Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

William enlisted in the U.S.Navy and was inducted on May 26, 1943 at the age of 17. He states that he always liked the water and that he had rather sleep in a bed than on the ground in a foxhole!

After basic training that included learning electronics, switchboards and panels. He also was taught how to take care of the ships boilers, a very important and sometimes hazardous duty. Soon William went by train to Orange, Texas where he boarded a new ship, the U.S.S. Finch which was a destroyer escort.

The Finch was launched from on August 28, 1943 in Orange, Texas. The ship was named in honor of Lieutenant Joseph W.Finch who died on November 13, 1942 on the U.S.S. Laffey that was sunk off the Solomon Islands.

William served in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pacific oceans while serving on the Finch. He remembers how the ship dropped depth charges near Gibraltar at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea while protecting American oil tankers from German U-boats. Another memory is when the Finch rode out the famous typhoon in the Pacific that sunk and damaged many ships resulting in the deaths of officers and sailors.

The Finch was in operation from August 28, 1943 to March 6, 1947. During this time the Finch has the distinction of entering a total of 63 ports around the world! The ship also escorted more than 18 convoys keeping enemy aircraft and submarines at bay.

After the surrender of the Japanese in September 1945, the Finch was ordered to the island of Formosa (now Taiwan) where she loaded Allied POW’s that had been imprisoned on that island. Some prisoners had been on that island since the war began.

William was discharged from the Navy on December 15, 1945 with the rank of EM2C.

The Finch was later de-commissioned by the Navy but was re-commissioned as a Coast Guard ship.

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Harry had always wanted to be a pilot. He got his chance when he joined the Marine Corps on December 8, 1942 at the age of 21. It was particularly hazardous to be a pilot in the Navy. Landing a plane on a moving, heaving deck of an aircraft carrier is basically a controlled crash. Harry was a Marine Corp aviator. They flew off remote islands in the South Pacific as well as aircraft carriers. On the Essex class carrier U.S.S. Bunker Hill for instance, there were naval aviators as well as Marine pilots. There were many Marines and Navy pilots killed on that fateful day in May, 1945 when a Japanese kamikaze (three actually) hit the carrier with devastating results.

The Marine Corp pilots flew many types of aircraft. However they are known particularly for flying the Corsair of Baa Baa Black Sheep fame. Harry trained at Corpus Christy NAS and graduated on April 1, 1944. Soon he would be flying the famous gull-winged, big propped Corsair. Later Harry trained at Cove Springs Florida and Cherry Point NAS.

Harry was sent on detached duty to become a ferry pilot at Bennett Field New York in September, 1944. He flew F6F-5 Hellcat’s and F4U-10 Corsair’s from the east to west coasts during the remainder of 1944.

He returned to Cherry Point in January, 1945 and re-joined his old squadron, VMF-913. Harry and the rest of his squadron received intense training in flying the Corsair. Early on, the Corsair was known to be a hard aircraft to handle. The prop was so big that the landing gear design had to be extended. Landing on carriers, that controlled crash caused the landing gear to sometimes break because they were so long. Later, the prop went from three bladed to four, shortening the diameter of the propeller thus shortening the planes landing gear. After this change, the plane earned legendary status during WWII and Korea.

Harry departed for Okinawa in May, 1945. He was assigned to VMF-224 stationed at Youtan. On June 3, 1945 Harry and the rest of his squadron intercepted a flight of Japanese Mitsubishi “Betty” bombers escorted by several fighters possibly Zero’s or Oscar’s. The “Betty” were carrying a “Baka” (translated loosely to “fool” according to American pilots) which was a piloted suicide (bomb) that was rocket powered carried on the belly of the aircraft. The bomb slowed the already sluggish and unarmored “Betty” to point where the bomber was easy prey.  

