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[inserted] FT. LEAVENWORTH 82 AB [end inserted] ISAACS, Jack R. Kan 5
[inserted] 505
He + 35 men betrayed to Germans by a civilian. Only 3 escaped.
Box 8, #10 [end inserted]
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[inserted] Wouldn't want to interview without further development where marked. maybe phone call?
[?Cofferyurlli?]
AR-TE KANSAS
LR KAN 5 [end inserted]
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? [inserted] Jack R Isaacs [end inserted]
What was your unit and division? [inserted] Co G,505th Prcht Inf, 82nd Airborne Div [end inserted]
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? [inserted] Five to six miles northwest of St Mere Eglise France at approximately 12:15 the night of June 5 [end inserted]
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? [inserted] 1st Lt [end inserted]
What was your age on June 6, 1944? [inserted] 21 [end inserted]
Were you married at that time? [inserted] Yes [end inserted]
What is your wife's name? [inserted] Evelyn A Isaacs [end inserted]
Did you have any children at that time? [inserted] No [end inserted]
What do you do now? [inserted] Registered Pharmacist.Partner in two drug stores [end inserted]
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? [inserted] November 1943.We left Italy at this time for the purpose of preparing for the invasion of France.We knew our mission a few weeks prior to the invasion and our drop zone only a few hours before take off time on the early night of June 5 [end inserted]
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? [inserted] Since this was the third invasion for many of our unit we were aware of what awaited us.There was little conversation on the several hours long flight.Most of the time was spent in checking parachute equipment and our combat equipment.Many of the men slept. The night over the channel was clear.Upon reaching the French coast we ran into a severe cloud bank and contact with the other planes in our flight was lost.This resulted in our being dropped away from our planned drop zone. [end inserted]
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). [inserted] We had been well informed as to anti-parachute obstacles and the heavy resistance to be encountered.I do not recall any rumors. [end inserted]
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- for Cornelius Ryan - Your name [inserted] Jack R Isaacs [end inserted]
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? [inserted] No [end inserted]
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? [inserted] Yes [end inserted]
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? [inserted] No [end inserted]
Were you wounded? [inserted] Yes.This happened about June 10 [end inserted] 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? [inserted] I knew immediately that I had been hit,not so much from pain but from the blow or force with which the shrapnel struck me.The pain came later and was only moderate. [end inserted]
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? [inserted] No [end inserted]
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? [inserted] My most memerable incident was being dropped away from the planned drop zone.I assembled about 35 men and contacted a civilian to ascertain our location.This man in turn betrayed us to the German Army units in the area which resulted in the loss of all but three of us.I recall that obe man with us,Pvt Quinton Echols of Tulsa,Okla,had broken his leg on the drop. He refused to lag behind and be captured by the enemy.He carried his share of the fight and although at times we had to partially carry him he managed to sty with myself and an artillery man from the 101st Div until we reached our own lines.I recall also facing the most aggresive German NCO in all my experience in Europe.He commanded a machine gun section and gave us considerable trouble. [end inserted]
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name [inserted] Jack Ri Issacs [end inserted]
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? [inserted] I recall that a 1st Sgt,a Pvt,a 1st Lt and myself were pinned down by the German NCO and his M.G.Our only hope was in crawling under his fire across a road and into a ditch.The private was killed [crossed out][illegible][end crossed out] before we made the attempt.The other Lt and myself made it but the 1st Sgt refused to move and was captured. I recall that one of my squad leaders was captured and later made a futile running attempt to escape.He was killed from behind. One of the privates of my platoon,who had never shown any leadership, showed considerable courage and ability and shortly was promoted to Sgt. [end inserted]
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? [inserted] In a C47 transport heading for France from England [end inserted]
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? [inserted] North of Ste Mere Eglise well within the German lines. [end inserted]
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? [inserted] James T manes,,Granbury,Texas.As I recall he was a Capt at the time and was serving as Exec of our 2nd Battalion.
Pvt Quinton Echols,Tulsa,Okla.St address unknown.
1st Lt Patrick Ward Bowling Green Ohio.St address unknown.
Chaplain George B Wood.Chaplain Wood is now an Episcopal Rector at Ft Wayne,Ind. [end inserted]
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If you desire any further information I will be happy to supply what I can.I would be available for interview probably at any time it would be convenient for your researcher.
Respectfully, [inserted] Jack R. Issacs [end inserted] Jack R Issacs
802 Walnut St Coffeyville,Kansas
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
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JACK R. ISAACS Proprietor
Your Prescription Center Phone 895 802 Walnut St. COFFEYVILLE, KANSAS
May 27,1958
[inserted] #2 [end inserted]
Miss Frances Ward Readers Digest 230 Park Ave. New York Dear Miss Ward: I have recently read in the American Legion magazine that you desire information from persons participating in the June 6,1944 invasion of France. I was a member of Co G,505th Parachute Infantru which dropped in France the night of June 5 and morning of June 6.As I remember we took part in the action from that time to about July 15 at which time we were withdrawn from the line near Le Haye du Pauits and returned to England. If I can be of service to you in this venture please let me know.
Respectfully, [inserted] Jack R. Isaacs [end inserted] Jack R Isaacs