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Bedford, VA.
RED
(Apparently [illegible] Mr. [?Crouch?] of Bedford democrat)
Omaha
VA 35

For Cornelius Ryan
Book about D-day

THOUSANDS OP 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?
Roy Otey Stevens

"What was your unit and division?
Co. A 116th 29th Div.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time?
Vier Ville Sumer, our boat was sunk about 250 yds of the coast.
The time - 6:30

What was your rank on June 6, 1944?
T/Sgt.

What was your age on June 6, 1944?
24 years old

Were you married at that time?
No I was not married

What is your wife's name?

Did you have any children at that time?

What do you do now?
Employee of Rubatex Division of Bedford, Va.

When did you know that you were going to he part of the invasion?
About two Weeks before D -Day.

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 trip across the Channel, I will never forget, it was
very rough. I had began to think that nature was against
us. The thing that I remembered most was my twin brother.
We wereloading our little boats from the British L.S.T. as
I was going up on deck we met he smiled and extended his
right hand. I said, no we will shake hands at the cross roads
in France like we had already planned. I went to the cross
roads later just to hold my part of the promise knowing he
wouldn't be there. He got killed, on the beache.

We passed the time cleaning our weapons, sharping bannetts,
playing poker and telling jokes. You could see the grim faces
with great determination to fight for our rights. They knew
this was it.

What were the rumors on bo^xd the boat, ship or plane in which you made
the crossing ? (Some people remember scuttle-but to the effect that the
Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it afire
when the troops came in).

There was a rumor that the Germans had pulled two new
Divisions in on Normandy which turned out to be so.