Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 009, folder 16: Thomas B. Bruff

HQ G-2 101st

Knows Donoley

Story about Capt. Mann riding in glider & cussing, then seeing [Gen'l] Talyor

On landing saw Germans shooting at eachother pulled grenade pin- found it later on finger

Conversation with 4th INF. DIV. scout who was carrying rifle like [squirrel] gun

Bruff, Capt Thomas B.

Box 9 #16

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 ?

Thomas B. Bruff What was your unit and division?

Division Headquarters (G-2 Section), 101st Airborne Division.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ?

I was in plane No. 5 (chalk number ), seat No. 13. We missed the Drop Zone, because of fog, headed back over the Channel. Turned around and dropped approx 8 miles from the DZ. As I recall I landed at about 0045 hours, 6 June '44. Our intended DZ was between the villages of Heisville (Or Hiesville ) and Pouppeville not far from the causeways of Utah Beach.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944?

Sergeant

What was your age on June 6, 1944?

32

Were you married at that time?

No

What is your wife's name?

Margaret Pickard Bruff

Did you have any children at that time?

Not prior to our marriage (14 Jun 47)

What do you do now?

Public Information Officer, 11th Airborne Division.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?

In August 1943 (when the Division reached England )

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? The Channel crossing was uneventful and there was little, if any, talking.

What were the rumors on board the boat, ship or plane in which you made the crossing? (Some people remember scuttlebutt to the effect that the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned, to set it afire when the troops came in ). I don't recall any rumors. Personnel on our plane were from Division Headquarters and knew that if all went well we would not land where the Germans expected us.

“-for Cornelius Ryan 2 -

Your name- BHUFF, THOS. B.

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day?

I did not keep a diary, nor do I know of anyone who did. As I recall, keeping of diaries was forbidden.

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day?

Yes, several. An MP friend ruptured himself landing. He died 10 or 15 hours later. The first five in our plane were captured (and wounded) but within three days escaped and returned to our CP (Command Post).

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties?

I remember the MP (Bill Smith). Our CID detachment suffered KIA’s and WIA’s.

Were you wounded?

Clean living and a pure mind. Not a derned scratch. But, at times I think none was more seriously "perturbed" (otherwise known as "scared") than I.

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 talked with several of our wounded. If it was a severe wound the state of shock overshadowed the pain. If it was a mild-type wound it was taken care of and not noticed particularly.

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time?

Yes, I remember a number of things which, some of them, even were amusing then. On landing I could find no one from my plane - just Germans who were shooting at each other. Later, I pulled the pin of a grenade. Did not use the grenade and couldnft find the pin. I later found it on the middle finger of my left hand. I ran into six or eight troopers going in one direction. I was going in the opposite. They and I wanted to get to the same place. We agreed to follow the course I was pursuing and the group thought it funny when I told them not to worry about being captured or killed because I smelled so badly (from landing in the cow pasture) that the oder would undoubtedly scare off any enemy who might be close by, or at least discourage their shooting us because they wouldn’t want us lying around.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else?

I remember the calm, easy-going attitude of everyone of our people with whom I came in contact. I could give you many instances. The 101st people had done a bang-up job. I remember meeting one of the lead scouts of the 4th Inf Div several hundred yards inland. He waS carrying his weapon quite as [crossed out]though[end crossed out] a squirrel hunter would. His question to me was: "Where’s th’ war." One of my friends answered before I could: "Anywhere from here on back. Keep going, buddy, you’ll find it."

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 -

Your name

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?

Now that I've gotten this far on this form, I remember many things about D-Day. I remember when Captain Hank Mann reached the CP after his glider landing ( he hated riding in a glider). He burst into the CP, saw us there and bawled out: "That's the last Goddm time I'll ever put my Goddam foot in a Goddam glider." Then he looked over in the other side of the room (We were in a farm house) and saw General Taylor, where upon, to his statement Captain Mann added "Sir." That night, our CP was on the receiving end of an aerial bombardment. (One German plane looking for a target of oppertunity). General McAuliffe (Div Arty CG) had his CP just outside out (DIV Hq) CP. The bombs were close, but missed us. However, they made an awful racket. General McAuliffe came into our CP ( which was a stone building-- his was nothing more than a lean-to). His statement: "Noisy as hell out there."

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944?

In plane No. 5 (in flight)

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944?

In the CP near Hiesville (or Heisville).

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?

See enclosed copy of TWX. (or send me 15-20 forms and I will distrioute and return them to you).

Have sent forms to Bruffdiregard this

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

C-O-P-Y

UNCLASSIFIED

PRIORITY

CG 11TH AEN DIV AUGSBURG GER CG ARMY SEVEN VAIHINGEN GER

From AETGCA ____ for AETPA.

Fol list of men avail for D-Day Readers Digest interview together with unit served in on D- Day. From 2d Abn BG 505th Inf: Msgt George W Monk Jr, Hq & Hq Co, 5th Ranger Bn; Msgt Othon O Valent, Hq & Hq Co, 101st Abn Div; Sfc Glenna Kesee, Hq & Hq Co, 82d Abn Div; Sfc Elmer D Blanchard, Co B, 101st Abn Div; MSgt Roger S. Callusso, Co E, 82d Abn Div; MSgt Alex R Hemandes, Co A, 101st Abn Div. From Hq Spt Gp: Maj James M. Wade, 82d Abn Div. From: 408th QM: Sfc Seth O Berry, 101st Abn Div. From: 545th Ord Co: Sp2 James Bouldin, an amphibious unit. From: Btry C (HJ) (Abn) 377th Arty, Sfc Claude R Blaylock, 101st Abn Div. From: Co D, 2d Abn BG 502d Inf, Sfc James L Johnson, Co A 502d Abn Inf Regt, 101st Abn Div. From: Hq 11th Abn Div: Capt Thomas B Bruff, 101st Abn Div.

15 1700 Apr 58

AETGCA

THOMAS B. BRUFF, Capt Inf, PIO Flak Mil 821 1 1

UNCLASSIFIED