Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 009, folder 19: Marshall Copas

Path [?ful?] BOWLING GREEN 101st COPAS, M/Sgt Marshall Ky 12 Box 9, #19

FA 377th Para Batt 101st P.F. 502

Thinks he hears something following him, whirls around, it is his chute, hung up on his canteen

Ft. Camphell, Kentucky

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? M/sgt Marshall Copas

What was your unit and division? Pathfinder for "D" BTRY 377th Prcht. 7.A. BP. 101st A/B Div.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? about 11Km south of Volagnea France about 0010 [inserted]0005?[end inserted]

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Sgt

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 24

Were you married at that time? Yes

What is your wife's name? Edythe Copas

Did you have any children at that time? Yes

What do you do Now? PLT LDR 4th Plt "A" Co 187th Airborne Battle Group 101st Airborne Div.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? approx 25 May 1944

What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? Do you reember, for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time? The Trip was uneventful we skipped about 50ft over the waves untill we came to our Drop Zone & then went up to about 800ft & left the Plane

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). There were no rumors we all new where we were going and what we were to do

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 -

Your name- Marshall Copas

Did you by any chanoe 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? Yes

Were you wounded? Yes

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 felt No pain for the time being I thought someone had let a twig fly back and hit me

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? Yes, When we left England we were told not to load our weapons untill daylight so after I landed I was so scared I laid their for a few minutes I had sprained my ankle & was trying to get out of my chute after what seemed hrs I finally cut out off [crossed out]my chute[end crossed out] [insert] it [end insert\\] and started down the Hedge row to meet the rest of the team. I thought I heard something following me but was to scared to look finally after about 300 yds I slipped a round into my chamber & whirled around to see what was following me what happened was my chute was hung on my Canteen and I was so scared I had drug it about 300 yds without realizing it

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

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name- Marshall Copas

In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity or self-reliancej others do incredibly stupid things # Do you remember any examples of either?

Yes, Quite a few

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? In a C47 over the English Channel

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? In the town of Volagnes France

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, Quite a few

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

I noticed your wanted Paragraph in the American Legion Magazine for Vet's of the Normandy Invasion. I was with the Pathfinders of the 101st A/B Div, we landed in Normandy 5 Min before midnight on June 5th and think we were the first to hit the Beaches of Normandy I am still with the 101st A/B I was with them all thru the war & still think they are the Best Troopers that ever wore a pair of Jump Boots

M/Sqt Marshall Copes