we were still in the Bay of the Seine.

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? Enclosed is a ships rooster of the names and addresses of the crew. This list is 13 years old, but I believe most of them can be contacted. The Rooster is for the D.M.S.29 which was originally the DD636 before it was recommissioned.

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

[*Pre D-Day*]

-1-

After spending a [inserted]TEN[end inserted] day leave at home, I returned to the Brooklyn Navy Yard and joined my ship the U.S.S. BUTLER, DD636. We were in the yard to be refitted and other things that normally come with yard time.

A short time later we got under way with the rest of the Destroyers and a small convoy and proceeded into the Atlantic to rendezvous with the convoy coming up from Norfolk. Next, we went North to pick up convoys from Boston and Halifax.

When we were all assembled, it was the biggest convoy we had taken over so far. There was more than the usual protection; battlewagons, light and heavy cruisers, carriers, fleet tankers and more.

The trip over was the usual - rough seas, submarine scares, patrol duty, etc. The sight of aircraft patrols showed us we were close to Ireland and the convoys would split up and go their different ways. We put into Belfast while others went to Scotland, Wales and England. When all the ships were safely in we proceeded on to Bangor.

A few days later we left Bangor for Plymouth, England. At the time, we didn't know it, but that was the heart of the big invasion. The skipper and officers went to meetings day after day; while we went through gun practices, damage control, plane