Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 007, folder 37: Hubert S. Bass

BASS, Hubert 82 A/B Box 7, #37 505th, F Co Talks about Trumbull, Sammon (who we have), Doerfler

Gotham R PL 8-0829

Bass 8610 Linkpass Lane Houston 25 Texas March 20, 1959 Mr Cornelius Ryan 203 E. 48th St New York, N.Y.

Dear Mr Ryan: Received a letter from Ben Vandervoot asking me to write you any details I might recall concerning the 82nd A/D operations in France. Fourteen years is a long to go back and uncover something factual that may be of interest. What I have to say will be written in the best way I know how and in sequence from the time our division left Quorn England for English air fields in preparation for the Normandy D-Day invasion. It might be worthwhile to check this information with Ben should there be a question about dates, times, etc. My name is Hubert S. Bass, Major , Inf. Ret. 0-329489. My rank was Capt., in command of company F on D-Day 6 June 1944. We were stationed at Camp Quorn England prior to May 29th on which date the 2nd Battalion 505th Prcht Inf received orders from 82nd Div Hqs to move our units to English airdomes. The town of Leicester was a few miles from our camp, the people of Leicester were friendly. However, our troops were confined to camp most of the time and they never really knew when we left. The battalion had lost many men in prior combat, but lessons learned in Sicily and Italy were to pay dividends later on the Cherbourg Peninsula. Names of men left behind will always be remembered. Some are: Connell, Sandrin, Janey, August and others, a list too long to write.

On 29 May 1944, the 2nd Bn 505th Prcht Inf departed Camp Quorn England for Cottesmore Airdome. Morale was high, latrine rumors of all kinds began as to where we were going. Troopers in confinement for minor offenses were released. We all felt a need to study German and French phrases such as Jai Faim in French and Ich Habe in German, meaning I'm hungry. A trooper was always ready to eat K rations were something to curse and trade with. Arrival at Cottesmore brought forth a sudden interest among the men in the condition of their rifles, machine guns, uniform etc. No one had to be told to check ammunition, see the chaplin or write letters home. Lt. Col. Vandervoort called a Co. Comdrs meeting to brief us on our mision. Lt. Schmees commanded Hdqs Co, Capt. Russell, E. Co, Lt Smith D Co and Capt Bass F Co. This was it, we had received our combat orders. We knew where and how we were going but not sure when. The waters of the English Channel were rough due to storms and the best time had to be selected for seaborne units to make beach landings following the airborne drop. Morale was better now that our missions and objectives were know- our men were trained fighters who desired to close with the enemy. Slim Jim Gavin was well liked down in the ranks. He visited with the men in training and combat. You could always expect him to pop up at the damdest places. He just didn't act like a general, more like one of us. Capt. Harris, the Bn 5-3, issued plane assignments. The 316th Troop Carrier Group, 44th squadron was to fly our battalion to France. Loading of equipment bundles began at 0830 hours 5 June 1944. Our troopers were to enplane and take off at 2300 hours. We were to drop at 0141, 6 June 1944, near Ste Mere Eglise. Our division was to cut off the Cherbourg Peninsula along a line from Ste Mere Eglise to St Sauveur, seize and secure glider landing areas, seize and secure areas to protect beach head landings and kick the devil out of the enemy while doing this. Objectives

outlined, counter attack plans made, checking and rechecking, memorizing codes etc. Left little time to feel sorry for one's self. We all thought of our loved ones back home, said a prayer for them. It was a comfort to know my wife had sufficient insurance in case any thing happened. Experience in Italy was to pay off, however. Hedgerow fighting was to be something new and we quickly adjusted our tactics to close range fighting with limited observation of the terrain and enemy. The battalion S-2 was a kid in appearance, he really looked young. I don't believe he had two whiskers on his face. Lt Doefler knew his business about the enemy, his intelligence briefing later paid off. We found out Doefler was a trooper to be proud of. He displayed great courage and leadership in the performance of his duties. At 2349 hours, 5 June 1944, our flight was to rendezvous in vicinity of Coventry England. Our serial was 55 minutes long with a time interval of 10 minutes between the 82nd and 101st A/B Div. My thoughts while I was sitting near the plane's door was about our mission, our plans, wondering what kind of reception we would get from the Germans during the drop. Just 49 minutes have passed since we left Coventry, seems like an eternity. I kept thinking of a saying I once heard. "A coward dies many times before his death but the valent taste the sting of death only once." Some of the troopers in the plane had there eyes closed as if they were sleeping, others were just staring. Someone would look at his watch occasionally, loosen or tighten a harness buckle. Those were brave men and a wonderful comfort to be on their team. There were several check points between Coventry and the English coast, however, I was watching for the coastline check point 'Flatbush', then a destroyer in the channel, a submarine, at which point we change our flight direction towards the