Page 4

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 -
Your name W.B. WILLIAMS

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?
YES - AFTER FINDING THAT MY CARBINE WAS JAMMED- FROM
SALT WATER AND SAND - I SAT DOWN IN AN EXPOSED SPOT TO
TRY TO GET IT TO FUNCTION. THAT'S WHEN I GOT SHOT. [crossed out] WHEN [end crossed out]
A FOXHOLE AT THE TOP OF THE HILL WAS HOLDING UP
THE MEN WHO HAD LANDED AHEAD OF US, I TRIED TO
KNOCK HIM OUT MYSELF INSTEAD OF BRINGING MY WHOLE
ASSAULT TEAM INTO ACTION AGAINST HIM.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? ON BOARD SHIP [crossed out] IN
PORTLAND HARBOR, SOUTHERN ENGLAND [end crossed out] CROSSING CHANNEL.

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? [crossed out] ON BOARD SHIP CROSSING
THE CHANNEL [end crossed out]. ABOARD A U.S. NAVY LST THAT HAD PULLED
IN CLOSE TO SHORE AFTER UNLOADING. TO TAKE ABOARD
CASUALITIES. GERMAN PLANES DID ATTACK US THAT NIGHT.

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?

ALL OF 116TH INF
LT. WM. H. PEARCE COLLWELL RD., MADISON HEIGHTS, VA.
ROBERT L. SALES MONROE, VA.
COL. FRED McMANAWAY FORT MISSOULA, MISSOULA, MONTANA
MAJ. JOHN L. FLORA LAKEWOOD COLONY, ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
LT. COL. THOMAS S. DALLAS. - [crossed out] FORE [end crossed out] FORMERLY OF MARTINSVILLE, VA.
POSSIBLY STILL ON ACTIVE DUTY. LAST ADDRESS
KNOWN TO ME WAS C+GS SCHOOL-
FT. LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS
ABOUT 1950.

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 SEPARATE SHEETS IF WE HAVE NOT LEFT SUFFICIENT 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

Sorry I delayed so long in answering.
correct address now is:
CAPT. WILLIAM BEVAN WILLIAMS 0-379493
VILLAGE ST.
NORTHFORD CONN.