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Fort Worth, Texas TEX 24 For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-day LL Nothing
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? Lynn M. Yeatts
What was your unit and division? 746th Tank Bn
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Utah Beach D+7
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Major
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 32 years Were you married at that time? Yes
What is you Wife's name? Martha Nell
Did you have any children at that time? Four -mone that was one month old.
What do you do now? Operations Manager, [Oil Transport Co] crossed out Commercial Oil Transport Co.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? In Feb 44
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? Uncomfortable we were on LCT vehicle was over loaded and decks near awash. Our main projects were trying to sleep and fix some hot food.
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). There was some talk of chemical warfare being put into play, However as I remember there was little apprehension. We had made several "dry runs" and felt real confident. We were much more confident [that}crossed out than we were justified in being.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Lynn Yeatts
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day ? No was against regulations
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day ? During the day, yes.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties ? Yes Were you wounded ? No
Do you remember what it was like — that is, do you remember whether you felt any pain or were so surprised that you felt nothing ?
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time ?
Dc you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else ? There were many things for instance that the German armour was so tough, but I was most impressed with tough time the [gly]crossed out gliders had in making thier assault.
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Lynn Yeatts
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 from D-day ? I was not impressed that nearly everyone seemed to know very well what he was about. The most unusual things to me came in the days after D-Day.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944 ? On the Channel
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Several miles in from the beach at a cross road near Maine Englise.
Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours of D-day, June 6 , as infantry , glider or airborne troops , or who took part in the air and sea operations , whom we should write to ? I am sure the ones I knew have been written to.
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 1 s Digest
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July 14, 1958 Mr, Lynn M.Yeatts 736 Hughes Street Fort Worth, Texas
Dear Mr. Yeatts:
A history of D-Day, June 6, 1944, to coincide with the 15th anniver- sary 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 De- partment 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, in- vade 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 liter- ally 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 crystallise some hasy 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
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