Harry and his wingman saw the “Betty” drop the “Baka” in order to try and get away. The bomber dove towards the East China Sea while the tail gunner opened fire. Harry’s wingman was hit and fell off in a left turn, obviously hit. Harry’s Corsair was then hit in the fuselage behind Harry’s seat. Harry got behind the bomber and opened fire with controlled bursts. The “Betty’s” oil lines were hit and Harry’s cockpit canopy was sprayed with the black substance. Harry continued to fire hitting the bombers left wing. The planes non-self sealing gas tank was hit and the left wing exploded in a ball of fire which gave the “Betty” its other nickname “Flying Cigar.” Harry’s own left wing passed through the fire ball and it was only then that Harry realized that he was no more than 100 feet from the water. The “Betty” continued to fall, hitting the water with its left wing and cart-wheeled into the ocean.    

Harry’s squadron left Youtan and moved across Okinawa to an airstrip called Chimu. He stayed there until the Japanese surrender in September, 1945. Soon the squadron flew to Yokuska NAS located on Tokyo Bay to begin occupation duty. Harry flew recon missions from this base until November, 1945. He sailed for the states about Thanksgiving 1945 and made it back to Dallas, Texas on Christmas Eve!

Harry joined the reserves in April, 1946 joining a squadron at NAS Dallas. He served in this squadron until March, 1951. He then received orders to active duty because of the Korean War was heating up. Harry was sent to El Torro NAS and finally discharged in July, 1952. Harry was one of only four VMF-112 pilots that were not sent to Korea. He returned to Dallas and received his discharge with the rank of Captain on August 1, 1952.

Harry is proud to have been a Marine and to have served his country!       

April 2013 Dallas Police Shield

 

Dallas Police Officer J.W.Dieken was born on February 26, 1902 in Grundy Center Iowa. His parents were John and Mary Lingelbach Dieken. John attended country schools and graduated from Dike High School in 1922.

During the years 1927-28 John tried to become a pilot in the fledgling Army Air Corps. Like many young men who tried to fly his eyesight was not what it should have been to pilot an aircraft. He was honorably discharged in 1928.

When John was 27 he enlisted in the Marine Corps on January 27, 1930. He trained at Ft. Des Moines, Iowa and then completed his training at San Diego, California.

He was soon sent overseas and served in China for most of the four years that he was in the Marines. He was honorably discharged on January 26, 1934 at Norfolk Navy Yard in Portsmouth, Virginia.

I have a photograph of John in his Marine Corp uniform probably taken in China. He looks exactly like the painting of the officer that now hangs in the hallway of the Dallas Police Academy. I also have copy of an employment card that apparently was used by the DPD in the 1930’s. It indicates that John communicated to the department by telephone and that he was given a personal interview. The card also had an unmarked box that was used only if the appointee was not hired. This was checked if the person wanting to be a Dallas officer wanted to be “kept on the list.”  

It’s not apparent why Dieken came to Dallas from Iowa to become a police officer. However he did marry the former “Miss Margaret Smith of Dallas, Texas.”  This marriage happened in Dallas on August 17, 1934, only a month or so after he was hired by the DPD.  One could surmise that Margaret was the reason for the move south. However it’s not clear if John met her after he moved here or he knew her before. The obituary lists Margaret’s address however as 702 N. Collett in Dallas. This is probably her parents address but again it’s not clear.

It is clear however that he and Margaret bought a house at 821 Pavilion Street. This is the area that is now known as Bryan Place off Ross Avenue. There is still a structure that has that address, but is not the 1930’s home that John and his new wife occupied. It was not long after the marriage that the couple decided to have a child since the baby was born in August, 1935.

I’ve written over the years about the tragic death of Officer Dieken. He and his motorcycle partner J.C. Dorris were escorting fire trucks to a three alarm fire in Lakewood at a supermarket on Friday August 9, 1935. Dieken was riding Harley-Davidson police bike “21.” This was actually the notorious and previously numbered “13” police Harley which was called the “Widow Maker” by newspapers at the time. DPD Officer Ernest Leonard was killed on police motorcycle “13”on Tuesday May 28, 1935 riding on S.Denley in Oak Cliff and while chasing a speeding car. After this accident (not the first on #13) the bike was re-built, re-painted and re-numbered “21” as if the bad karma of the motorcycle would disappear without the unlucky “13” attached to it. By the way, there is no current numbered “13” police bike in the DPD inventory today, or maybe since the accident.

