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Stamps, ARKANSAS ARK 1
For Cornelius Ryan Book about D- Day [illegible]
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.
What is your full name? ELLIS WILLIS
What was your unit and division? 29th INFANTRY
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? ABOUT DUST DARK WHERE ABOUT I DONT REMEMBER EXACT WHERE BUT I DO REMEMBER THE BUMBER PLANES WERE FOUR HUNDRED MILES TOO FUR. SOUTH ON THE WARDS THEY SUPPOSE TO MET THERE AHEAD OF US
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? P.F.C.
What was your age on June 6 , 1944? 28
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? I AM STREET WORKING FOR THE CITY OF STAMPS, ARKANSAS
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? I NEVER NEW IT UNTILL THE ENEMY SHOT THE BACK END OF OUR SHIP OFF
What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? Do you remember, for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time? THE TRIP WERE VERY SAD THE CHANNEL WERE RED WHEN THE TANKS STOPS FIRING AND BUMBS STOPS FALLING YOU COULD NT SEE ANY THING FOR SEVERAL HOURS I HAVE A FEW MORE ACTION I WERE IN I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT LATER WHEN I HAVE TIME THANK A LOTS FROM ELLIS WILLIS asn 38386403
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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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name ELLIS WILLIS
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day?
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? TWO KILLED AND ONE WOUNDED
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? THE WOUNDED SAID PULL OFF MY SHOES
Were you wounded? WELL I WERE CARRIED ON DUTY WITH PNEUMONIA I SUFFER NOW WITH ASTHAMA NO SCARS FROM ACTION
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? I SOMETIME FEEL LIKE MY EAR DROUM FELL FOR THAT REASON I CAN.T TALK OVER A TELEPHONE ANYMORE
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time?
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else?
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name ELLIS WILLIS
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? NO
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? ON THE CHANNEL
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? I DONT REMEMBER THE LITTLE VILLEAGE NOW
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? ONLY THREE I WELL THE OTHER WERE STRANGERS TO ME ONE OF THE THREE WERE CHARLIE PEN CHARL C JONES SOME PARTS OF TEXAS AREA E PEARES SOUTH
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
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JUNE 3rd 1958
I were reading in the american legion magazine about the vets were in the invasion I were in it My company had the back in of our ship shot off trying to land on Normandy Beach Heads and had to change on another ship and when we landed two sailers took of in a jep to try to run some of the Germany tanks back but one of the tank fired on it and we never did find the jep [?mus?] less the two sailers so bout ten minutes laters over came a germany plane it took bout [?h100?] four hundred shots at special me and I think I ran 90 miles per hour for bout a minute then I saw it were going to hit me if I keep running so I fell if [?tho?] I were dead so after lumbling go fur my head landed toward the plane and it shot a hole bout 18 inches abovve my head large enough for a number three washtub that were just part of the theaction that I were in but plus got hurt taking my basic [?training?] but dont get any thing out of it so think you fact I sent one hundred dollars home at the 316 staiton hospital by you so think a lots from Ellis Willis R.I. Box 185 Stamps Arkansas asn. 38386403 #2