Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 012, folder 39: Edward Simmons Sledge II

1st Inf Div -741 TANK Btn SLEdge, Edward S II - AlA.

Box 12, #39

[crossed out]Beach[end crossed out] Dead

[*This a DD tank man who was clobbered O--1 LL Mobile ALA 3*]

For Cornerlius 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? Edward Simmons Sledge, II

What was your unit and division? Co. A, 741st Tank Bn, attached to 16th Inf. 1st Inf, Div.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? H hour [inserted]minus[end inserted] -- 5 min. Between Easy Red & Fox Green on Omaha Beach

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? 1st Lt.

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 23 yrs.

Were you married at that time? No.

What is your wife's name? Martha C. Sledge

Did you have any children at that time? No

What do you do now? Vice-Pres., First Nat'l. Bk., Mobile, Ala.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? Oct. 1943

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 rough on our LCT. Conversations mainly to do with seasickness etc., The metal sides on the tank deck of the LCT washed away & the channel water washing back & forth made the [crossed out][illegible][end crossed out] tank crews wet & miserable

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). No rumors.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name E.S. Sledge, II

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 the landing or during the day? yes -- many

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? No.-- the radios in [inserted]all[end inserted] our tanks went out shortly after landing.

Were you wounded? Not then but 3 times before V-Eday

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 hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? yes - of the first U.S. men to get up the bluffs at the extreme Eastern end of the beach An American Soldier was walking across the bluffs eating a candy bar seemingly oblivious to the entire war.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? The complete confidence of the men in our tanks & the infantry. In spite of heavy casualties no one thought of a withdrawal. Col. Taylor of the 16th Inf., 1st Inf. Div., said (as I last remember it) "Men are being killed here, let's move inland and reduce this killing." I was impressed with the desire of all to get the attack moving.

[*see reverse of this page*]

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name E.S. Sledge, 2

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? Only the great ability of the units to regroup, under sever losses of officers & senior non-coms, and become an efficient fighting force. All the tanks in my company were lost or disabled & the remaining men were turned into a rifle & light machine gun company for the rest of D-Day. I was proud to lead these men as the had had little infantry training but did an excellent job of this.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? [crossed out]about[end crossed out] On an LCT preparing to land

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Near St. Laurent Sur-Mer

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 end sea operations, whom we should write to?

[*LL checking address*] Frank A. [crossed out][?d?] Klotz who was a 1st Lt. in charge of a platoon of tank dozers that did a memorably heroic job of clearing the beach obstacles. He was the maintenance officer of my co. His home was in Johnstown Penn. & he served with the 28th Inf. Div. after World War II as a Nat'l. Guard officer

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

May 27, 1958

Major Edward S. Sledge, III First National Bank Mobile, Alabama

Dear Major Sledge:

A history of D-Day, June 6, 1944, to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the Normandy invasion next year is being prepared by Cornelius Ryan for publication in the Reader's Digest and in book form. It is being written with the complete cooperation and assistance of the Department of the Army and the Department of Defense. This will not be another strategic history of invasion day, but a story of the twenty-four hours of D-Day as people lived them and remembered them. For this, we can only go to the men who were there and, if they are willing, invade their memories. Having learned of the part which you played in the invasion, we hope very much that you will be interested in the project and agree to help us.

During the next few months, both in this country and in Europe, Mr. Ryan will be interviewing many of the D-Day participants who agree to contribute to the book. Very probably, he will wish to talk with you during that period. In the meantime, since we are dealing with literally hundreds of people, we have found it necessary to develop an individual file on each person who agrees to help us. Therefore, we hope that if you are interested in the project, you will complete the enclosed record and return it to me at your earliest convenience. We truly believe that these questions will serve you, as well as us, if they can help to crystallize some hazy memories and to indicate the sort of information which we are seeking.

I should be most grateful to know as soon as possible when and if you will be available for interview during the next few months. We want very much to tell the story of your unit, and in order to do that we need your personal account. We look forward eagerly to your reply.

Sincerely yours,

Frances Ward Research Department

FW: LL Enclosure