Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 007, folder 36: Sam J. Appleby, Jr.

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APPLEBY, Sam, Jr. 82 AB [crossed out] Miss [end crossed out] [inserted] Mo [end inserted] 2 Box 7, #36

505 E. Co. Missouri Beautiful flowers on SME in Mayor's Garden

Last edit over 1 year ago by Luigiman85
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Ozark Missouri AB - TE [crossed out] Missouri [end crossed out] Mo 2

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.

What is your full name? Sam Appleby, Jr. Army name: Sam J. Appleby.

What was your unit and division? Company E. 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment 82nd A/B Division.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? 1:05 AM June 6, 1944. Where I landed, I don't know, except that it was somewhere in a fence row, with bushes like our black berrys grow on, in a cow pasture, near a cow, near bois d'arc hedge rows, and not far from Sainte Mere-Eglise.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Corporal.

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 22 years.

Were you married at that time? No.

What is your wife's name? Anne A. [crossed out] And [end crossed out] Appleby, nee Anderson

Did you have any children at that time? No.

What do you do now? Christian County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney, until Jan. 1959, will continue after that as country lawyer in general practice.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? This was my third parachute invasion, and I don't think anyone ever[crossed out] y [end crossed out] told me, it just grew on me, because we never missed anything big if we weren't busy, and we were m England at the time doing nothing to win the war.

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? I recall the plane we were on was the lead plane with only the radar plane a bomber some several minutes ahead with the crew to set up the guide, the trip was nice, I was behind Lt. Russell our Company Commander, now Lt. Clyde R. Russell, I recall the fleet as we passed over, and before that the last meal, we had steak, then as we approached the Normandy coast I remember watching the fire streaks of the big guns as they fired, the shell would peak and arc and on the lower side of the arc from each side we flew which gave the effect of the shells comming at us from both sides, but would go under us. I remember I wasn't motion sick as usual, I remember being a little panic, and repeating a long prayer, then I remember the chute opening as usual, the landing was good, I had cover in the brush.

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). I can't recall any rumors at the present time, but I am sure we had plenty, if we didn't, I'm so sure I made up a few, to test honesty, by watching them grow.

Last edit over 1 year ago by Luigiman85
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Sam Appleby

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? no

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 became casualties? no

Were you wounded? not in Normandy

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 was surprised when we went into Saint Mere Eglise that morning, to see girls in silk stockings, handing out coffee (of a sort) from the doors to us. The flowers in this little beautiful town were wonderful, I still have pictures of them, the Mayor's [crossed out] year [end crossed out] garden was a picture place. Where? [illegible]

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time ? Yes beside me as Herbert Gaither, Pfc, E. Company that jumped into a hole when a Me109 came at us, and a cow got excited and fell in the hole on top of him, he received several [crossed out] right [end crossed out] write-ups as the first Normandy Cow-usaldy.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? I remember several incident, but all to hazy to recall well enough to reduce to writing, and I am not sure whether they were in the first 24 hr, or even in the same area.

Last edit over 1 year ago by Luigiman85
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Sam Appleby ,Ozark, Mo.

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? I have never considered the Normany jump and the 24 hours thereafter as a personal crisis in my life, true I have fear, panic and confusion in my heart and probably acted it, and pain for the suffering. The fighting, and jumping after previous experiences, [crossed out] and [end crossed out] and firsts behind me, seemed to more common place in my memories than for example, when I made my confession to God, when I won third place at a county meet of the rural schools in a sack race, when I was 11, When I first rode a horse, cow, bicycle, motorcyrcle, wrecked a car, soloed an airplane, our wedding day, or when the children were born.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Either on the runway, or flying somewhere over London, waiting for the other planes to get into formation.

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? What seemed like two blocks [crossed out] North [end crossed out] [inserted] South [end inserted] and two blocks East of the Main Drag in Sainte Mere Eglise, it appeared like a park or a vacant area, I didn't sleep any at night for three nights, I remember that, it seemed like we turned [crossed out] fe [end crossed out] left off the drag fm the Mayor's house, went 2 blocks, then right 1 1/2 blocks.

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? The E Company List furnished by Don Lassen would be all I could Recall.

PLEASE LET US HAVE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT THE 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 5/1/58 Frances Ward Research, The Reader's Digest

Last edit over 1 year ago by Luigiman85
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Cpl. Sam Appleby, Jr., 22 , of the 82nd Airborne Div. says:

I was surprised when we went into St. Mere Eglise that morning to see girls in silk stockings, handing out coffee (of a sort) from the doors to us. The flowers in this little beautiful town were wonderful. I still have pictures of them, the Mayor's garden was a picture place.

Beside me Pfc. Herbert Gaither, E. Company, jumped into a hole when a Me109 came at us and a cow got excited and fell in the hole on top of him. He received several write ups as the first Normandy Cow-usaldy.

Last edit over 1 year ago by Luigiman85
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