Box 025, folder 03: Earl A. Olmsted

OLMSTED, Earl A. Canadian 3rd Can. Div.

Box 25, #3

[inserted] Possible EXCERPT [end inserted] 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? Earl Alexander Olmsted

What was your unit and division? HQ 3 Cdn Inf Div.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? About one mile east of Courselles at approx 1100 hours 6 June 1944

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Captain

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 30

Were you married at that time? Yes

What is your wife's name? Marjorie Kingsland Olmsted

Did you have any children at that time? No but a son Eric was born on 7 june 1944.

What do you do know? Lt Col Army HQ Ottawa.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? Early in May1944

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 channel was very choppy. Many were seasick on the HQ ship. About 3 miles from shore we got on board LCAs. The trip to the shore was quite rough and on a number of times waves broke over the LCA.

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). Everyone was eager and anxious yo get going. No adverse rumours. All were extremely confident of the outcome.

-for Cornells Ryan 2Your name Earl A. Olmsted 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 ianding or during the day? No

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties:

Were you wounded? No

Do you remember what it was like--that is, do you remember whether you felt any pain or were so surprised that you felt nothing?

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? Nothing was funny. Dead cattle all over the place. Civilians were very nervous and terrified of the Germans. Casualties were heavy. Weather warm on shore. Cloudly but dry day. We landed about 1 1/2 miles from the spot we were supposed to land and had to walk to our HQ selected location.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Everyone was doing a good job. The Recce of the Inns of Court unit deserve special mention. The weather was windy and there were frequent delays in landing. If the weather had been calm and good I am certain that the size of the bridgehead would have been doubled on D Day

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Earl A Olmsted

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 from D-Day? No - I was most impressed with the calm atmosphere around HQ. Everyone knew his job and was doing it well. Communcations were not as good as they might have been and I rode foreward to HQ [?7?]Bde on a motorcycle to obtain information. I was amazed to go through large areas where there were no troops and where everything was deserted.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On ship

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Near Courcelles.

Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours of D-day, June 6, as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to? Lt Col Bill Leamark

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 . W.A. Milroy Lt.-Col. Director of public Relations(Army) Cartier Square, Ottawa, Ontario