On Friday, August 9, 1935 Dieken was hit at the intersection of Parry and Fletcher by a Mrs. Boyd of Brownwood who ran a stop sign and was later charged with Criminally Negligent Homicide. She was in Dallas visiting relatives that lived in the area around Fair Park. As we know from DPD legend, the police bike caught on fire while lying on its side after the accident. The fire eventually burned off the new paint and the number “13” was exposed. It created a sort of hoopla in Dallas newspapers at the time that it was only then that it was discovered by officers that this was actually the old unlucky “13.” It was implied that officers were upset at the City for putting this unlucky motorcycle back on the street instead of destroying it as would probably (hopefully) happen today.

This writer finds it hard to believe that police officers, including Officer Dieken, being suspicious as they are, did not know that he was riding the re-built “Widow Maker.” I’ve spoken with Dieken’s relatives before, and they of course are not sure either. I would think that this might have been a motorcycle that was not assigned to any particular motor jockey, but was ridden only when their mount was down for service or repair. At any rate, Dieken was riding the re-built police bike this day, and again it proved itself very unlucky indeed.

One last item on this motorcycle. After this accident police officials told the Dallas Morning News that the motorcycle would (really) be destroyed this time. However Dieken’s relatives have a photograph of an Officer Bell riding #8 Harley-Davidson a year or so after the accident. The DMN article states that Bell had no reservations riding the old “Widow Maker.” It had not been destroyed by the City after all. Apparently Bell was lucky; no further mention was made of another accident. Number 8 eventually was assigned to new silver Texas Centennial 1936 Harley bought by the City to patrol during the big celebration at Fair Park. I have a photograph of police bike #8 around 1940 with DPD Motorcycle Officer Riddell astride it. He left for the Army soon after, apparently none the worse for wear for riding the descendent of old, and possibly possessed… #13. What eventually happened to old #13? I wonder if it currently resides in say…a garage in Old East Dallas.

Officer Dieken died of injuries at the age of 34 at Baylor hospital on Saturday afternoon. The DPD dispatcher, as was common in those days and still is in some departments, broadcast over the police radio “Last call for Dieken…last call for Dieken…Dieken is now on permanent and forever patrol.”

 The funeral for Officer Dieken was held Sunday afternoon at McKamy-Campbell funeral home on Ross Avenue. The building still stands today, and is now the Belo mansion. Chiefs including Robert L. Jones and Inspector J.M. Welch were in attendance, as well as every available DPD officer including Dieken’s partner two days before, J.C.Dorris. Dieken’s two brothers drove from Grundy Center, Iowa to Dallas for the funeral. A police escort then escorted the body to the Houston Street train station for the journey back to Dieken’s hometown of Grundy Center. A collection of money was taken up from DPD officers to send two officers, J.C.Dorris and H.C.Leach to accompany the fallen officer to the funeral in Iowa, which was held the Tuesday next.

Sadly, Margaret Dieken was not able to attend her husband’s funeral. She had delivered their son, Jack Willis Dieken Jr. just four days before, and she was still at St.Paul hospital recovering. Jack later became the high sheriff in Abilene Texas and has attended the yearly police memorial day in Dallas in honor of his father that he never knew. Ironically, John Dieken had taken out a $1000.00 insurance policy on his young son just hours before he was involved in the accident on that Friday afternoon.  

In my papers I have an interesting “Dear Chief,” written by John that again shows things have not changed much over the years with the DPD in particular and police work in general. It was written on April 4, 1935 which shows that Dieken might have immediately become a motorcycle officer after hiring on. In those days, officers would be hired specifically because they could ride a motorcycle and as such were hired as an “Apprentice Motorcycle Officer.” It’s actually not known if Dieken was hired as such, but he started riding soon it seems. Here is the letter in its entirety with some very minor changes for clarity. According to other sources, the “rocks” were pieces of concrete and it’s not known if “crowding and yelling” was a police term at the time…and notice he was riding motor #10 on the date in question.

