On the road

On the road

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Profiles Fall 2013 Spring 2014 HFDFW


 

John enlisted into the U.S. Army on September 2, 1938 at the very young age of 16. John was to remain in the Army until his discharge on July 12, 1945.

After basic training John was assigned to the famous 1st Cavalry Division. At the start of WWII the division actually had horses. It was with profound sadness that the division was ordered to give up their mounts and become mobilized. The horses were sold at auction to farmers and ranchers around the El Paso Texas area. For many years after the war, these horses could still be found with the branding iron markings of the 1st Cav.

The 1st Cavalry Division was sent overseas and began training in Australia. Thereafter the division was involved in fighting the Japanese in such areas as New Guinea particularly Los Negros and Manus and the Admiralty Islands in the southwest Pacific.

Perhaps the largest invasion the division took part in was the liberation of the Philippine Islands in the fall of 1944. The division participated in the landings on the islands of Leyte and Luzon. John was on the first wave in the landing on Leyte with the 271st Field Artillery Regiment. John also fought the Japanese in the mountains east of Manila, Philippine’s.

John was discharged from the Army in the summer of 1945 with the rank of Technical sergeant 4. He was awarded the Bronze star with Oak Leaf cluster.

 

 

 

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