ryan_box018-tld_f47_02

For Cornelius Ryan
Book about D-Day

ILL 8
Think
we'd best
avoid him

LL

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? Leonard Clark Ritter

What was your unit and division? 3807 th Q.M. Truck Company

Where did you arrive in Normandy,0 and at what time?

I Think it was Omaha beach to the best of my recollection , it was &
beach which was suitable to land trucks such as ours loaded with gas
ammunituion, rations, etc. to be the first means of supply for the
aireborne troops which proceeded us, along with the glider troops.

must have been UTAH

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Technician 5th grade

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 22 years 9 months

Were you married at that time?
Yes

What is your wife's name?
Helen Mac Queen -Divorced
Jo Ann Freide -Divorced

Did you have children at that time?No, I have a son who was born
while I was overseas; also one who was born when I returned home.

guess he
is
generally
confused

What do you do now? t the present tim I am unemployed but my vocation
is selling industrial machinery and free lance Public Relations work.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?
When we were directed to the staging area and began to waterproof our
trucks and were given briefing and practice to load L.S.T. an
we were given specific instructions on security, letter writing
restrictions and letc.

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?

We were interested in watching the Air Force cover going in before us
and had been told in detail how all of the allied planes would be marked
for positive identification to avoid any possibility of mistaken
identity and allied firepower being directed to friendly aircraft of
the allied forces. There were a few German planes who broke thru the
screen in spite of all the precautionary measures which had been\
in spite of their common sense to realize they would be shot down
without being able to inflict even the slightest harm to the allied
forces who were more than able to knock them down at close range.
While we were aboard a ship which was heavily loaded with trucks.
xxxx mortar shells, exposed in the open on the upper deck.

What were the rumors on board the boat, ship or plane in which you made

teasure

for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time?

SHitsirpfaw.feJa

>ook ,
bin1
ron-and®6*110
j«i„Waff

m

pe.snort!

J time.in
ana after

the crossing? (Some people remember scuttlebut to the effect that the
Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it afire whan

a men®anuasoldiers^aving

nni we1il8llgwede|hem ti
»KuiF«s i?sfcdefi’