Chief S.W.Trammell,

Chief of Police.

Sir;

By direction of Acting Lieutenant J.L. Vaughn I wish to submit a report as follows for the Chiefs information.

At 9:06 P.M. this date Officer Jacobs and I received a call and were instructed to go to Hall and Thomas streets and clear traffic that had the streets blocked.

Upon our arrival we found Hall Street blocked from Ross to State and Thomas Avenue blocked both ways from Hall Street. These streets were literally jammed with automobiles and people on foot.

We immediately started to work straightening out the traffic and I proceeded to Hall and State to start the traffic moving in that direction when suddenly I heard a commotion about fifty yards North of Thomas on Hall and saw several people crowding and yelling. I hurried to the scene and as I approached, the crowd started throwing rocks at me but I pushed on in to where I found four suspects had Officer Jacobs down and were trying to get his pistol. I picked up one of the rocks that had struck me and used it to knock out three of the four suspects that had Jacobs down. I then held the fourth while Jacobs recovered his pistol and placed the handcuffs on him. All this time other people were throwing rocks at us and in order to disperse the crowd and to prevent another attack on us Officer Jacobs fired one time into the air. As soon as we could get out of the crowd we went to a café in the 2300 block on Hall and called Headquarters for help.

During the above mentioned scuffle I lost police badge #207. Did not discover the loss until I arrived at Headquarters with three of the suspects whom we had arrested. Roosevelt Carroll age 23 of 2816 Allen charged with Aggravated Assault, Inciting a riot, Resisting Arrest and Disturbing the Peace. Eurial Brown charged with Aggravated Assault, Resisting Arrest and Disturbing the Peace. Dixon Alphonso Green charged with Inciting a Riot.

When I returned to my motor I found that someone had cut a hole in the front tire. This was Motor # 10 which I had been riding on my tour of duty.

 Very respectfully,

J.W.Dieken,

Police Officer

This “Dear Chief” is not unlike thousands of others that have been written by DPD officers before and since this incident at Hall and Thomas. It begins with why they were the officers at the location, what happened, who was arrested and trying to explain the resulting damage and loss of City property. It’s not known if Dieken had to pay for the badge or the damaged tire on his “motor.”  What’s ironic however is that John Dieken survived four years in the Marine Corps in China, and then finds himself and his partner fighting for their lives at an obscure intersection on an April evening in Dallas. What’s sad too is that in a little more than four months later, this new father would be killed by a possibly inattentive driver at another obscure intersection in Dallas.

John Dieken had been a Dallas police officer for a little over 13 months.   

Mrs. Boyd was later no-billed by a Dallas County grand jury.

 

    

 

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Jack joined the U.S.Navy and reported for basic training on October 25, 1943. Jack was 17 years old and decided to join the Navy in part because he didn’t want to wear a tie!

After basic training he was assigned to what is arguably the most famous battleship of all time, the U.S.S. New Jersey. The New Jersey was an Iowa class battleship that was launched in 1943. She received a total of 19 battle stars up to and including the Persian Gulf War.

Truman had the job of crewing a 40mm anti-aircraft gun on the “Big J.” He took part in all the major campaigns that the New Jersey fought in during World War II. These included but not limited to action off New Guinea and later the “Marianas Turkey Shoot” where the Japanese Army and Naval air forces were effectively destroyed.

The New Jersey was unfortunately at sea during “Typhoon Cobra,” in December, 1944. At a time when the fleet was caught unawares of an approaching storm, the typhoon hit as many ships were refueling at sea. After the devastating storm, more than 790 officers and crew were killed as a result of the storm.

Jack also was on board during the battle of the Philippine Sea. He witnessed the horrific massive suicide attack on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Intrepid when she was hit by a kamikaze aircraft. The New Jersey, and Jack as part of the ships anti-aircraft crew, fought off wave after wave of aircraft trying to take out as many ships as possible in these desperate attacks that seemed unstoppable.

The New Jersey had the honor of being in Tokyo Bay in September, 1945 where the Japanese government came on board  and walked the teak deck to surrender their forces to the Allies.

