ENPages
Page 2
College Station 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 QPSTIONS.
What is your full name ? James Earl Rudder
What was your unit and division ? 2d Ranger Bn. ( Separate Unit )
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ? Omaha Beach, H - hour
What was your rank on June 6, 1944 ? Lt . C ol.
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 34
Were you married at that time ? Yes
What is your wife !s name ? Margaret Williamson Rudder
Did you have any children at that time? Yes - one boy and one girl
What do you do now ? Vice President, Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? January 1944
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 trip across the Channel was uneventful. Of course, there was great apprehension among everyone as to what might be expected the next day. Some of us actually slept during the crossing .
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 ). I don’ t recall any specific rumors .
Page 3
- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Earl Rudder
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? N o
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Yes, many.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? N o
Were you wounded? Y e s , t w i c e .
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 ? The first time was a bullet piercing my leg like something hot going through my leg. The second one was an artillery shell with great concussion.
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? N o
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? N o
Page 4
- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Earl Rudder
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? None in particular.
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Aboard the boats
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Ashore in France at Pointedu Hoe
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. Lt. Col. Harold K. Slater , USA; Col. Max Schneider , USA; Col. Richard Sullivan, USAR, Boston, Mass, There were many others of this Ranger Force which I commanded and their names could be procured should you desire them.
Note: Attached is an article which might be of value or interest to you.
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
Page 5
ORATIONS AND AWARDS BRANCH [?LITARY] PERSONNEL DIVISION DECORATION BY AGENCY OTHER THAN WAR DEPARTMENT
Last Name First Name Middle Initial RUDDER JAMES E
Serial No. 0294016
Grade Lt. Col.
Organization Foreign Others Infantry
Headquarters Station or APO CO. No. Section Date 1st United States Army 230 28 I 20 June 1944
Type of Award Posthumous DO NOT WRITE IN COLUMN BELOW D.S.C. No
Oak-Leaf Clusters Number Posthumous
By Command of Amended Revoked ARMY COMMANDER
CITATION
For extraordinary heroism in action on 6 June 1944 at ******* France. Lieutenant Colonel Rudder commanding Force "A" of the Rangers landed on the beach with his unit which was immediately subjected to heavy rifle, machine gun, mortar and artillery fire. Devastating fire was also directed from the cliffs overlooking the beach. Completely disregarding his own safety he repeatedly exposed himself in directing the reorganization of his unit to assault the cliffs. As soon as the first elements had scaled the cliffs, Lieutenant Colonel Rudder immediataly scaled the cliffs in order to better direct the attack. [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] Though wounded he refused to be evacuated and continued to direct the attack. By his determined leadership and dauntlessness he inspired his men so that they successfully withstood three enemy counterattacks. Though wounded again he still refused to be evacuated. Lt Col Rudder's heroic leadership, courage and complete devotion to duty [crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out] are in keeping with the highest traditions of the service.
Entered military service from TEXAS.