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Russell, Clyde R. APO N.Y. 82 AB BOX 8, #36
505th E Co [crossed out] Unmatched # 2 letters [end crossed out]
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HEADQUARTERS 10th SPECIAL FORCES GROUP AIRBORNE OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING OFFICER
APO 108, New York, New York 17 March 1959
Mr. Cornelius Ryan 203 E. 48th Street New York, N. Y.
Dear Mr. Ryan:
Ben Vandervoort has asked me to write to you concerning the Normandy parachute operation. I jumped in the same plane with Ben so our experiences in that phase are identical. I was the CO of "E" Co. and Don Lassen has covered the company operations so I am afraid that I can contribute very little additional information.
Our plane hit the DZ and since we were leading the Division it was a wonderful show as the balance of the troops and equipment came in. Vandervoort was the first man I encountered and he was hobbling from an injured foot. We ran into another soldier who was putting up an assembly light - a bulb on the top of a 15-20 foot pole which folded into sections for jumping. Unfortunately the pole wasn't high enough to reach the top of the hedgegrows and the equipment was therefore worthless.
As you know we all carried "crickets" for recognition and assembly purposes. I talked to Ben and started for the Company assembly area with my weapon in my hands and the cricket in my mouth. The crickets worked but I had a sore mouth for hours.
Three plane loads of "E" Company had been misdropped but the balance assembled and Ben directed all "strays" - some from 101st and other 82nd units to join "E" Company. What an assortment to command!
"E" Company's mission was Neuville-au-Plain and we started to move about dawn. We were just deploying when Ben ordered us to stop - reversed the column and we moved back to Ste. Mère Eglise. The Company moved into a reserve position in the churchyard and spent a fairly quiet day. That night Ben started to commit the Company to plug holes in the Ste. Mère Eglise perimeter and by midnight the Company was deployed in three directions. It was a long, rough night but the platoon leaders were as good as I thought them to be and every mission was accomplished.
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I am enclosing some more from one of the men of the 3rd platoon which is the element that was misdropped.
I hope the above will assist and I wish you every success in your article.
Sincerely, Clyde R Russell CLYDE R. RUSSELL Lt Col, Infantry Executive Officer
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