ryan_box024-tld_f07_02

For Cornelius Ryan
Book about D-day [inserted] NOTHING [end inserted]

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? Eldon Roland Dutton

What was your unit and division? F Sec 3rd Div Sigs
attached to 13th fld Regt. RCA [inserted] Royal Canadian Artillery [end inserted]
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? 0800 hrs
the ramp jammed and we could not land at D
Plus 40 if I remember correctly. Excitement and [?confution?]
working in the back of a half track kept me very busy I
couldnt find
out if it was
enemy fire or
just a fault
of the LCT
[inserted] The landing
was at a
place I think
the name was
[?Geny-Sue-Naie?]
a small
town of
[?Bauy?] was
our first
major stop
just a few
miles strait
in from the
landing [end inserted]
What was your rank on June 6, 1944 ? Signalman

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 27

Were you married at that time? yes
What is your wife's name? Dorothy Ruth
Did you have any children at that time? one Daughter

What do you do now? Sgt. Cdn. Army.
Camp Shilo, Man.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the
invasion? It was like so many trial runs but we had
a good idea that tis time it was for keeps, we were
briefed on the landing on June 4/44 after going aboard LCT
on 2 June 44
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 crossing was very rough,
we played cards, told stories, cooking meals, prayers by the
Padre, a wireless silence so we just let the sets be couldnt
do any netting or work on them, mostly we watched the
vessels , going to and fro all different type forming
up in there alotted places, strange floating devices
that later were the pipe line and Pre fab. harbour.
also rocket ships
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 were
told that the air would be full of air craft when
our turn for a run came there was three
fighters over our front.