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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 -
Your name Herman v. Wall

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?
My problem was to get this film back to Army Pictorial Service in London
and the problem started with the Aid Men wanting to use the strap off the
camera to use as a turniguet for my leg. I convinced them that the strap
off the gas mask would do aswell. It seemed that everyone I came in
contact with was determined to liberate the Leica and I was as determined
to get this film and camera back.
The Skipper of the LCT returned the camera and as he did so I told him to
step back, I was about to "heave", He did not understand me and leaned in
closer. I was on target and covered him. I excused myself
for laughing but tried t tell him before it happened. I had my camera......
When I arrived at the Evacuation hospital in Weymouth I was able to have
a call put through to the Army Pictorial Service and they sent a plane
to pick up the film. These were the only still pictures of the Invasion
for several days and consequently used heavily for news release and
Intelligence.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944?
English Channel on our way to Normandy

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944?
On an English LCT Returning to England Round Trip Ticket.....

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?
I will try and secure some names of men who made the landings.

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 SEPERATE SHEETS IF WE HAVE NOT LEFT SUFFICENT 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