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Gary, Indiana
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.
nothing here & might talk in interview
What is your full name? Glen Wilson Vantrease
What was your unit and division? 508 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd. Airborne Division
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? 2:15 A.M. June 6, 1958
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Sgt. - Squad Leader
What was your age on June 6, 1944? twenty-two
Were you married at that time? no
What is your wife's name ?
Did you have any children at that time? no
What do you do Now? Certified Public Accountant - ( self employed) City Councilman- City of Gary, Indiana
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? It seemed as if I always knew it, as if that was what we were being trained for.
Do you remember, What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time? Smoked cigarettes, thats all.
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 ).
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Your name- Glen W. Vantrease
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? no , but have an excellent published book on the history of the regiment which relates excellent comments by other individuals.
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? yes
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they beoame casualties? no.
Were you wounded? Yes
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? 1st. time - machine pistol through shoulder, felt like a red hot poker, ettremely painful. 2nd. time - shrapnel in small of back, felt like a sledge hammer, no pain. 3rd. time artil. shell. Concussion, etc. extreme numbness
explain!
Do you remember seeing- or bearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time?
Dc you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more then anything else?
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Your name- Glen W. Vantrease
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?
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? In the air over the channel
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? in swamps near the channel
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?
PLEASE LET TJS 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 AC KNOWLEDGEMENT 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
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Phone YEllowstone 8-2726
GLEN W. VANTREASE Certified Public Accountant 3912 East Tenth Avenue Gary, Indiana
June 10 , 1958
Miss Frances Ward Reader's Digest 230 Park Ave. New York , N.Y.
Dear Miss Ward:
I am writing in response to the news article in the June issue of The American Legion Magazine.
I was a member of the 508 Parachute Infantry Regiment , 82nd. Airborne Division which jumped in Normandy June 5th.
Please place me on your notification list when the book is published.
Yours truly, Glen W Vantrease