There were fourteen Filipino girls working in his office. The Filipinos were paid by the US government to work in the office. Many of them spoke English, and Bob picked up some Filipino words from them. He had about thirty guys on the outside working for him. Every day people picked up supplies, so he had to keep track of everything. “The Filipino people are nice people,” Bob said, “and there wasn’t anything they wouldn’t do for you. The Filipinos hated the Japanese.
“There were Korean POWs in our camp. They were just waiting to go home. The Japanese had forced them to join the Japanese army or be killed. The Korean POWs hated the Japanese.” Bob said he couldn’t tell the Japanese guys from the Korean ones. If a stray Japanese guy wandered into the mess to get something to eat, the Filipinos would nearly kill him. The Filipino workers could tell them apart and knew the Japanese didn’t belong there.
Were there any accidents?
One thing Bob and the other soldiers were told before going to this area was “do not pick up any shells.” Well, in the tent next to Bob’s, some guy wanted to take home a souvenir... so he was pounding on a shell to get the powder out. It exploded and killed two soldiers and wounded three or four.
Bob was assigned a vehicle, so one day he left his assistant in charge, a young man who had graduated from Manila University. Bob, being twenty years old, wanted to see what Manila looked like. “There were Communists, Huks, who would rob you.” So he carried a gun when he went outside the camp.
In September 1946 Bob left Manila on the USS Young America. When they arrived in San Francisco on September 29, “it was foggy, and you couldn’t see a thing.” Suddenly it cleared, and they could see the Golden Gate Bridge. “It was beautiful!” Bob recalled. “The guys were pretty happy to see it.”
Home
On October 9, 1946, at 2:30 a.m., Bob returned home to banners and “Welcome Home” signs at his house. His mom, dad, two brothers, and two sisters were up welcoming him back home. Everyone was “all up and at ‘em!” Bob said.
What did you think about the United States dropping the atomic bomb?
“Great. It saved my life. People don’t realize how many more people would have been killed if we hadn’t done that. I was on my way to Okinawa when they dropped those bombs. We were somewhat happy about it—except for all the people in Japan that were killed.”
Bob said, “God intervenes in things...” His military service could have turned out differently if he hadn’t gotten the mumps, if the United States hadn’t dropped the bombs, or if he had been in a different company. Bob was discharged on December 1, 1946.
Honors
Philippines Independence Liberation Medal
Asiatic and Pacific Medal
Good Conduct Medal
World War II Victory Medal
American Campaign Medal
Bob W. – US Army
“Lamb stew smelled just like a skunk!”
Do you remember Pearl Harbor?
“Yes. I was sixteen at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack. I thought, I am going in the service soon! I got to stay home for a few months, then when I was eighteen, I was gone. When I first went in, we had a little boy. He had an overcoat that came down to his ankles and a duffel bag of clothes. In a couple weeks, he was gone. His momma got him back.” Bob laughed. “He was fifteen, and he didn’t last long.”
Italian and German POWs
“When I was a kid, I worked on a truck farm. They would hire the Italian POWs to come work on the truck farms near Whiteland, Indiana. They grew vegetables and trucked them up to the Indianapolis farm market. The farmers would go to Camp Atterbury and pick up the POWs, along with a guard, to work on the farm.”
Did any of them ever try to escape?
“No, they liked working there. They had it better here than they did at home. The German POWs worked at Camp Atterbury without a guard.” Both German and Italians POWs were paid a certain amount for their work at Camp Atterbury.
“One of the POWs got out on the railroad track and didn’t want to go back, but they were sent back to their own country after the war. There was quite a bit of difference between how the Germans and the Japanese treated their prisoners and how we treated ours.”
Military Service
Bob, drafted on January 6, 1946, spent six months at Camp Atterbury. Since the war was over in August 1946, he worked as a medic discharging the troops coming back from the war. Bob’s job was as a baker for the army.
How did you get to be a baker?
“They just pointed to you to do the job.” He never had any talent for it before entering the military, had never seen a bakery. “It turned out pretty good. We started out baking some cakes, but they cut that out. Then we only baked bread.”
From Camp Atterbury he was part of the occupation forces sent to Japan. Bob rode over to Japan on the troop ship USS Admiralty. “We had a typhoon on the way over there and on the way back.”
Japan
“When we first got there, there were three eight-hour shifts. Bakers work twenty-four hours a day. The ingredients we were given [to bake with] had a little age on it, so it was hard to make good bread.
“We only got fifteen hours’ sleep the first week.” His other duty, besides baking, was guard duty. After working guard duty, he would go back and start baking.
“We landed in Yokohama, Japan, and we traveled by train through many cities that had been bombed. From there we went down to the lower island, six hundred eighty miles. We were told to cover the windows and not look out at the devastation. Being eighteen-year-old kids, we looked out the windows! The train ride from Yokohama to Fukuoka took three days.” This was during the occupation of Japan in 1946. Bill saw destruction in the city of Fukuoka and a Japanese shrine in Kashii.
Did you like K rations?
“After eating those K rations for three days, bread baking smelled pretty good to the troops. Lamb stew smelled just like a skunk! It was horrible. I had sardines and crackers on that day.
