ENPages
Page 2
Frankfort, Germ.
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 .
GERI
What is your full name? Lester Brooks Wadham
What was your unit and division? Company Commander of Headquarters Company 3rd Battalion 531st Engineer Shore Regt 1st Engr Special Brigade
Where did you arrive in Normandy , and at what time? We dropped anchor about 500 yards off shore at Utah Beach at about H-hour minus 3 or about 3 AM June 6, 1944
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Captain
What was your age on June 6 , 1944? 42
Were you married at that time? yes
What is your wife's name? Erika F. Wadham
Did you have any children at that time? no
What do you do now? Investment dealer/ broker
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? about six weeks prior
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? mostof my men had already been thru African invasion and Salerno and were taking it as a matter of fact with no particular concern The younger and new members were quite nervious
The week were were in the channel before landing was spent with excercises and card games. Our ship was towing a "mulberry" and at one time in the middle of the channel we swung along side it , had all men climb overboard and had a good hour of excercises.
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). We had heard this too but in my own personal position I knew it was not true as I had been on top level briefings and had talked to agents who had scouted the French coast o nly hours before.
Page 3
- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Lester B. Wadham
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No- in fact it was one of my duties to confiscate any diaries that I might find as it was prohibited.
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day ? No close friends.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties ? ----
Were you wounded ? Indirecty injured during a bombing raid by reason of a fall
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 ? a great many things
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? YES- removing papers from the body of a German among which was a letter with pictures from his wife and daughter. It could have been written by any American wife.
Page 4
- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Lester B. Wadham
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? A number of incidents in all catagories
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On the English Channel close to th French coast
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? At Utah 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?
As our LST was at the French Coast 3 hours before H hour, we had a front seat to watch the return of the paratrooprs planes, the glider troop landings, naval bombardment, and the air bombardment, all of which came off on split second timing as planed
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
Page 5
WADHAM MUTUAL INVESTMENTS (LESTER B.) CORNELIUSSTRASSE 32 FRANKFURT/M., GERMANY PHONE 777621
5 April 1958
Frances Ward Readers Digest 230 Park Avenue New York, New York
Reference your article inclosed relating to the Normandy invasion.
At the time I was Company Commander of Headquarters Company, 3rd Bn., 531st Engineer Shore Regiment, First Engineer Brigade, First Army and also Bn. Motor Officer.
A few days prior to embarkation I was detailed by the Brigade Commander to make a personal inspection of all ships under our command to ascertain the correctness of loading of vehicles and Engineer heavy equipment.
I was also Troop Commander of LST No. 115 which reached the French coast at H hour minus 3 or about 3 AM in the morning of June 6, 1944 and witnessed the glider drops, naval bombing, air bombing, etc.
To my knowledge I put ashore the first engineer equipment on Utah Beach at about H hour plus 20 minutes.
If I can be of more help to you, I shall be happy to cooperate.
Sincerely yours, Lester B. Wadham Lester B. Wadham, 0-346652 Lt Col USAR (Ret)