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[*Pittsburgh, KANSAS KAN 6 LL nothing*]
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? Lester I. Montgomery
What was your unit and division? 16 Inf. Regt. 1St. Division
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? [crossed out]Omha[end crossed out] Omaha Beach near Coleville, France. In the second assult wave on the Beach
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? P. F. C.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 21 years old
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? Work at a Filling Station
When did you know that you were going to to be part of the invasion? Rumors were for several Mo. before but not where.
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). That the Germans were waiting for us in Force.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Lester I. Montgomery
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? Did not have much time to do much Talking were too busy.
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?
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time?
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else?
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Lester I. Montgomery
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?
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On Board Ship in the English Channel
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? About 3 1/2 miles Inland
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. But do not know the addresses
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
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Dear Sir:
I helped participed in the Invasion of France on June 6, 1944.
I was in Co. H - 16 Inf.reg. 1st Infantry Division. We went in as the assualt Reg for our Division
We went in to the beach close to Colville France on Easy Red beach on Omaha beach.
I remain Lester I. Montgomery 108 N Highland Pittsburgh, Kansas
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