Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 006, folder 14: John Purley Cooper, Jr.

COOPER, Brig Gen John P. Baltimore 29th Div Md 3

Crossed out *Material to be Reviewed*

Box 6, #14

I 29, LET’S GO! ( B A T TLE CRY O F THE 2 9 TH , BLUE A ND G R A Y , DI V I SI O N ) HONORS COMPONENTS VA. PA R T, HQ R S. 2 9 T H DIV. A R T Y. N O RF O L K , VI RGI N IA AUTH O RI ZED ST REA MERS F O R T H E STAND A RD: 29 WORLD WAR I SERVICE H EA D Q UA R T E R S BATT E R Y P IKESVI L L E , M A R YLA N D M E DIC AL D ETA CHM E N T P IKESVI L L E , M A R Y LA N D FRAN CE WORLD WAR II SERVICE AM E RI C A N THE A T R E ; I I OT H F IE L D AR TIL L E RY BA T T A L I O N H Q R S. AT PI K E S V ILLE, MD. HEADQUARTERS 29th DIVISION ARTILLERY F RAN CE - CRO IX D E G U ER R E WI T H PALM , E MB L A Z O N ED "B EACHE S O F NO R M A N D Y ; 1 11 T H F I EL D AR T ILLE RY B A T T AL ION NO RF O L K , V IR G INI A IM A R YL AN D P A R T) MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD STATE ARMORY PIKESVILLE 8, MARYLAND TELEPHONE: HUNTER 6- 4500 E U R O PE A N , A FR I CA N , AND MI D D LE E A STER N T H EATER - C A M PAIGN S: 1 2 9 T H A N TI A IR C R A F T A R T I L L E R Y B N. HQ RS. A T P O RTS MOUTH, V A. N O RM A N DY ( WI T H B RONZE AR RO W H E A D ) NORTHE RN FRAN CE RHI NEL A N D C E N TR AL EU R O P E 22 4T H F I EL D A R T I L L ER Y BATTA L I O N H Q RS. A T P I K E SVI L L E, M D. 2 2 7T H F I EL D A R T I L L E R Y BATTA L I O N H Q R S. AT C O V INGTON, VA. April IT, 1958 Miss Frances Ward "Reader ’s Digest" 230 Park Avenue New York, New York Dear Miss Ward: I was interested to note a news item in the Second Army newspaper concerning the history of D-Day being prepared by Mr. Cornelius Ryan. I wish you and Mr. Ryan real success in your undertaking for it concerns a crucial day in the history of civilization. I was a Battalion Commander in the 29th Division and participated in the story, as I saw it, is recorded in "The History of the 110th D-Day landing. The Field Artillery" which I had the honor to compile following World War II. I am for- warding you a copy, under separate cover, to be transmitted to Mr. Ryan to add to his source material. Pages concerned will be marked and I hope it will be of some help. I might add that in the back of this book is a bibliography, starting on Page 317, which may be of help to Mr. Ryan in securing additional sources. I might add, further, that the New York Public Library has perhaps the most complete collection of unit histories from World War II that exist, and I have the impression that this is even more complete than the Department of the Army ’s. Mr. Dornbusch is the specialist that has and still is assembling this collection. I am sure he would be delighted to help Mr. Ryan. As to personal interviews I should be glad to help arrange some for you in Maryland. We still have quite a few members of the National Guard locally who were present on D-Day and, of course, there are many others around, not now members, who were there at the time. Maryland abounds with these people as does Virginia. In Virginia your best sources would be the towns of the Valley of Virginia (Shenandoah Valley) from whence came the companies of the ll6th Infantry Regiment which was in the first wave of the assault. Norfolk, Virginia, contains many veterans of the 111th Field Artillery Battalion which was attached to the ll6th as part of the first attack wave. I would be glad to help you or Mr. Ryan in any way that 1 can in this project. P.S. In civil life I am with the Telephone Co. in Baltimore at 320 Saint Paul PlaceB Best wishes Purley Cooper John P. Cooper, Jr. Brigadier General Maryland National Gaurd /V V 32-0 Maryland National Guard

August 4, 1958

Mr. John P. Cooper Jr. 320 St. Paul Place Baltimore 2, Maryland

Dear Mr. Cooper:

This apology for tardiness is itself overdue. Circumstances have so far prevented Mr. Ryan's returning to Baltimore. The week after General Peckord's luncheon Mr. Ryan's younger sister, a Pan American stewardess, died in a swimming in Africa. The disturbing business connected with her death was followed immediatelyby Mr. Ryan's departure for Europe where he has been working on the book for nearly two months.

He will return to New York this week and I know that he will be in touch with you in the near future. I hope that you will continue in your willingness and excuse especially this long and ungracious delay in letting you know about our situation. Thank you again for the help whth you have already given us.

Sincerely yours,

Frances Ward

i - J.P. COOPER,JR. 320 ST. PAUL PLACE BALTIMORE 2, MARYLAND August 8, 1958 Dear Miss Ward: Thank you for your note of August 4. I am terribly sorry to learn of Mr. Ryan's sisters death. Hard work is the best therapy I know for personal troubles, and I see that Mr.Ryan is following that practice by his work in Europe. Give him my regards when you write. Don't worry about schedules. I, and many like me, remain ready, willing and able to help you and Mr.Ryan in your project in anyway we can whatever the time elements. Miss Frances Ward "The Reader's Digest" Pleasantville, New York