Jack was awarded the American Theater medal, as well as the Asiatic-Pacific Theater medal with 4 stars. He received the Philippine Campaign medal with 1 star, the WWII Victory medal and the Japanese Occupation medal. Later he was awarded the Korean Campaign with 1 star, the China Services ribbon and the United Nations medal.

Jack was discharged from active service on April 15, 1946 with the rank of FC/2, but was called up again during the Korean War.

 

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Truman joined the Marine Corps and was inducted in October, 1943 at the age of 18. Truman joined the Marines because he felt that they were the best outfit to join!

After basic training, he was shipped overseas to the Pacific on the ship, U.S.S. Starlight. The Starlight was a new auxiliary transport that was awarded 4 battle stars in WWII. The ship suffered a sad demise after the war however. In 1969, as the SS Badger State, the ship sunk after an explosion on board.

Truman was assigned to the 3^rd Marine division as a machine gunner and took part in the retaking of the island of Guam from the Japanese. In July 1944 the Marines landed on the island and were in combat in the dense jungles for 21 days. The island was then declared secure, but as often happened on these Pacific islands, the Japanese held out and indeed it took two months to “mop up” the remaining holdouts.

The division remained on Guam for training after the battle and prepared for the invasion of Iwo Jima. During the battle for Iwo, the 3^rd Marine division initially was held in reserve. However, circumstances were such that the division committed its regiments one by one due to the horrific fighting on the island. Soon, the entire division was on the island and suffered many casualties. Truman was involved in this invasion and the memories are hard to remember, much less talk about.

After the Iwo Jima campaign, the 3^rd Marine division returned to Guam to rest and refit in the preparation for the invasion of Japan in the fall of 1945. Luckily that never happened as the Japanese surrendered in September, 1945. Truman did make it to Japan however. He was part of the occupation force made up of all the services after the war ended.

Truman was discharged as a Corporal in October, 1946 after three years in the Marine Corps.  

PCH awards 2013

Daughter Kelley, 2010

Spitfire!

Yep, Kid Rock

1942, rare B-17 in color.

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Eugene enlisted in the U.S.Navy late in the war. He was 18 and probably was about to graduate from high school.

He was assigned to a ship that had an interesting history. Launched in 1929, the founder of Halliburton, Erle P. Halliburton named the yacht for his wife, Vida.  After the war started, like many wealthy American’s, the Vida was offered by Halliburton to the U.S.Navy to be converted into whatever craft that was needed at the time. Of course Erle Halliburton is the founder of what we call Halliburton Corporation today.

The Navy rechristened the Vida, the U.S.S. Crystal after December 7, 1941. The Navy assigned the new Crystal to the “Hawaiian Sea Frontier,” responsible for patrolling the area around Pearl Harbor. Throughout the war, it was thought that the Japanese would attempt to attack Pearl Harbor once again, this time perhaps taking out American aircraft carriers, which were thankfully out at sea on December 7, 1941.

Eugene was assigned to the Crystal after finishing basic training. At one time,the Crystal was a patrol craft that hunted Japanese ships and especially submarines. From December 1943 to April 1944 the Crystal was assigned to an area around Midway Island the scene of the pivotal Battle of Midway in 1942. After this assignment, the Crystal was once again to the Hawaiin Island chain.  

Eugene’s most memorable experiences include the long and often times boring watches searching for enemy ships, submarines and aircraft.    

 

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Warren was drafted into the U.S.Army on March 12, 1945. At this time Germany was  beaten, but the Japanese were another matter. It was thought that an invasion of the home islands would happen sometime in the Fall of 1945. Experts believed that the war would last until at least 1948. Warren, who was drafted late in the war, would surely have been part of that invasion. Indeed, Operation Olympic and Coronet were already on the books, only the dropping of two bombs, Fat Man and Little Boy, kept that scenario from happening.

After basic training, Warren was sent to the south Pacific, specifically the Philippines. During his tenure in the Philippine Islands during the summer of 1945, Warren was assigned to the Headquarters Company (AFPAC.)

