Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 018, folder 31: John L. McKnight

131 QM Bn. 5th Engr. Special Brigade

Omaha 2 p.m.

Box 18, #31

McKNIGHT, John L. Miss 8

Vicksburg, Mississippi

For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day MISS 8

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 Vicksburg, Miss 19 June 1958

What is your full name? John L. McKnight What was your unit and division? 131 QM Bn. (DUWK) 5th Engineer Special Brigade Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? about 2 P.M. 6 June 1944 Omaha Beach Was on the Ancon (with von Heinling)

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Major C.R. What was your age on June 6, 1944? 40 years Were you married at that time? yes What is your wife’s name? Sarah S. McKnight Did you have any children at that time? none What do you do now? Civil Engineer- Contractor

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? Feb. 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? Weather rough. Boat pitched heavily + lot of us seasick. Ernest Hemmingway was on our boat. Played poker most of night.

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). No rumors - we were only hoping to surprise enemy- but did not- caught a german division on maneuvers right back of our beach so they just turned aroung + come up + poured it on us.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 -

Your name John L Mc Knight

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? yes. I remember the dau before the invasion where we were loading art- three of my friends told me good bye + that they would never live through invasion next day- they didn't who?

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? Felt nothing + too busy trying to get job done and live

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? No

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more man anything else? yes. even though the Army Air Force had saturated the beach with bank [?] German pill boxes were still going strong + passing it over us. A small navy boat came in close or westward of Omaha Beach at high tide + proceeded parallel to shore full length of Omaha Beach + started out all pill boxes + made it possible for us to move inland + twice approach to beach had many under water [?] I believe this was most helpful + heroic

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 -

Your name

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? everybody performed credibly

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? enroute to Omaha Beach Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? fox hole almost top of bluff above beach

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? yes. Colonel Robert Hunter C.E. U.S. Engineer Office Tulsa District Tulsa, Oklahoma Colonel Eugene S. Echols, C.E. 70 Eastland Dr. Memphis, Tenn.

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. Should you feel I can be helpdul further please let me hear from you and I will be available John L. McKnigh

Cornelius Ryan

Frances Ward

Research, The Reader's Digest

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