Gender

Male

Birth date

1912-11-27

Place of birth

Sugar City ID, U.S.A.

Inducted

1943-8-6, Salt Lake City UT

Enlistment type

Volunteer

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

442nd Regimental Combat Team
65th Infantry Division
87th Calvary Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Armored Division

Military specialty

Medical Officer
Squadron Surgeon

Stationed

USA: Camp Shelby, MS; Fort Benning, GA
Other Countries: England; Holland; Belgium; France; Germany

Separated

Camp Atterbury IN

Unit responsibility

The 87th Calvary Reconnaissance Squadron of the 7th Armored Division was a combat unit that was in action in the European Theater of Operation from August 7, 1944 to May 7, 1945.

Personal responsibility

Medical Officer in charge of the medical detachment of the squadron which gave primary medical care to the men of the squadron.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Battle of Northern France
Battle of Ardennes
Battle of Rhineland
Battle of Central Europe

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Silver Star for 'Gallantry in Action', awarded to 87th Cal. Recon. Squadron
Distinguished Unit Citation for action in the 'Battle of the Bulge'
French Croix de Guerre with Silver-Gilt Star for action in vicinity of Meijel, Holland.

Living conditions

We slept in the field or abandoned buildings during combat. Between active combat, we were housed with civilians in the area.
During rest periods, shower and laundry units were brought into the area. Baths were neglected during combat.
Meals were quite good when not in combat. K Rations were distributed during combat.
Don't remember much about entertainment except for very rare USO troupes.

Most vivid memory of military experience

I recall with sadness the destruction of Germany. Every city of any size that I saw was flattened by Allied bombers. As I remember, practically the whole city of Cologne was flattened and the famous cathedral seemed to be the only standing building in sight.

Missed most whilst in the military

I missed most being a peacetime civilian.

Most important thing, personally, to come from military experience?

World War II might have been justified, but the involved nations and their people paid a terible price in lives, properties and materials.

War is not a glorious adventure, but a miserable existence for front line troops as well as for civilians in the war zone. Sadly, all nations in war lose many of their finest people.

According to R. Ernest Dupuy in 'World War II: A Compact History' battle deaths numbered 14,914,000, battle wounded 25,218,000, civilian deaths 38,573,000 and direct economy cost was $1,600,000,000,000.