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[Banner ripped] E CO. POOP SHEET
E Co. 505 P. I. R. 82nd Abn Dvn VOL II No 11 June 1st 1957 E CO REUNION, FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. JULY 26 , 27, & 28— I WILL BE THERE: George R. McCarthy Ted Peterson Otis Sampson John Bouffard Earl Boling R. Porter Fay Glenn Perryman [?Don?] Lassen
FLASH-.. E Company Parade and an Exhibition Jump are scheduled to highlight the E Co. Reunion! Just for you.
Dear Mr. Lassen: Many thanks for your letter of 4 May telling about the plan for a Company "E" reunion - here at Fort Bragg 26 thru 28 July. The facili- ties of the 82nd Airborne Division will be at your disposal and we will do everything that we can to make this reunion a success.
The 505 has made preliminary arrangements to meet your proposed agenda as follows: 1. Headquarters for the reunion will be set up in the 505th Abn Inf Area. 2. A request has been made for billets for those desiring to stay on the Post. 3. Government auto transportation will be provided. 4. There will be either a 2d Battalion or an "E" Company parade formation on the 27th. 5. Three C-119 type aircraft have been requested for the 27th for a demonstration drop on Sicily North Drop Zone. 6. Arrangements are being made for a tour of the marshalling area, the parachute issue shed, the Division Museum, and the Dvn Area.
These arrangements are being made by the 505, and you should contact them directly for any further coordination of the detailed plans. If I can be of any assistance to you, please contact me. It will be a pleasure to welcome you home to the 82d Airborne Division.
J. W. Bowen Maj. Gen. USA
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+++++ JUNE 6, 1944 This date will be forever remembered by the members of E Co. as the Invasion of Normandy. We carried many memories away from there and we left the most precious ones behind.
To help us commemorate this date I have chosen a poem recently sent in by our buddy Buffalo Boy Canoe. I think it captures some of the pathos of the campaign.
THE PURPLE HEART ORATION
By Buffalo Boy Canoe
I have borne my cross with courage though in agony and pain, I have dragged my mangled body over Europes' rough terrain.
I have heard the whining drone of shells that fell from out the skies, I have seen the fighting comrade who is happy, laughs... then dies.
I have felt the sting of leaden bees that swarmed about my face; I have known the end of prejudice... each color... every race.
I have paid the price of Victory... its bitterness... each part. And when this hell was finished, I had won the Purple Heart.
(He has won the Purple Heart) they say. He's a hero... he shant beg... But their eyes betray their attitude when they see my twisted leg.
There may be men of higher rank to keep us in the shade, But we’re written down in history... The Purple Heart Brigade.
I have seen my friends of yesteryear all fall beneath the guns. Now they lie on Battlefields...but they’re the lucky ones!
Faith and hope, the molding of my own true heart, are dead. They have killed it and have given me a purple one instead!
But when my earthly troubles and my torments all are done... God, Please Give Back My Own True Heart and Keep The Purple One!
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May 2, 1958
Dear Mr. Canoe:
A book about D-Day, June 6, 1944, is being prepared by Cornelius Ryan for publication in The Reader’s Digest and in book form on the 15th Anniversary of the Normandy invasion in the spring of 1959. This will not be another strategic history, but the story of the twenty-four hours of invasion day as individuals lived them and remember them. For this we must find the men who were there and, if they are willing, invade their memories. The story of the 82nd Airborne is obviously among the proudest, and therefore we were delighted to learn from General Gavin that someone is keeping a Company news sheet. We consider ourselves most fortunate in having received from Mr. Lassen a copy of his mailing list for the "E Com- pany Poop Sheet." We understand from him that not all of his readers were necessarily members of E Company, 505th Regiment, and that not all of them did necessarily go into Normandy on June 6, 1944. We write to you in the hope that you were in Normandy on D-Day, and more especially, in the hope that if you were there you will be willing to help us.
Mr. Ryan hopes ultimately to interview most of the people who agree to contribute to the book. These interviews will probably be conducted in the late spring and early summer of this year in the course of a crosscountry trip which Mr. Ryan plans to make. In the meantime, since we are literally dealing with hundreds of people, we are finding it necessary to keep an individual file on each person who expresses a willingness to help us. Therefore we hope that if you are willing to help us, you will complete the enclosed record and return it to me at your earliest convenience. We truly believe that these questions will serve you as well as us, if they can help to crystallize some hazy memories and to indicate the sort of information which we are seeking.
We will look forward to your reply with great anticipation. We want very much to tell the story of the 82nd, and in order to do that we need you. Thank you so very much for any help which you can give us.
Sincerely yours,
Frances Ward Research Department
Mr. Buffalo Boy Canoe Apartment 5-A 19 Wavecrest Avenue Venice, California
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CORNELIUS RYAN 230 EAST 48th STREET NEW YORK,NEW YORK
June 29, 1959
Mr. Buffalo Boy Canoe Apartment 5-A 19 Wavecrest Avenue Venice California:
Dear Mr. Canoe :
Mr. Ryan has finished his book, "The Longest Day" and you may be interested to know that your name will be listed in the back of the book.
We are returning herewith Poop Sheet clipping dated June 6,1944 quoting your "Purple Heart Oration" and want to thank you for all your help and interest in the D-Day project.
Sincerely, Anne Wright secy for Cornelius Ryan aw enclosure: as above Registered Mail