“K Rations were not good; the crackers were old. There were cigarettes, canned meat and candy bars. C rations were pretty good.” According to Bob, “the biggest problem with the army food was the cooks.”
“The Japanese island where we were stationed, was the site the Allies had planned to invade. However, the atomic bomb was dropped, and the Japanese surrendered.” The women were scared and fled to the hills. They had been told how horrible the Americans were going to be to them. Some of the others had an attitude with the soldiers. While Bob was in Japan, he met an old Japanese man who lived in Chicago. He had returned to Japan for a visit and was unable to return to the United States once war was declared. He said, “I met a lot of nice people and some that weren’t.” Bob was in Japan for about one year.
Bob’s childhood friend Harold, a bomber pilot, dropped bombs on Japan. Bob said, “There are two places that we were told not to bomb: the tunnel connecting the islands and the emperor’s palace.” Bob said he was glad they didn’t bomb the tunnel, as he had just traveled through it to get to the lower island.
Also Bob experienced an earthquake while in Japan. Well, actually, he slept through it! When he woke up the next morning, some guys were talking about it. He didn’t know anything about it.
What did you think about the dropping of the bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima?
“It served the purpose of stopping them. There would have been a lot more people killed, American and Japanese, if they had come in on the islands down there. I hope they never use them [atomic bombs] again.” Bob has seen the damage such bombs can do to a city and its people.
“A war never accomplished anything. Everything was damaged. American taxpayers paid to have things rebuilt in Japan. Japan didn’t pay to have Hawaii rebuilt.”
Bob was the third oldest of eleven children. His older brothers were also in WWII, one in China and the other in Italy. They were in different branches of the service, one in the army and one in the navy. “We thought it was an honor to be in the milit
ary,” said Bob.
Indy Honor Flight
Bob went on the flight with his daughter. He said, “It was very nice.”
Harold Weber—US Navy
“The water was full of ships when they pulled up beside the USS Missouri.”
Harold joined the navy in 1943 and was onboard the USS Taylor DD-468. He was in the 7th fleet with General Halsey. “It was the first US Navy ship to anchor in peace in Japanese coastal waters at the end of WWII.” Harold served on many of the Pacific islands—Corregidor, Guam and New Guinea.
He was a boatswain mate whose job was to take the small boats over to another ship. They would take on stores (supplies), which is a job in which everyone participated.
Harold shared a story about a Japanese parachute. There was a Japanese airplane that was shot down in the water. He got part of the parachute as a souvenir. Harold saw the Japanese pilot in the water. He still has a piece of the large white square of fabric.
Harold said he saw a Japanese mini sub on the beach and that it looked like a torpedo. “There was also one in the water that tried to ram our ship. The ship circled around and rammed it with the bow of the ship. We went to GQ, and it was in the water.”
The USS Taylor was one of the ships selected to escort the USS Missouri. On September 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay, the USS Taylor hauled correspondence for the surrender ceremony over to the USS Missouri. The peace agreement was signed on board the USS Missouri. Harold recalled, “The water was full of ships when they pulled up beside the Missouri.” The USS Missouri, currently docked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, represented the end of the war for many soldiers and sailors.
The USS Taylor was mothballed at the end of the war; however, it was pulled out for the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Later it was sold to the Italian navy.
Harold said he liked the navy. “It was a clean place to sleep and had good food.” He later said, “Once there was party on a sandy beach. They took you over in a whale boat to this island where each sailor got two or three beers.” He was glad to get back to the ship.
Harold spent three or five years in the navy. He was discharged in California after the war ended.
European Theater
We were following what our government told us to do, and that is what the German boys were doing too.
—Ralph Cooley
US Army, WWII
European Theater Veterans
Max Bates
Vernon Bothwell
Tom Boyd
Albert Clark
Ralph Cooley
Melvin Eakle
William Fischer
Eunice Francis
Frank Francis
John Geilker
William Kincheloe
Evanula Ledbetter
Robert Miller
Jerry Moser
William Muller
Ralph Myers
Robert Pedigo
Harold Pettus
Robert Reed
Richard Robinson
Allen Sanderson
William Schmidt
Robert Swift
Part 3
European Theater
The European Theater was also known as the Second European War because it was fought on European soil. On December 11, 1941, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States of America, then the United States declared war on Germany and Italy. This set the stage for the beginning of a world war in Europe and North Africa. Poland and Czechoslovakia were defeated as the Axis war machine continued across Europe into France. France fell to the Axis powers—Germany, Italy, and Japan—in June 1940. In 1941 the Axis powers were in control of much of Europe and North Africa. The Germans were invading Russia following Hitler’s plan for total world domination.
The fighting was very different in Europe compared to the Pacific Theater. Fighting in Europe involved tanks and large artillery while in the Pacific fighting was on the water and in the island jungles. The enemy was also different in that the Germans would surrender when outnumbered whereas the Japanese would fight to the bloody end and rarely surrendered.
