Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 008, folder 18: Arthur Anthony Maloney

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Release 82 A.B. MALONEY, Arthur Anthony Cal 15 Box 8, #18

507

Exploding grenade. He started "running in mid-air"

Last edit 4 months ago by heatheralr
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FPO LL For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day CAL 15 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 ? Arthur Anthony Maloney What was your unit and division? 507th Parachute Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ? West of St Mere Eglise - on the far side of the Merderet River What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Lt. Col. What was your age on June 6, 1944? 30 years old (Birthday 13 June 1914) Were you married at that time ? yes What is your wife !s name ? Mary Arens Maloney Did you have any children at that time ? yes- two sons Michael and Dennis What do you do now? on duty with Cincpac staff, Honolulu, Hawaii When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? In early May- the senior officers in the regiment were briefed by Division headquarters

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 ? see attached "A"

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

Last edit over 1 year ago by shashathree
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’ - for Cornelius Ryan 2Your name A.A. Maloney 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? we just wished each other the best of luck and made plans for a big party when our divisions was returned England Were you wounded? yes 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? There was no pain Do you remember seeing- or bearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? we were attaching across a small bridge under cover of white phosphorus grenades. one of the Germans defending the bridge threw a grenade and it landed at my feet. I stared at it - decided I didn't have time to throw it back- and as I turned it exploded and knocked me into the air. Evidently in mid air I started running for the hole I had just left. when I got back in the hole, I found a group of men I had been leading across the bridge - all back in their fox holes and laughing like mad at the sight of their "old man" running in mid-air.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Our regiment had an outstanding Medical Detachment under Major George Vollmar and D-Day morning one of members of the Regiment was hit during a fire fight. The wounded soldier was out in the open and the area was under small arms fire. Without hesitation the aid man ran out in the area to administer to the wounded. He reached the soldier and while giving first aid was killed by small arms fire. Our Medics performed extraordinary acts of heroism daily

Last edit over 1 year ago by shashathree
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Authur A. Maloney

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? see "B" Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944 enroute to Normandy in a C-47 aircraft Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? part of group holding a bridge across the Merderet River at Fier 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? Brig Gen C. J. Timmes, Pentagon, Wash, D.C. Col William [Kuber ?] % Adjutant General, Wash. D. C. USA Col Gorden K Smith % Adjutant General, Wash D.C., USA Col Willard Young % Adjutant General, Wash D. C. USA Col LeRoy D. Brummitt % Adjutant General, Wash D.C. USA Wm Torris Lyche (Red Cross), % Travelers Hotel, [ ?] California Col Ben Pearson Route 2, Box 425, Savannah, Ga. Dr. (Maj) Kenneth Vollmar 670 Ben Vista Drive, Salem, Oregon E. Mansel Hennon (Chaplain) 729 N Prospect Ave, Park Ridge, Ill

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

Last edit over 1 year ago by shashathree
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"A" I was the lead jumpmaster in a flight of about fifty C-47 aircraft. The Regimental Commander (George V. Millette) had arranged the loading so that he and myself had a regimented staff organization in our planes. He had the S-l officer - I had the senior S-l NCO; I had the S-2 officer - he had the senior S-2 NCO, etc. My plane load included in addition, the Regimental Surgeon (Major George Vollmar) and the regimental chaplain (Father Verrett). Since this flight was our first for record, I stayed near the door (which had been removed) and attempted to keep the stick informed of our flight. As we passed over the convey, over the sub (which was used as a check point), and finally over the coast of France, I would yell this information back into the plane. Just after reaching France, I told the men to get their Mae Wests off, remove their blankets and get ready to jump. No one made a move so I walked to the first man and found him sound asleep; checked the others and found the whole plane load sound asleep. For a moment I was quite upset — my apprehension about the group's being nervous was completely unfounded.

Last edit over 1 year ago by shashathree
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