Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 019, folder 05: Paul W. Thompson

THOMPSON, Paul W. 6th Eng Brig. N.Y. BOX 19, #5

6th Eng Spec Brig. Omaha 0630

May be O.K. Must

O - E For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day

NY61

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? Paul W. Thompson

2. What was your unit and division? 6th Engineer Special Brigade, attached to 29th Infantry Division

3. Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Omaha Beach, dawn

4. What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Colonel, Corps of Engineer

5. What was your age on June 6, 1944? 37

6. Were you married at that time? Yes

7. What is your wife's name? Elfriede Thompson

8. Did you have any children at that time? No

9. What do you do now? General Manager, International Edition, The Reader's Digest

10. When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? When I was sent to England in January of 1943 to establish and command the "U.S. Assault Training Center".

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? I passed the time reviewing the landing plans and conferring with members of my immediate staff. I do recall pointing out to the naval officer commanding my landing craft that those disk-shaped objects strung on poles set in the shallow water were booby-trap mines and should be avoided; I recall that this was news, unpleasant news, to him.

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 it afire when the troops came in ). I recall no such rumors; I do recall the satisfaction (but no surprise) we all felt in observing the almost complete absence of enemy aircraft overhead.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Paul W . Thompson

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

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

15. Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? No, since my own misfortune intervened. [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out]

16. Were you wounded? Yes

17. 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? No great pain, but like you had been hit with a baseball bat swung by Mickey Mantle; that is, numb; I do recall contemplating, in disgust but without much pain, the gush of the blood.

18. Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time ? I recall taking off the good wrist watch my wife had given me, replacing it with an Ordnance Issue Elgin, and carefully putting it, the good watch, in the Headquarters safe; living to turn back in the issue Elgin and learning of the loss of the Headquarters safe via a swamped dukk .

19. Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? When the Commander of the Landing Craft ( Infantry ) refused to run in closer to land, I recall a major on my staff stepping off into water up to his chin, fighting his way to the dry land with a line in hand, bywhich all others got to shore relatively easily.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Paul W . Thompson

20. 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? see 19 above

21. Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Aboard a Landing Craft (Infantry)

22. Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? In a captured pill-box on Omaha Beach

23. 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? Yes: Colonel Lucius P . Chase c/o The Kohler Co. Kohler , Wisconsin

Col . Chase was my Executive Officer ; he is now Chief Legal Council for the Kohler Co.

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 HOT LEFT SUFFICIENT ROOM. FULL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WILL BE GIVEN IN A CHAPTER CALLED ’'WERE 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

THOMPSON, Paul W. General Manager International Editions The Reader's Digest

Mr. C. Ryan talked with Mr . Thompson on May 9, 1958, at which time decided to see each other again for further interview when C. Ryan returns from Europe .