Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 008, folder 39: Gus Lininger Sanders

SANDERS, Gus Lininger Ark 2 D-Day Book 82nd Release [?AB?] BOX 8, #39

Release to PG

505 Sees Bayoneted men in trees

Springdale; ARKANSAS

ARK 2 A very [illegible] trooper must've fought under Vandervoort

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? Gus Lininger Sanders

What was your unit and division? Company "C", 505 Prcht. Infantry, [inserted] Airborne [end inserted] 82nd

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? D minus 6 (Hrs) We jumped in Normandy after a two hour ride from England, and got in just a little after midnight, the group from the beaches came in starting about daylight.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? 2nd Lt.

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 34

Were you married at that time? yes

What is your wife's name? Helen Ann Sanders

Did you have any children at that time? no

What do you do now? My wife and I own and operate the Credit Bureau of Springdale, Inc. an affiliated bureau of the Associated Credit Bureaus of America, Inc. We make credit reports and investigations and collections. We have a small little business, but own all the stock, and just my wife and self run it, and make our living from it.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? Knew it from the first, airborne troops, are the first in any action, and have the mission to go in and fight, until other troops get into them.

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? In the plane, had the doors off and taped, so they would not catch any of our equipment as we went out the door. I was standing in the door watching the flack come up after us, one of my Sargents, was cold and was sitting in front of the door but had a blanket over him. I yelled at him "Look Sgt Weathers, at the flack", about that time some hit our plane, and Sgt. said " Oh God dam, and covered himself back up with the blanket as if the blanket would stop the flack. It sounded like rain on a tin roof, but luckily no apparent harm was done, we were out of the plane on on the ground in less than five minutes later.

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). As Paratroopers we were trained to expect the worst, we had been in combat twice before (Sicily and Italy) and knew that we could overcome anything. We were a highly trained bunch, who knew we were good, the I.Q was as high or higher than any outfit, and the spirit of the entire division under the able leadership of General Gavin, and General Ridgeway was such that we would take on anything under big odds, and most of the time come out on top. Our men, never failed us, and the officers were first on the ground, and all officers in the airborne fought in combat along with their men, I have never seen any trooper in the 2 1/2 years I was in Europe and in combat in five different campaigns, who took one backward step. Uncle Sam got the finest enlisted men he could find to make up the original 82 Air Borne, and it paid him.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Gus L. Sanders

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No, but I have the book "The Saga of the All American, which is a history of the 82 starting with WWI and Sgt York, and going thru the war with the present 82 as paratroopers. You may see it. WWII

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? yes , I took in 37 men 2 other officers in my platoon and came out less than 40 days later with no officers and 7 men. (Not all K.I.A. but wounded etc.)

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? yes Some had it seems, premonition they were not going to last, yet would push on and take all kind of chances, and showing they were unafraid to die, othere did not know, one Sgt in my platoon, was killed by a straffing from one of our planes, he and I were talking about California, and he was making plans to return there after the war, and telling me about his family, just minutes before he was straffed. His arm was [crossed out] turn [end crossed out] [inserted] shot [end inserted] off by a 50 and he never did say one word, died from shock, and he along with others is why this country remains a free country, that we hope God still smiles on.

Were you wounded? yes slightly, I have a purple heart and two clusters for wounds, Sicily, Normandy, and the Bulge.(Lung, [crossed out] Leg [end crossed out] ribs, leg)

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? I was shot thru the lung in Sicily by a rifle bullet from an Italian solder. It stung like fire, as a hot needle went thru my body, but did not have much real pain, My men could not find a medic, and when they got one, he was shot, so I almost died from loss of blood. Were it not for the British I would be a dead duck, and I will always be grateful to Montgomenys 8th Army for taking care of me, as well as English doctors and nurses. They are tops in my books. Was in hospital in Sicily, Tripoli CAIRO and TEL AVIV with lung wound in Sicily

