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

"B" The flight from England to Normandy was made under an almost full moon. The fifty odd planes were using their blue running lights and all were visible from the lead plane. We reached the coast of France at about 2:00 AM, flew through a cloud bank and when the lead plane finally broke out, I again checked on the formation. As far as I could see, our plane was alone. The procedure which had been laid on was for the flights to come in at about 1,000 feet, glide down to 500 - 700 feet, jump their sticks and get back to England. Our plane started a power on glide and we were released at about 250 feet. My stick straddled the Merderet River, North of Fier.

All jumpers were heavily loaded with equipment—land mines, grenades, weapons, ammunition, gas masks, rations, etc., (my total weight was about 350 pounds - I weighed then about 230 pounds).

My chute opened, I swung to the rear and landed flat on my back. There was no one else in the field in which I found myself. As rapidly as possible, I cut my way out of the harness and headed for the closest cover. There was small arms fire coming from the hedge rows. As I reached a corner in the hedge rows, I was stopped in my tracks by an authoritative "halt". Right then and there, I forgot the password, and in a voice far from commanding, I answered "dammit, don't shoot, its Maloney”. "O. K. Colonel, come on over here, General Gavin and Colonel Ostberg are gathering men to go out and save a glider which has an anti-tank gun in it."

DECORATIONS AND AWARDS BRANCH MILITARY PERSONNEL DIVISION, AGO RECORD OF AWARD OF DECORATION BY AGENCY OTHER THAN WAR DEPARTMENT initials fjm Date 9-12-44

Last Name First Name Middle Initial Serial No. Grade MALONEY ARTHUR A. 021297 Lt. Col. Organization Foreign Others 507th PARACHUTE INF Headquarters Station or APO [illegible]No. Section Date 1st U S A 230 31 III Date 1 July 1944 Type of Award Posthumous DO NOT WRITE IN D S C NO COLUMN BELOW Oak-Leaf Clusters Number Posthumous By Command of Amended Revoked [crossed out][illegible][end crossed out] LT. GEN. HODGES CITATION For extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy on 9 June 1944, in France. When Lt Col observed that one of his battalions in an attempted assault was giving way before the withering enemy fire, he immediately went forward. He discovered that the Battalion Commander had been killed and that no other Staff Officer was available to take command. Lt Col Maloney rallied and reorganized the battalion and personally [crossed out]directed a bazooka[end crossed out] led it in an assault against the enemy forces. In the assault, he personally directed a bazooka team in attacking and destroying an enemy tank. By his conspicuous courage and disregard of the enemy fire, he inspired the troops to carry on and secure their object- ive. The valor and outstanding leadership displayed by Lt Col Maloney reflects great credit on himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the Armed Forces.

Entered military service from Connecticut

THE READER'S DIGEST P L E A S A N T V I L L E • N E W Y O R K

May 9, 1958

Dear Colonel Maloney:

A book about D-Day, June 6, 1944, is being prepared by Cornelius Ryan for publication in The Reader’s Digest in book form on the 15th anniversary of the Normandy invasion in the spring of 1959. It is being written with the complete cooperation and assistance of the Department of the Army and the Department of Defense. This will not be another strategic history of invasion day, but a story of the twenty-four hours of D-Day as people lived them and remembered them. For this, we can only go to the men who were there and, if they are willing, invade their memories. Having learned from the Department of the Army, of the part which you played in the invasion, we hope very much that you'll be interested in the project and will be willing to help us.

Mr. Ryan is presently in Europe trying to get the project under way there. He will be back in this country very shortly, and during the late spring and early summer of this year, both in this country and in Europe, he will be interviewing many of the people who agree to contribute to the book. Very probably, he will wish to talk with you during that period, if you are willing and able to see him. In the meantime, since we are literally dealing with hundreds of people, we are finding it necessary to keep an individual file on each person who agrees to help us. Therefore we hope that if you are willing to help with the book, you will complete the enclosed record and return it to me at your earliest convenience. We truly believe that these questions will serve you as well as us, if they can help to crystallize some hazy memories and do indicate the sort of information which we are seeking.

In Mr. Ryan's absence, I should be most grateful to know as soon as possible when and if you will be available for interview during the next two or three months. We will look forward very eagerly to your reply. We want very much to tell your story and the story of your unit, and in order to do that we need you. Thank you so very much for any help which you can give us.

Sincerely yours,

Frances Ward Research Department

Colonel Arthur A. Maloney, 021297 D.O.D. PAC Research Office c/o CIN PAC Box 26 F.P.O. San Francisco, California

August 26, 1958

Colonel Arthur A. Maloney D.O.D. PAC Research Office c/o CIN PAC Box 26 F.P.O. San Francisco, California

Dear Colonel Maloney:

Many thanks for your graphic and detailed questionnaire. Since we are particularly Interested in interlacing humorous incidents that occurred on D-Day into the more comprehensive and grimmer picture, we wonder if you could perhaps amplify that delightful episode in which you found yourself "with the grenade at my feet and running full scale in mid-air." Were there any remarks made that you remember when you returned to the foxhole?

You point out that you were attacking a small bridge. Do you remember where it was? approximately what time it was? did you capture it?

Because of the distance involved and the possibility of editorial alterations later, we will require your signature on the attached release so that we can use your material. Again thank you for your cooperation

Sincerely yours,

Cornelius Ryan

CR:LL Enclosure

Oct 27 1958

Dear Mr Ryan, Reference your letter of August 26 and the incident with the grenade. By the time I had returned to my fox hole - the remainder of the group were already in theirs and if my memory serves me well- they were enjoying the "old mans" feeble imitation of a Keystone Comedy. The bridge was located at Chef-du-pont and the action occured some time on D-day afternoon. We did not physically secure the bridge but we did keep the Germans from using it or destroying it. The bridge was under direct German observation for mortar fire and we did not have necessary weapons to neutralize this fire. Sincerely yours Arthur A Maloney