Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 008, folder 24: Gorden L. Nagel

TULSA 82 AB NAGEL, Gorden L. Okla 6 Box 8, #24

507 Man landed on top of German bdgt & stuck up to waist in roof, threw grenades until bldg was clear Robb McCarrol fractured ankle took 2 1/2 grains Morphine, wrapped bayonet blade & scabbard on either side of foot, tied with boot laces, stayed with unit for 8 hrs

OKLA 6 AB- 1 Tulsa, Oklahoma 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 6, 1944 AND MIDNIGHT JUNE 6, 1944. IF YOU WERE ONE OF THEM, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

What is your full name ? GORDEN L NAGEL What was your unit and division? 507th Inf Parachute Division, Attached to the 82nd Parachute Inf for the Invasion of Normandv. Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ? Near Frezville, France. around 1 o'clock A.M. on the 6th of June 1944. Exactly one month before my 27th birthday, remember wondering if I would ever see it, as I was wounded 3 times before the day was over.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Private First Class In charge of a machine gun. What was your age on June 6, 1944? 27 years old. Were you married at that time? No What is your wife's name? Bunilla Nagel Married Dec 28, 1948 Did you have any children at that time? No. What do you do now? Senior Mechanic at AMerican Airlines at Tulsa, Okla When did you know that you were going to he part of the invasion? About one month 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? Rough, lots of antiaircraft fire, lots of tension, some air sickness, due more to the pills we were made to take prior to takeoff rather than the rough air. 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 ). The Germans were not taking any prisoners. In some instances true.

for Cornelius Ryan 2 Your name Gorden L Nagel 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 ? One, do not remember his name Do you remember any conversations yon had with them before they beoame casualties? no 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? No pain, more like hitting your heel on a stone and numbing pain. Did not relieze I was wounded at the time. (wounded 3 times ) by Schmizer machine gun. Do you remember seeing- or bearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? One of the boys landing on top of a german hdqs and being stuck up to his waist in the roof , throwing hand - gernades about until the building was clear. His description of how the german confusion and hysteria. (more on interview ) Robert McCarrol's experiance in a german hospital and the fear expressed by the wounded german of our artillery. Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? McCaroll's broken (Fractured) ankle, his taking Morephane 2-half grain and wrapping his bayonet blade and scabbard and tying them with his boot laces and staying up with his unit for about 8 hrs.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Gorden L Nagel 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 ? How fast a man can run when he is under fire. Endurance. Riding bycles and horses on open and uncleared roads. Use of enemy equipment to carry our supplies. Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Somewhere over the English Channel, probably around the isle of wright of man. Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Crawling around Normandy trying to get to the rendevo. 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? Lt Greg Sprunk, Glen Road, Newport, Minn. Lt Raider Nelson 2251 N. Spaulding, Chicago, Ill.) Dick Utterbogard 3660 Jackson St, Lansing, Ill. Ted Hamner 3510 8th St , Tuscaloosa, Ala. /Alex Krusa 6052 37th Ave, Kenosha, Wisc. Bob McCarroll 22901 Gankler, St Clair Shores, Mich. (be sure to contact this one, he can [beging crossed out] tell [end crossed out] give you some good material) -I've written him (Lt) then) B.E. Hale 112 Judy Circle, Marietta, Ga.

I can give a more detailed account of some of these incidents on interview.

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 HOT 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

Gertrude Arundel Lawton Okla april 58 Dear sirs - a couple of weeks ago or so I read in our paper that you wanted to contact the paratroopers of the 101st [crossed out] first [end crossed out] who jumped in Normandy. My son Gorden L. Nagel was one of those. he now lives in Tulsa Okla his address is 1115 S. 149 East avenue + works for american airlines there in Tulsa. I do not know if he will give his consent to write anything about him but you can contact him there. he was awarded the Silver star allso the Bronze star later has 3 oaks leaf clusters, 3 spearhead invasions, awarded the purple heart + later the Belgium + French Porteguese. was wounded on the 6th of June both legs. has his boots with the holes thru them and the bullet a Dr from chickahhakla took out of his hip after they flew him to an English hospital (he laughed + told how he + they discussed the football games between Lawton + Chickaha) he stayed days under cedar trees + crawled [?] trying to get back to our lines + on the nite of the 9th was taken into a french home where the lady poured wine over his wounds + gave him some [grappa ?] then the medics came in to get the wounded. When he opened the door a woman sniper got [?] the medics killed her ) she shot his color[sp] bone [?] the bullet tore out the muscles in his arm [looks ?] terrible but uses it all right now continued on other side