ryan_box024-tld_f36_03

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 -
Your name R.C. Lane

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

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during
landing or during the day? Yes

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before
they became casualties:
No

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?
Just before leaving the LST I was feeling
in high spirits and a young sailor came up
and with a very sad face said "Sir may I
shake your hand before you go" He didn't
exactly dampen my spirits but I can recall
thinking that I wish he wouldn't be quite
so melancholy.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable,
which struck you more than anything else?
I walked up on the beach beside [crossed out]our[end crossed out] the orderly
room clerk for the Beach Group. He was very
young - about 18 or 19. The first thing we saw
were a dozen bodies scattered around in
the sand. I can distinctly recall the shock of
this sight on him. He stopped short as though
he had walked into a wall and the colour drained
from his face - then he turned his head away
and moved on.