Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 008, folder 01: William E. Ekman

[inserted] Ln D Da [end inserted]

EKMANM, Colonel William E.

[inserted] 82 AB [end inserted]

Ga 14

505th

Tells of Chaplain who dropped in S. M. E + killed in 1st few min. Also if LL. who wanted to be a Killer, [illegible] his hands in to make hand, Killed, too

Release with PG

Box 8, #1

[inserted] AB-I

Lt. Benning GEORGIA [end inserted]

For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day

[inserted] LL GA 14

Key man in 82nd Lull of stories, + sound like a really fine guy [end inserted]

THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR, PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY BETWEEN MIDNGIHT JUNE 5, 1944 AND MIDNIGHT JUNE 6, 1944. IF YOU WERE ONE OF THEM, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

What is your full name? Colonel William E. Ekman What was your unit and division? Commanding Officer, 505 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Landed by parachute in Normandy at about 0120 hours, 6 June 1944 in the vicinity of Neuville - au - Plein, which approximately four (4) miles north west of Ste. Mere Eglise.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Lieutenant Colonel. What was your age on June 6, 1944? 31 years of age. Were you married at that time? Yes What is your wife's name? Iris Welch Ekman Did you have any children at that time? Yes -- a boy, Michael, then age 5; and a girl, Sandra, age 3.

What do you do now? I am currently serving as Director of the Airborne-Air Mobility Department, Unites States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? I was briefed (BIGOTED) about 25 March 1944 as to the actual mission of the 505, although I had known much longer than that that in any invasion the Airborne troops would be involved.

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 was rough, and the plane was overcrowded and overloaded. There was quite a bit of flak in certain spots. Although there was a moon, it was quite cloudy, and the moon was often covered and we flew through a great number of cloud banks. I recall no specific conversations as my mind was on the mission of the unit, and how the mission could be accomplished under the variables which we were bound to encounter. I recall some conversation as to whether it would be better to stand or sit in order to furnish a smaller target for the flack. The plane was a c-47, flying supposedly in formation, although it lost formation after hitting the Normandy coast. Captain (now Lt Colonel) Robert M. Piper was my Adjutant and was with me in the plane. We both had to sit on the floor at the rear of the plane; the door was open, and as a result of the wind, we could not very well conduct a conversation. (Continued on attached page) 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). There were no rumors on our plane or, so far as I know, any of the planes. All members of the regiment had been completely briefed on their missions, had been carefully instructed on scaled sand tables, aerial photographs and maps. Every officer and enlisted man knew exactly what he was to do no matter where we landed. We were concerned about the possibility of anti-Airborne personnel devices such as poles, wires and mines on the drop zones, since similar devices had been erected around the town of Ste. Saveur le Vicompt, our original objective. Due to these devices, and for other reasons, our initial objective was changed to Ste Mere Eglise.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Col William E Ekman

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No diaries were authorized. In fact, every man and officer was carefully checked to ensure he had nothing which would give away his unit or any information concerning his assignment or duties. Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Yes. Our casualty rates were fairly high and included many personal friends.

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? I do not recall any particular conversation except in connection with orders which were issued in order to further the mission. Of particular interest would be the heroic action of Lt Colonel Benjamine Vandervort, Commanding Officer of my Second Battalion, who broke his leg in the jump, immediatley had a cast put on it and remained with his outfit throughout the campaign. As a comic relief, when, after link-up, a tank which had been given to us for support would not move as fast as it should, he banged on it with his crutch in anger in order to attract attention of the tank commander. I might add that the tank then moved out. Another was Major Frederick Kellem, III Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion; and also his Executive Officer, a Major McGinnity. Both were killed within minutes of each other in some fierce fighting at the bridge across the Merderet River.

Were you wounded? No -- I have never received so much as a scratch. 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? Not applicable.

