Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 008, folder 08: Theodore, S. Hamner, Jr.

82 AB HAMNER, Theodore S., Jr. Ala 11 Box 8, #8

507 Badly scattered on drop Went into SME around dawn with 505th boys - 1 riding a mule Helped wounded German to aid station in SME - then saw all American dead hanging in trees

ALA 11 Tuscaloosa Ala Green

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? Theodore S Hamner Jr

What was your unit and division? Company H 507 Parachute Inf. 82nd AbDiv

Whero did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ? near St. Mere Eglise at 2:30 AM about 20 miles inland

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? STAFF SERGEANT

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 25 years

Were you married at that time? yes What is your wife ’s name ? Mary Violet

Did you have any children at that time? yes What do you do now? Floor Foreman B.F. Goodrich Co

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? About a week beforehand

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 ? we were mostly quiet and men who were to jump together planned how to get together after jump. We flew 50 feet above water until we hit coast of France. as soon as we hit coast plane was to rise to 900 feet. We were fired at on the coast and planes broke formation. After a few minutes the pilot told Lt Stephens that he could not see any other planes and told him we were over land. Lt Stephens told the pilot to slow the plane down and give us the green light. We then made our jump. There were 18 men in plane, but I have not until today seen but 4 of them. We got together on the ground and started looking for other men.

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 ). we figured the Krauts would be waiting for us because we had been given $4.00 equt. to French money in Francs. But we knew we had a job to do and we intended to do it.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Theodore S Hamner

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day ? No Were any of your friends killed or wound during the day ? It was several days before I got with about 25 men from my company except for the 4 men with me. None of us were wounded

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties ?

Were you wounded ? I hit the ground so hard on jump that I was barely able to walk because I had so much equipment but I managed to walk with difficulty

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 ?

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time ? At daylight the 5 of us got into a ditch in corner of field after a while I saw about 10 men coming our way one of them was riding a mule. I left other men in position and went to meet them they were paratroopers from 505. they said they were going to St. Mere Eglise so we joined them and went into town

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? The first German that I saw had been wounded. He had a Luger with him one of the fellows took gun and we took him to Aid Station in St Mere Eglise. This is in contrast to the First Trooper that I saw dead he had his hands tied behind his back with wire and he had been shot at close range. I saw several troopers hanging in trees still in their chutes and they had been shot there

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Theodore S Hamner

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 ? This was my first combant so I was very green but I sure got my full share of Artillery during first day in St Mere Eglise, the Krauts tried to take town back but they had no luck. Late in evening of D Day we heard our tanks and then we felt sure that things had gone well on the beach

Where were you at midnight June 5, 1944? at a Airfield in England

Where were you at midnight on June 6 , 1944? In a position in a large ditch on the edge of St Mere Eglise

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 ? C.O. Snipes Route 2 Duncanville, Ala

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 Frances Ward Research, The Reader's Digest

Staff Sergeant Theodore S. Hamner, Jr., 25, of the 82nd Airborne Division says:

At daylight five of us got into a ditch in the corner of a field. After a while I saw about 10 men coming our way and one of them was riding a mule. I left the other men in position and went to meet them. They were paratroopers from the 505th. They said they were going to St. Mere Eglise so we joined them and went into town.

The first German that I saw had been wounded. He had a Luger with him. One of the fellows took the gun and we took him to the Aid Station, in St. Mere Eglise. This is in contrast to the first trooper that I saw dead. He had his hands tied behind his back with wire and he had been shot at close range. I saw several troopers hanging in trees still in their chutes as they had been shot there.