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1st Army BALL, Sam H., Jr. Tex 16
Box 11, #8 Material Returned 6/29/59 see special folder
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[*Texarkana, TEXAS LL TEX 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? SAM H. BALL Jr.
What was your unit and division? 146 ENgr. C. BN.Co.A.1st ARMY
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? OMAHA BEACH 6:32 AM. 6 JUNE 1944
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? CAPTAIN
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 28
Were you married at that time? NO
What is your wife's name? Melba
Did you have any children at that time? No, But have one son now, Sammy Ball 10 yrs. old.
What do you do now? Account Executive KCMC-TV
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? April 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? Checking Eqpt, Going over our plans, sleeping & Drinking Coffee
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). No Rumors. only wondering what was in store for us, would we come through, what would France Look like, what would the papers say. we crossed on an L.C.T. with only about 40 troops.
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~ for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Sam H. Ball Jr.
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? yes
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? No.
Were you wounded? NO
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, Had Funny Feeling, None like it before or since. Felt numb & dopey.
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Nothing Funny That Day.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Yes. But hard to put in words.
Soldier by the name of Peters standing behind me on Landing Craft crying. As Craft Touched Land and Ramp Dropped, Bullet struck him in Face. He never Knew what hit him. Number of events Like That happened.
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- 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? wounded Medics getting Dead and wounded oFF The Beach. under Heavy Fire, Men Removing Mines From Beach obsticles under Heavy Fire with No Protection
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? middle of English Channel
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Omaha Beach
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? None in units mentioned but here are a few engineers. [*out*] Willard Baker Cleburne, Tex John Schill 3817 Linkview, Houston, Texas Carl Isley [inserted]120 E. 3rd ST[end inserted] Watkins Glenn, N.Y.
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
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CHANNEL 6 KCMC - TV FULL POWER
CBS-ABC DOMINANT TELEVISION SERVICE TO A FOUR STATES AREA PHONE 33-1133 TEXARKANA, TEX.-ARK.
May 26, 1957
[*#2*]
Miss Frances Ward Reader's Digest 230 Park Avenue New York, New York
Dear Miss Ward:
I have just read your request for D-Day data in the June issue of The American Legion Magazine.
I was Captain Sam H. Ball, Jr., Conmanding Officer of Company A of The 146th Engineer (Combat) Battalion, my men and I were in the "thing" at H-Hour, plus 2 minutes, and if you are interested further, please free to contact me at either of the following: Home address: 210 Connella Street, Texarkana, Texas, phone number: 3-6429. Or at KCMC-TV, where I am an Account Executive, Box 1290, or phone 32-1133.
With best regards,
Sincerely,
[*Sam H. Ball Jr.*] Sam H. Ball, Jr.