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For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-day Co A Ft Benning Ga. 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? M/Sgt Hubert H. Jordan What was your unit and division? 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment - Attached to 82nd Airborne Division Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Ambyville France - about 20 miles inland, 1430 hrs. What was your rank on June 6, 1944? M/Sgt What was your age on June 6, 1944? 24 Were you married at that time? No (married after War II) What is your wife's name? Carmen Did you have any children at that time? No What do you do now? Chief Clerk, Basic Airborne Committee, Airborne—Air Mobility Department, Fort Denning, Georgia When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? About two (?) weeks before the invasion. 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? Some of the men slept during the crossing, most of my time was spent talking to the men that were not sleeping, double checking equipment switches, re- briefing key NCOs, checking parachutes and equipment, standing in the door of the aircraft watching the formation of planes. Almost all the men had the same thoughts. Lets hurry up and get on the ground and get it over with. (This was our first combat jump). 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). None
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for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name M/Sgt Hubert H. Jordan Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Yes Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? No Were you wounded ? No Do you remember what it was like—that is, do you remember whether you felt any pain or were so surprised that you felt nothing? The first few hours under fire I was scarred, then I became mad, after that I felt nothing. Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? No Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? No
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 -
Your name M/Sgt Hubert H. Jordan
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 from D-day?
No
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On board a C-47 crossing the channel
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Normandy
Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours of D-day, June 6, as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to?
No known address
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