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[*KAN7
VITAL H?
May take care of
AB medics. I'd
take him above
any others.
LL
Wichita, KANSAS
AB - 1
Dr. 82nd

RED --
articulate,
sense of
humor --
& very imp.
new light
on
Vandervoort,
whom he
doctored on
D-day.
(pic)*]

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.

[*1*] What is your full name? Lyle Britain Putnam

[*2*] What was your unit and division? 505 Parachute Infantry
82nd Airborne Division
2nd Batallion Surgeon

[*3*] Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time?
115 A.M June 6 1944
approx 1 mile southwest Ste Mere Eglise, in an orchard.

[*4*] What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Captain - Medical Corps.

[*5*] What was your age on June 6, 1944? 32 years

[*6*] Were you married at that time? Yes.

[*7*] What is your wife's name? Maurine H. Putnam

[*8*] Did you have any children at that time? One - Karl Joseph Putnam
age 5 yrs

[*9*] What do you do now? Medicine and Surgery

[*10*] When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?
Approx middle May, 1944

[*11*] 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?
Miserable! The combined weight of main and auxilliary chutes, and combat
equipment, medical supplies etc. raised my actual weight from 170# to 280#.
Travel in a C-47 in bucket seats in crowded circimstances for three hours--
frightened and apprehensive--cold--homesick-- several cases of air sickness
with vomiting into helmets-- usual gripeing and allusions to unfortunate females
who were bein deprived of our so outstanding and exceptional company. I
do not recall a mention of conditions to be found in the jump area.

[*12*] 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 in afire
when the troops came in).

Rumors were actually nil-- we had been briefed with aerial maps and a sand
table; and I don't believe any personnel I was with (12 man stick and crew
for aircraft) actually visualized the future in regard to specific possibilities.
Most thoughts, conversation being very difficult in flight; consisted in review
of personnel and manner of assembly with recovery of supplies in order to form
some sort of efficient organization. Truly, other than the very real concern
for personal welfare, I don't beliwe the average man in my division worried
about general environments as long as he was in contact with other members of
his unit-- the usual situation of being an independent type of troop combined
with the rather hysterical type of morale developed in volunteer outfits such
as the marines and airborne divisions discouraged defeatist attitudes most
favorably