Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 018, folder 47: Leonard Clark Ritter

3807 Q.M. Truck Co Ritter, Leonard Clark I11 8

Box 18, #47

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 -

Your name Leonard Keller

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? No.

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? No

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 bearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time?

There was only one incident that was funny to my recollection, that was of course, not amusing but rather incredulous. Some of the first trucks that were let off the Rhino Ferry by some miscalculation were let off the water that proved too deep in spite of the meticulous waterproofing job that was done, the vehicles and drivers were unable to make it to the beach and some had to stand on top of their trucks or attempt to swim back to the Rhino Ferries. In some cases this held up the landing operation but not enough to seriously handicap of amusement later in the ccampaign but were very trying to the units that were attempting to debark from the Rhinos and other craft following because the beach and landing craft were being straffed and under fire from the remaining West Wall batteries that were still in operation in spite of the heavy pounding they had taken from the allied aircraft and the crack specialized units of the American and Allied Parachute and Glider Battalions.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else?

Shortly after the landing, while our unit was in some fields and out of the swamps we were bombedand we sustained our first casualties and deaths. Our trucks and men were in constant service and use carrying wouded to the beach and bringing back supplies and men to the middle of the battle zones where a large truck makes a hugh target, but in spite of the road conditions the hedgerows, driving without lights etc our unit and one other Company were on the move using the desolate and shell torn roads to the beach and returning under sniper and aircraft attack. Some of the mechanics, cooks, and other nondrivers filled in when a man was too tired to go on in the endless use the unit and its men were called upon to suport the Glider and Paracute Men.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3

Your name Leonard Keller

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? There Were undoubtable many examples of both of these things present in most situations where people had not been brought up to believe in some quality of self reliance and when facing a dangerous situation. During my service with the unit I was fortunate enough to be a part of, we were trained in vehicle maintenance, some "do it yourself time mechanics. " given all the training we needed to accomplish minor repairs on trucks etc. One stupid thing that remains in my memory was disregarding orders on a safe way to remove waterproofing compound within gasoline, the results of which made my truck inoperatable at a time when we badly needed all the trucks we could lay our hands on. I believe that it was the ability for the American Soldier to operate alone when absolutely necessary (?) and the ability to obey orders when working as a part of an effort to achieve whatever goals are decided upon By the majority of people in their specialised field. The old expression still holds true I suppose, There is the right way, the wrong way, and the Army way. I could probably recall some more specific instances but I feel I am writing the book at this point.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? I don't recall specifcally

Inhere were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? In the Channel

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 Al Fabbrl now employed as a mail carrier in Schiller Park Ill. Edling, I don't recall First Name lives in City of Chicago, Ill. Elmer Eisenhardt C/0 Budweiser Brewing Co. ST. Louis Mo.

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

June 30, 1958

Mr. Leonard Ritter 14 E. Bank Street Chicago 10, Illinois

Dear Mr. Ritter:

Thank you very much for your letter and for your willingness to help us with Cornelius Ryan’s book about D-Day. I hope you will forgive the delay in replying to your kind offer of assistance; we are gratified, but somewhat overwhelmed, by the wonderful response which we are getting as a result of our requests for information.

During the next few months, both in this country and in Europe, Mr. Ryan will be interviewing many of the D-Day participants who agree to contribute to the book. Very probably, he will wish to talk with you duirng that period. In the meantime, since we are dealing with so many people, we have found it necessary to develop an individual file on each person who agrees to help us. Therefore, we hope you will complete the enclosed record and return it to me at your earliest convenience. We truly believe that these questions will serve you, as well as us, if they can help to crystallise some hazy memories and to indicate the sort of information which we are seeking.

I should be most grateful to know as soon as possible when and if you will be available for interview. We want very much to tell the story of your unit, and in order to do that we need the personal accounts of the men who were there. We particularly look forward to your reply.

Sincerely yours,

Frances Ward Research Department

FW:IL Enclosure