One of his most memorable experiences was the landing at night on the island of Luzon, and marching many miles in the dark to the bivouac area.

Warren’s awards included the Asiatic-Pacific Theater ribbon, the WWII Victory medal and the Good Conduct award.

He was discharged on December 10, 1945 with the rank of sergeant.

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Melvin was drafted into the U.S.Navy in January, 1944 at the age of 19. He reported for training at the Great Lakes training station in May of 1944. Later Melvin trained in amphibian training at ATB Littlecreek, Virginia. He and his fellow sailors trained on a LSM (Landing Ship Medium.) After a few weeks, he and his crew were sent to Houston, Texas and picked up their new ship, LSM-122.

The ship soon sailed through the Panama Canal to Pearl Harbor where Melvin saw the devastation from December, 1941. A flotilla of ships was formed led by the son of J.C.Penny and sailed to Iwo Jima. There they delivered pontoons so the Marines on the island could begin building huge floating docks on the beaches.

In the spring of 1945, LSM-122 was part of the invasion of Okinawa. There Melvin witnessed massive Japanese kamikaze attacks on the fleet. There were suicide planes, boats and swimmers trying to cause devastation to the American naval ships in the invasion force. After 30 days offshore taking supplies from merchant ships to the beaches, LSM-122 sailed for Guadalcanal to pick up aircraft fuel. There the crew found out much to their relief that an atomic bomb had been dropped over Japan. A few days later they learned another bomb had been dropped in another city on the Japanese mainland.

After the surrender of the Japanese, Melvin’s ship was given the task of ferrying troops from Okinawa to Japan for the occupation. The ship made many trips including Hiroshima and Nagasaki where Melvin saw the total destruction of the cities that were hit by “Fat Man” and “Little Boy.”

After riding out a typhoon in a secluded area in Okinawa where many ships were destroyed, LSM-122 sailed for the Philippines where the ship docked in Manila harbor. It was there that Melvin learned that he had enough points to return to the states for discharge. He boarded the ship “West Point,” for the return journey along with 25, 000 other servicemen and women on board the vessel. Again Melvin sailed through the Panama Canal and eventually docked at Pier 92 in New York City.

He was discharged in February 1946 with the rank of Fireman. He had received the WWII Victory medal, the American Theater, Asiatic-Pacific Theater medal with 1 star. LSM-122 received 1 Battle Star for its service in the south Pacific.

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

Harold Rosen

 

Harold enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 8, 1942 at the age of 17. This was a pretty young age for an enlistee but was not at all uncommon. After Pearl Harbor was attacked, there was a flood of young men who went to their local recruiting office and just wanted to do their part. Harold may or may not have had to get his parent’s permission to join at 17. Some joined as young as 15, but were found out, and told to come back in a few years, which most did!

Harold was assigned to the 2^nd Division, 8^th Marines and was assigned as a heavy weapons specialist, particularly on the 37mm anti-tank gun.

His unit was actually the first Marine regiment to deploy to the south Pacific. In 1940, the regiment was sent to Samoa to reinforce that islands defenses in case war with Japan broke out.

Harold participated in the brutal invasion of Tarawa after first training in New Zealand for island warfare. Later, he was involved in the invasions of the islands of Saipan and Tinian. The 2^nd Marine division joined the 1^st and 6^th Marine divisions in the battle for Okinawa in the spring of 1945.

He was discharged from the Marine Corps in December 1945 with the rank lieutenant. He received 2 Purple Hearts for wounds received and his unit received 2 Presidential Unit Citations.  

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

David entered the U.S.Army Air Forces on May 28, 1942 at the age of 19. He enlisted in the USAAF’s because he thought that it would be the most interesting of all the branches of services he could join.

After basic training, David had the job of aircraft mechanic. Later he was trained as an aircraft electrical specialist, crew chief, aerial gunner and navigator.

Like so many other servicemen and women in World War II, David spent his entire service in the mainland United States.

