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May 2, 1958

Dear Mr. Canoe:

A book about D-Day, June 6, 1944, is being prepared by Cornelius
Ryan for publication in The Reader’s Digest and in book form on the 15th
Anniversary of the Normandy invasion in the spring of 1959. This will
not be another strategic history, but the story of the twenty-four hours
of invasion day as individuals lived them and remember them. For this
we must find the men who were there and, if they are willing, invade their
memories. The story of the 82nd Airborne is obviously among the proudest,
and therefore we were delighted to learn from General Gavin that someone
is keeping a Company news sheet. We consider ourselves most fortunate in
having received from Mr. Lassen a copy of his mailing list for the "E Com-
pany Poop Sheet." We understand from him that not all of his readers were
necessarily members of E Company, 505th Regiment, and that not all of them
did necessarily go into Normandy on June 6, 1944. We write to you in the
hope that you were in Normandy on D-Day, and more especially, in the hope
that if you were there you will be willing to help us.

Mr. Ryan hopes ultimately to interview most of the people who agree
to contribute to the book. These interviews will probably be conducted
in the late spring and early summer of this year in the course of a cross-
country trip which Mr. Ryan plans to make. In the meantime, since we are
literally dealing with hundreds of people, we are finding it necessary to
keep an individual file on each person who expresses a willingness to help
us. Therefore we hope that if you are willing to help us, you will com-
plete 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 in-
formation which we are seeking.

We will look forward to your reply with great anticipation. We want
very much to tell the story of the 82nd, and in order to do that we need
you. Thank you so very much for any help which you can give us.

Sincerely yours,

Frances Ward
Research Department

Mr. Buffalo Boy Canoe
Apartment 5-A
19 Wavecrest Avenue
Venice, California