The Allies gained an advantage and a major foothold in the war after their victory on D-Day. However, the Battle of Normandy will be remembered as the largest invasion in history, which involved land, air, and sea all coming together to fight the enemy.
Below are major battles of the European Theater that WWII veterans included in this book were involved:
* First Battle of El Alamein July 1, 1942
* Second Battle of El Alamein October 23, 1942
* Operation Torch (North Africa) November 8, 1942
* Battle of Salerno September 3, 1943
* Battle of Sicily July 9, 1943
* Battle of Monte Cassino January 17, 1944
* Battle of Anzio January 22, 1944
* Battle of the Bulge December 16, 1944
* D-Day Invasion June 6, 1944
Other important events:
* V-E Day—Germany surrenders May 8, 1945
* V-J Day – Victory over Japan September 2, 1945
* President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies April 12, 1945
Major Battles of the European Theater
Battle of El Alamein
Alamein, Egypt, is located northwest of Cairo on the Mediterranean Sea. Field Marshal Edwin Rommel, major leader of the German army, led the fighting in North Africa. The First Battle of El Alamein, which took place on July 1–27, 1942, was a victory for the Allies. The Second Battle of El Alamein, on October 23–November 11, 1942, was also an Allied victory won primarily by the British. British troops were led by Montgomery. The Germans surrendered their hold in May 1943 and gave up domination of North Africa.
Operation Torch (North Africa)
On November 8–10, 1942, the American, Free French, and British forces invaded French North Africa. Allied forces captured the ports and airports of Oran, Algiers, Morocco, Casablanca, and Algeria. The famous Major General George Patton was in command of American forces, and Major General Jimmy Doolittle was in command of all American aircraft.
Battle of Sicily (Operation Husky)
Sicily is an island located off the southern coast of mainland Italy. The Battle of Sicily, July 9–August 17, 1943, was the beginning of the Italian Campaign, resulting in an Allied victory. The goal of this operation was to rid Sicily of Axis domination. It was important to open the Mediterranean Sea for merchant ships from the Allies. Mussolini was no longer in power in Italy, so it was the time to invade Italy.
Battle of Anzio, (Operation Shingle)
Anzio is located thirty miles south of Rome, Italy. The battle took place on January 22, 1944. There were large losses of life on both the Allied and Axis sides. This battle is part of what is referred to as the Italian Theater. Allied troops had to contend with the Apennine Mountains, inclement weather, and very rough terrain as well as the vicious German army coming at them.
Battle of Salerno (Operation Avalanche)
This battle, fought on September 3–15, 1943, was also part of what is referred to as the Italian Campaign. The Allies wanted control of Salerno, located in Southern Italy, so they could fly planes in from Sicily. There were roughly 2,000 Allied casualties and 3,500 enemy casualties.
Battle of Monte Cassino (Battle for Rome)
Monte Cassino is located eighty-one miles southeast of Rome. The German army was responsible for preventing the Allies from advancing from Cassino. The goal of this assault, which took place on January 17–May 18, 1944, was to clear the way to Rome and retake it from the Axis powers. This battle resulted in an Allied victory.
Battle of the Bulge
This surprise attack, which occurred on December 16, 1944–January 25, 1945, is one of the more talked about and important battles for the Allied forces in Europe. This major German offensive took place in Ardennes region of Belgium, Luxembourg, and France, which resulted in an Allied victory. The Germans retreated to the Siegfried Line. There were major losses, with nineteen thousand American deaths and two hundred
British deaths, and approximately three thousand civilian lives were lost. The Americans were surprised and sustained heavy losses; however, the Germans lost much equipment they would not be able to replenish for further invasions. Dwight Eisenhower, later the US president, was supreme allied commander during this battle.
D-Day Invasion (Operation Overlord)
This invasion, which took place on June 6–August 30, 1944, was famous for surprising the Germans when they attacked Normandy instead of Calais, France. Calais was an area where the Germans had fortified the beaches the heaviest, expecting an attack there. The beaches were codenamed Utah and Omaha for the American troops and Sword and Gold for the British troops. The Canadians were at Juno beach. It was a victory for the Allied forces led by American General Dwight Eisenhower and British General Bernard Montgomery. The Axis leader was Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.
Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial
Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, is the final resting place for more than nine thousand American WWII troops who were killed in Europe during the war. The cemetery was initially established to honor American soldiers who lost their lives during the invasion at Normandy. It is a beautiful, quiet place with rows and rows of white crosses. It is an incredibly sad place yet a wonderful tribute to all those soldiers who bravely faced the enemy and lost their lives.
Two famous Americans—Theodore Roosevelt Jr., oldest son of President Theodore Roosevelt; and Quentin Roosevelt, President Theodore Roosevelt’s youngest son, who died on July 14, 1918, in France—are buried in Colleville-sur-Mer. Quentin was in another part of France, but his body was moved to be buried beside his brother in the 1950s. Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. walked with a cane and had a heart condition. He led the attack on Utah Beach and survived. He died a month later at the age of fifty-six of a heart attack.
Grave marker of Theodore Roosevelt Jr.in Colleville-sur-Mer, France
WWII Heroes: We Were Just Doing Our Jobs Page 12