David was discharged from the military on November 25, 1945 with the rank of 2^nd Lieutenant. He awards include the Good Conduct medal, and the rifleman and carbine marksman awards.

 

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Glenn was drafted into the U.S.Army. He was inducted into the service on August 23, 1944 at the age of 18.

He was shipped overseas with the 42^nd Infantry Division also known as the “Rainbow Division.” The 42^nd was activated on July 14, 1943 and experienced 106 days of combat. The “Rainbow Division” fought in campaigns in the European theater of operations. These included the Rhineland and the Central European campaigns.

Glenn was assigned to the 232^nd Infantry Regiment; Company G. Glenn’s job was that of a scout/sniper, a particularly hazardous specialty. Many times working alone, and away from friendly forces, by definition they were usually ahead of an advancing unit to feel out the enemy and determine his position.

The 42^nd advanced through the German Siegfried line during the week of March 15-21, 1945. On March 19^th Glenn was captured by the Nazi’s. The 42^nd crossed the Rhine River on March 31, 1945, Hitler’s last western natural barrier on the road to Berlin. He spent a little over a month in a German POW camp, and was liberated on April 26, 1945.

The 42^nd shoulder patch originally was of a half rainbow. During the spring of 1945, soldiers in the 42^nd began to half the rainbow again, thus creating an quarter rainbow shoulder patch. This was to honor all the 42^nd’s soldiers that were killed, wounded or missing during the horrific last ditch stand of the German army. It was eventually adopted by the Army and is a quarter rainbow to this day.  

Glenn was awarded the WWII Victory ribbon, Good Conduct medal, Bronze Service Star, Purple Heart, POW medal and the coveted combat rifleman badge.

He was discharged on April 26, 1946, a year to the day that he was captured.

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

A common thread among some U.S. Navy veterans was that they would rather sail in the Navy, then walk in the Army. So it was with Jack, he didn’t want to wait to be drafted, so he enlisted in the Navy on April 29, 1944 at the age of 17.

Upon completion of basic raining, Jack was assigned to two ships during his service in the Navy. One was the LST (Landing Ship Tank)-801. The other was the U.S.S. Sherburne which was classified as an Attack Transport.

The Sherburne and the LST-801 both received one battle star for their service in World War II. The Sherburne was involved in the landing of troops at Ulithi and Guam. Later, on May 1, 1945 she arrived off Okinawa with Army troops slated to land on that island. Because of bad weather and attacks by Japanese kamikazes, the landing was postponed for a time but eventually it was mission accomplished.

In the summer of 1945 the Sherburne was busy taking troops from San Francisco to the Philippine Islands. The ship was in this area when the Japanese surrendered in 1945. Jack had the rank of Yeoman 3^rd Class while in service with these ships.

The Sherburne had an interesting after war story. She was put in mothballs soon after the war ended until 1969 when she became a “range tracking vessel” for the Navy. She had this duty during the 1970’s but eventually put out of service again. She was not sold for scrap until November 2012. The LST-801 was sold to the Argentine Navy after the war where she was renamed.

Jack received the WWII Victory medal, American Campaign medal, Asiatic-Pacific medal with 1 battle star and the Philippine Liberation medal.

He was discharged from the Navy on April 22, 1946.    

 

B-17s from the 390th Memorial Foundation

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

William was working as a Civil Service employee at a nearby air force base when he was drafted into the military. He was inducted into the Army Air Forces on March 15, 1943. He was 20 years old.

After basic training, William was sent to the southwest Pacific and became part of the famous 5^th AAF. During his tenure with the AAF he was a sergeant major at several air bases including Darwin, Australia. William remembers entering Darwin harbor after an attack by the Japanese Imperial Navy and observed the massive devastation brought on to that beautiful harbor.

He was also assigned to bases in the Philippines and for a short time in New Guinea. Another memory of William’s is when he entered the battle worn Philippine capital of Manila just after the U.S. Army liberated the city from the Japanese.

At another point in William’s interesting career in the AAF, he sailed on two very uncomfortable 29 day trips on Liberty ships crossing the Pacific, even having the terrible experience of once being caught in a Typhoon which is what hurricanes are called in the Pacific region. William states that he was awarded the usual service medals and ribbons including the Philippine Liberation medal.

