Reference 301
GRANDCAMP
Above:
"Here are 3 pictures taken at Grandcamp in early July 44. You can see an American CIC Officer (i.e., Counter-Intelligence). He was in charge of Civil Affairs for the Grandcamp and Isigny sectors.
His name was Lieutenant William Held of the U.S. Naval Reserve. A tall and handsome man, about 30 years old. He spoke fluently French and was very much loved by the inhabitants. He had prepared a PhD in philosophy at the University of Hamilton and was at Columbia University when the war broke out.
In these 3 photos, we see him speaking to local fishermen (one of them is my stepfather). Lt. Weld was looking for experienced sailors to pilot barges in the access channels of Grandcamp and Isigny harbours.
In fact, official relations with local French civilians began on 10 June 1944 with the D7GI Detachjement of the European Civil Affairs Directorate (7 agents + 1 employee), and the "Civil Affairs" consisted of a US officer, an English officer and 3 soldiers. They landed on June 9 at 5:00 p.m. The Civil Affairs did not have translators and the work was done under the direction of the Counter Espionage and a translation service." (witness of Jean-Claude Joussard at Grandcamp-Maisony)
