ryan_box023-tld_f50_09

August 28, 1958

Dr. Colin Bremer
Kirkland Lake
Ontario, Canada

Dear Dr. Brebner:

A book about D-day, June 6, 1944, is being written
by Comelius Ryan for publication in The Reader's Digest and
in book for next spring on the fifteenth anniversary of the
Normandy invasion. With the help of The Legionary and the
war office at Ottawa we have been able to reach some of the
Canadians who participated in the invasion--but not enough of
them to do Justice to the Canadian assault effort. We have
been told that you might agree to help us. I hope that you
will.
Mr. Ryan wants to tell the story of the Canadians who
landed on D-day, for we have been directed to their weighty
role in the invasion often and respectfully. However, we are
at a disadvantage in approaching the Canadian story simply be-
cause of short time and long distance. In order to give our
Canadian interviewers a sound basis for their work, I need the
answers to the enclosed questions.

I hope that you will agree to contribute to the book
and that you will return the enclosed record to me as soon as
possible. Since our absolute deadline for research is the end
of September, I should be grateful too if you would let me know
if and where you could be interviewed during the coming month.

This will not be a strategic history, but a story of
the mental, physical and emotional impact of D-day as men truly
knew it. To tell this story we sorely need your help. We
particularly look forward to your reply.

Sincerely yours,

Frances Ward
Research Department