He was discharged from the AAF on January 16, 1946.

 

 

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

James was drafted into the U.S.Army towards the end of the war. The date was April 18, 1945, he was 19 years old. The Nazi’s were just weeks from surrendering, the Japanese however were holding out, preparing for the inevitable invasion of their homeland.

While in basic training at Fort Chaffee Arkansas, where he also observed many German POW’s that were held there , James was told by his instructors that there would be at least six landings in Japan by the Allies. Operation Olympic and Coronet were going to be the first two of the six, planned for the fall of 1945. Like many in the service, James was probably told that there was a very good chance that they would never come back, and if they did it most likely would be 1948 or later.

He was trained as a rifleman while in basic, but as it often does in war, things change and the military sends you where the need is most. The two bombs, Fat Man and Little Boy were dropped on mainland Japan before James got to Fort Ord, California, where he was to wait for his overseas assignment.

James was shipped to Japan in October 1945 from Fort Ord to be a part of the army of occupation.  He was assigned to the 128^th Station Hospital in Hakadata, Japan and began work as a cook. The mess sergeant asked James where he attended cooks and bakers school. James stated that he had been trained as a rifleman. The sergeant replied “Oh Lord,” and walked away.

James eventually served in many hospitals in Osaka, Sapporo and Yokohama, Japan.

He finally made it back to the states in 1946 and was discharged at Fort Sam Houston, Texas on November 29, 1946. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Award, Army Occupation Ribbon, Japan Victory Ribbon, 1 Overseas Service Bar and the Ruptured Duck.

Yes!

C6 Corvette at Le Mans

The Mighty 8th Army Air Force WWII

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Robert was inducted into the U.S.Army Air Forces on August 21, 1943 at the age of 18.

As many, many servicemen and women experienced, his service in World War II saw him serving stateside during the war. His job was that of a tail gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber, and had the rank of 2^nd Lieutenant.  

He retired as a Captain in the U.S.Air Force on January 13, 1964.

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

La Vern was inducted into the U.S. Navy on June 29, 1943 at the age of 18.

After basic training La Vern was assigned to CASU-56 also known as a Carrier Service Unit. The job of these crewman flying Navy aircraft including PBY Catalina flying boats was to find targets for the fleet.  

La Vern also served on several navy ships but was never assigned to a specific ship. He served all over the South Pacific.

He states that he was glad that the Japanese surrendered after the dropping of the atomic bombs. He is grateful that he and the other servicemen and women in the Pacific did not have to invade that island.

He was discharged from the Navy on February 20, 1946 with the rank of SKV-3C.

 

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Eugene enlisted in the U.S.Navy on October 15, 1940 at the age of 20 years old. An uncle had served in the Navy and Eugene thought this would be a good fit for him. Obviously it was!

He had a long and distinguished career in the Navy, retiring in 1980.

After basic training, Eugene was assigned to the U.S.S. Salt Lake City. This was a heavy cruiser, launched in 1927. This ship has the (unofficial) record of being in more hostile engagements than any other ship in the U.S.Navy. She served gloriously before and during WWII. Unfortunately she met her unglamorous end as a target ship in 1948, by then hopelessly outdated.

During the war, Eugene and the Salt Lake City saw action in the South, Central and North Pacific. The ship was present during the action around the Soloman Island chain, including Guadalcanal. She participated in the Battle of Cape Esperance for instance fighting the Japanese for control of that island chain.

In 1943, the ship saw action in the North Pacific, specifically the Aleutian Islands, where the Salt Lake City operated out of the island of Adak. The ship participated in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands in an attempt to keep the Japanese from occupying Kiska and Attu islands. In one particular fight in these islands, Eugene states that his ship was involved in a three and one half hour sea battle without air cover. Luckily, Eugene and the ship survived!

Eugene retired from the U.S.Navy on January 11, 1940 with an amazing 40 year career! His rank was that of Senior Chief Boatswains Mate.