Page 4

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 -
Your name James J. Coyle

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 am sure that other men of the Second Battalion of the 505th
Parachute Infantry Regiment will have told you of our Battalion
Commander Lt. Col.Benjamin Vandejyoort, who broke his ankle on the
jump. He remained in action with his foot in a cast, hobbling along
on a crutch with the lead elements of his battalion, even in attack.
He was a great source of inspiration to the men of his command.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On the plane crossing the
English Channel.

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Dug in on the edge of the
town of Ste. Mere Eglise under a heavy artillery barrage.

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 the men whose addresses I have are on the list of names
which you received from Don Lassen, Publisher of the E Company
"Poop Sheet".

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
5/1/58

Frances Ward
Research, The Reader *s Digest