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- 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 in-
formation 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 Of-
ficer 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.