Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 007, folder 14: J. Elmore Swenson

[illegible] 29th Div Artillery

Nice Ancedote

Bare feet [?story?]

CARLISLE BARRAKCS SWENSON, Lt Col J. Elmore 29th DIV PA 6

Box 7, #14

Germany was winning herself [?with?] death

O-TE Aviation Officer (?) for 29th Div.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Pentagon)

After 11 July CARLISLE BARRACKS, PA. PA 6 [crossed out] WASH DC 12 [end crossed out]

For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day

THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR, PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY BETTffiEN MIDNIGHT JUNE 5, 1944 AND MIDNIGHT 6, 1944. IP YOU WERE ONE OF THEM, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

What is your full name? Lt Colonel J. Elmore Swenson

What was your unit and division? Hqs, 29th Division Artillery, 29 Infantry Division.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Omaha Beach, 0500 hours.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Major

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 28 years

Were you married at that time? Yes

What is your wife's name? Myrle

Did you have any children at that time? Yes, a daughter.

What do you do now? General Staff Officer, US Army: Chief, Plans & Special Projects Group, Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel Dept of the Army, The Pentagon, Washington 25, D.C. After 11 July 58, Student, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? Easter Morn, 1944

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? Very quite. A few of us played cards in a dimly lit corner below the deck. Being the aviation officer for the 29th Division my conversations centered mostly around expected weather conditions for landing and flying. This interest shared by many since we had started across the channel the day before, but had to return to port because of bad weather. The late evening and early morning hours were spent cat napping and making final checks on plans and equipment. During this period my inner thoughts were mostly on whether or not the tail of the L-4. airplane (Cub) would clear the opening in the LST. The aircraft was mounted on a 6x6 truck and when we loaded at Falmouth,England, the tail cleared the exit hatch by J inch. I imagined many things happening to prevent disembarking the aircraft for the beach. As it turned out, the truck and aircraft cleared the exist despite the tide and confusion. Unfortunately, we did not get it into the air until due to the conditions on Omaha Beach and the extensive mining and spiking by the Germans of suitable landing areas near the beach.

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). Primary rumor and chief topic aside from the weather was that the 29th Div upon completion of the Normandy invasion would return to England, possibly the United States. Needless to say, this rumor turned out as most rumors. The 29th Div went all the way.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Lt Col J. E. Swenson

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day ? No. Prohibited by regulations

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Many.

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? Yes, Lt Col Mullins, CO 11th FA Bn was worried about getting his 105 mm howitzers ashore on DUKWS. He was killed on the beach. I talked with many others, but the conversations were intermittent and brief.

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? Yes. First casulty was lying dead with his bare feet pertruding out of a blanket which had hastily been thrown over him. His shoes and stockings had been removed during the attempt to save his life by first aid. A major, the know-it-all type, arrived on the scene and in all seriousness said, “Why is that guy sleeping with his bare feet hanging out?” I informed the major that the young boy was not sleeping — he was dead. The major's face paled, then grew rather sheepish. As the battle for the beach continued I started to chuckle about the incident; this in turn perked up my spirits, particularly the embarrassed look on the major's face.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Despite the small arms fire, the shelling, the dying and the dead, nothing was so memorable as to gaze out that early dawn and as far as the eyes could see were ships. Just gaze in wonderment at those ships and listen to the rythmatic booming of the Battleship Texas's 16-inch guns.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your nam Lt Col J.E. Swenson

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 many commendable acts and stupid ones. Perhaps the one that stands out in my mind eptailed both self-reliance and stupidity. During the latter part of the morning I looked in awe to see two civilians, a man in his mid-forties and a younger man, presumably his son, ina small row boat gathering wounded from the water amid spasmatic, but accurate shell fire. They picked up a few and rowed like mad for one of the command ships. Why and how they were there always amazed me!

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? English Channel

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Omaha Beach.

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 who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to? Numerous people: I suggest, however, you write to the 29th Infantry Division Association, Baltimore, Maryland. They should have an up- to-date list of members who participated in the actual invastion. The same, I should think, would holds, true for the 1st and 4th Infantry Divisions, and the Airborne Division, plus the First Army Association.

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