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Yes. Vandervort beating on the tank.-- My personal actions immediately after the jump. -- I was knocked out and came to with everyone gone. It was dark of course, and I found myself in the middle of a herd of cattle. Due to my difficulty in walking for the next several days, I am sure I landed astride a cow. I might add that I did not feel particularly secure as a Regimental Commander in his first combat mission involved in a solo battale action. After successfully negotiating several imagined dangerous situations, I caught up with my staff about an hour later moving in the direction of our selected site. These could be embarassing; however, it is of rather a personal nature and my reactions do not necessarily add to my reputation. Another incidnet that now seems amusing, although embarassing at the time, was my falling asleep while issuing an attack order. This was at the end of the third day, and I had had no sleep. My S-3 took over after they shoved (continued on attached page) Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? There were many, such as the Lieutenant [inserted] [crossed out][illegible][end crossed out] Mathias [end inserted] in the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment of which I had formerly been Executive Officer, whose only mission in life was to kill the enemy, and who did everything humanly possible to toughen himself for the mission, to include soaking his hands in brine to harden them. A dedicated young officer who never even gout out of his parachute -- killed in his harness in a tree. ONe of the Chaplains of the regiment who suffered a similar fate and then who dropped in Ste. Mere Eglise, was captured, executed within minutes without giving up information to the enemy as to the mission. There were so many that it's difficult to recall all the names or all the incidents off-hand.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name William E Ekman

In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity or self-reliance; other do incredibly stupid things. Do you remember any, example of either?

I personally can recall no one of the regiment doing something incredibly stupid, unless it was me; at least that is my opinion; unless one can call [inserted] rushing [end inserted] [crossed out][illegible][end crossed out] machine gun nessts and hedge rows [inserted] which most of my men did, [end inserted] stupid;under some circumstances such action might be considered stupid, but under those which we encountered, such action was part of the job. One of my major concerns was keeping personnel going toward their individual objectives, whatever they [crossed out] may [end crossed out] [inserted] must [end inserted] be, instead of turning aside to participate in knocking out enemy resistance on the flank. Whenever a machine gune or other automatic weapon, including 88's, opened up, it seemed like everyone in the vicinity started to converge on it to knock it out. The greater number of officers and men in the 505 at that time had already had three campaigns behind then, and were completely selfreliant. I know that I was not nearly so worried about what they would do as they were about what I would do.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? At midnight 5 June 1944 we were airborne, enroute to the objectives area.

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? At midnight 6 June 1944 we were involved in combat around the key communications center of Ste Nere Eglise.

Do you know of anybody else who landed withing those 24 hours (midnight June 5 to midnight June 6) as infantry, glider or sirborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to? Yes. Lt Colonel Robert M. Piper, who has already submitted some comments to you. [inserted] (Have there) [end inserted]

Colonel John Norton, Research and Developments, Dept of the Army, Washington DC

There are a number of individuals, both officer and enlisted, within my department here at Fort Benning who participated, and whom I know would be able to furnish information. If you will send questionnaires, approximately 40, I will distribute them.

I suggest you write to the Secretary of the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, a Major Mason, currently retired; and to Mr. Don Lassen, 15101 Honore Ave., Harvey, Ill. Lassen has the names and addresses of officers and enlisted men who were members of "E" Company of the 505, and has been instrumental in organizing a periodic news letter as well as an annual convention for personnel of the company and others of the regiment.

PLEASE LET US HAVE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE AS SOON AS POSSINLE, SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE BOOK. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE YOUR STORY ON SEPARATE SHEETS IF WE HVE NOT LEFT SUFFICIENT ROOM. FULL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WILL BE GIVEN IN A CHAPTER CALLED "WHERE THEYA RE NOW; YOUR NAME AND VOCATION OR OCCUPATION WILL BE LISTED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

Cornelius Ryan

Frances Ward Research, The Reader's Digest

Question 6 -- Funny incidents

me under the table unceremoniously. The attack went on schedule, and was successful, which indicated that the S-3, now Colonel John Norton, Research and Developments, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C., was fully capable of commanding a regiment even at that time.

There are other incidents which can best be remembered over cocktails with a group of those who participated, but are difficutl to recall just now.