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Yes. We had been fighting hard all day in Normandy, were dug in for night, and our little plane was out flying patrol, and looking for artillery from the Germans. It had been flying back and fourth, and at that time things were quiet. We took this little town, and our battallion pushed on thru the town, and on a hill overlooking the little town. It was a small place with a small courtyard, and a very large and high tree in the center of the little village. As the plane was flying back, two ME 109's came in from his blind side and dived on him, we could see it but the observer could not , as both of them [inserted] 109's [end inserted] pulled out ot their dive they let loose a burst , their tracers [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] woke the pilot up to what was happening, he was over the little village he fell out of the sky, we thought he had been hit. The 109's came back looking, for him, and missed him, as he was flying about the base of the tree. When they went away out little plane finally came out and went home, after looking all over the horizon for [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] stray German plane. Post D-day?

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simplpy memorable, which struck yau more than anything else? Yes, first the treatment we got from the French people, they were glad we were there, they were the simple farm people, and had lived hard lives under the Germans. They helped all they could, and protected our wounded troopers, hiding them from German Patrols several times, my boys later told me. If Americans today could have seen those troppers in St Mere Eglise, who were shot and bayonetted before they ever got out of their chutes, they would realize the price of freedom [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] paid since the Revolutionary war by her men and women. Many who were killed, had not fired a shot, and were left hanging in trees where their chutes had caught in the trees. These are the unsung hero's of the war, not those of us who returned.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Gus Sanders

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?

I can remember one Jew Officer in "B" company, who was caught with his men out in the open, the German s tried to blast them out, Sidney would not let his men surrender, we had no available artillery to help him. They dug in and fought in sight of the batallion, and did not give up for over 24 hours before we could get help to them. This man Sidney Weinberg, came back to the batallion as one of the best liked officers in the batallion. He lost some men, but prevented his men from giving up by guts. For by that time the Germans were hunting for the "men with the baggy pants" and were killing a lot of our boys who happened to be captured. We had very few Jews in our outfit, but those we did have were very much soldiers, and very tough and salty, showing lots of ingenuity, and loads of guts. (I AM NOT A JEW, but have great Admiration for those Jews who were with us in 82nd They all were real "HE" men & very tough

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? In an airfield in England , ready and packed to go

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? In the air, nearing Normandy

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?

Yes. Major Jack Tallerday 1520 Downe Street Winston Salen, North Carolina.

He is now in [crossed out]Sigon[end crossed out] Saigon, but was in the 505, Company "C " and [*(of 82nd A/B*] can give you some interesting facts. His wife in Winston Salem will forward his mail to him. Jack can give you other addresses of troopers, as he is still in the service , and keeps up with more than I do. also Lt General James M. Gavin [crossed out]waw[end crossed out] was until recently Chief of Research and Development Washington 25, D.C. [*(The best soldeir & gentleman & the greatest troop commander in W.W. II)*]

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

This is hard for me to putn in words, my thoughts now of the war, in case our paths do cross some times, feel that I can tell you more. the American Legion here can find you several who were in the Normandy invasion. I will be glad to help you in any way that I can. I have momentoes at home, also the 82nd newspaper accounts of our doings, plus maps etc, [inserted]battle orders, pictures etc.[end inserted]

[*Gus Sanders*] Gus Sanders

Credit Bureau Credit Reports - Collections Phone PL 1-4841 OF SPRINGDALE, INC 207 Camp Building SPRINGDALE, ARK. P.O. Box 224

9June58

Was with Miss Ward, the 82nd Airborne on D-Day in Normandy. Was in "C" Company of the 505 Prcht.Regt. This was"Slim Jim" Gavin's own company when he came to the paratroopers as a captain. Have the 82nd history book that includes WWI and Sgt Alvin York.

WE went into Normandy before the boys hit the beaches, was a line officer ( out of the 11 officers who went in was the only one who walked out) took two officers and 37 men, left Normandy little over a month later with 7 men.

If I can help I would be glad, I do not want any pay nor do I want my name used. I Stlil think General James E, Gavin, to be the best soldier and one of the finest men who ever lived. Since he has retired maybe you can get his views about Normandy also.

Gus Sanders Gus Sanders #2

SPRINGDALE ARKANSAS MEMBER