Initials

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Topic

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Introduction

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Military branch of service
Army Infantry. No Air force at this time.

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Rank upon retirement
22 year career- Lieutenant Colonial

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First military experience
University of Alabama-1938 ROTC

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Enlistment
After college, worked for one year in Birmingham. Continued in ROTC. Commissioned at end of the year. Went to OCS. Inducted 1943.

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OCS
Training Fort Benning, GA-May 1944

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Inducted 1943

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Commissioned
Second Lieutenant- Infantry- May 1944

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After commissioned
Sent to Fort Rucker-66th May-May 1944. Trained with Division

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Sent to New York.
Port of embarkation. Arrived in England. Crossed channel to Europe.

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Command experience
Commanded infantry platoon.

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Arriving in Europe
66^th Infantry-historic tragedy

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New York to England
Arrived in England in waves.

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Waiting to cross channel to France Waiting in South Hampton. Infantry division of 15,00 men. Sent in waves.

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Battle of the Bulge
Important part of the war.

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Ships in South Hampton
Located sleeping quarters. Time passed to leave. Convoy ahead, 2,000 to 3,000 men, sunk by German submarine. Navy tragedy.

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Crossing the channel
Lost 1/3 of division. Left crippled

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Germans scattered
Turned toward west. Coast of France. Stayed in France.

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Time in Europe
One and a half years.

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Germans well armed
Had different weapons than U.S. Tanks built better. Had famous 88-mm. cannon mounted on tanks.

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American weapons
Used 75 and 76 mm cannon;  M-l rifles-reload every eight shoots. Used clip.

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German weapons
Good weapons. Portable sub machine guns.

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German surrender
Seized piles of weapons. U.S. soldiers picked out weapons they wanted to keep. Carried for six months. Traded.

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Schmeizer-German machine gun
Took weapons to range. High velocity.

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277

Travel to Southern France
Marseilles. Soldiers would assemble for embarkation to U.S. or the East.

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Atomic bombs
No idea about atomic bombs. People have disputed moral aspects of using bomb. No debate among troops. War is a terrible thing.

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Marseilles, France
Men assembling by units. Shipping to Japan. Fall of 1945-stayed in Europe.

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Sent to Austria
42^nd Infantry = line infantry.

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Assigned to Division Head Quarters
Assigned to Salzburg. Personnel department. 1945-1946. Shipped to embarkation port. Returned to the U.S. in 1946.

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German resistance
Fighting in several directions. France and Belgium. German soldiers were well trained.

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Change in mission
Germans would not give in. Continued fighting. .88 ~er being used against the U.S. Could not let them move.

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Tragedy in English Channel
Set to go to the Battle of the Bulge. Lost 2,000 to 3,000 men. Turned west. Remained in France.

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Took enemy fire
Never wounded. Some were wounded, died. Artillery shelling.

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365

Experiences in Salzburg
Received message from Head Quarters. Report to director of personnel office. Selected to be Asst to Division Personnel Office.

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American troops use hotels
 Stayed in Downtown Salzburg. Music house-opera music. High quality.

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Stayed in Austria
In Austria until returning to U.S. Occupation forces.

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400

Letters to family
Poor correspondent. Had a girlfriend. Married someone else. Received Dear John letter.

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Family Home
Grew up in Hartford. Wiregrass.

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Personal diary
Not meticulous. Would have kept one if had known then what he knows now. No word processors. Pen and paper.

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Personal relationships during the war
Some kept up with colleagues. Units have reunions. Never pursued.

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Occupation after the war
Judge in Ozark. State trial judge 1986-1987.

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Major divisions
Marker recognition 81^st and 66^th Infantry.  Participated in marker project.

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Typical infantry company
Five or six officers.

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Veterans organizations
Came to him. Participate in reunion. Good memorabilia.

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Medals and citations
Combat Infantry Badge. Blue background- silver outline. Medals for European Theater participation

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129

Law school &
Attended U of Alabama in 1946. Entered as a freshman. U.S army reserve-3 years.

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Came to Ozark
Originally from the Wiregrass. Sister had family in Ozark.

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144

Joined local National Guard
Served 22 years. Armored unit.

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150

Unit called up during Korea
Got back from oversees 1946. Back in 1950.

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Stationed in Japan
Never went to Korea. With administration in Tokyo.

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Education and GI Bill
Bill passed before the war was over. Helped go to college. No doubt about going back.

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Local National Guard Unit
Well run organization. Mostly veterans. Armored in 1941.

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North Korea attacks South Korea
Here we go again. Sent to Armored school- Ft. Knox Kentucky. Battalion administration. Unit expert ran unit training.

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Return from Japan
Summer-1952-2 Years in Japan

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After Japan Returned to Ozark. Working with Doug Brown. Practiced law. Elected as judge.

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Military experience and outlook on war and military Cannot experience that detailed without influencing your life. War and military different today. Military has changed in 60 years. Understand how military units function.

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Origins of Fort Rucker- Inspiration for writing
On the bench during the day. Worked on book at night. Interested in history.

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Mentors
Creel Richardson. Presence in Dale County history.

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Stories of Ft Rucker
Interesting. Heard stories thru Joseph Adams. Wanted to write a small book on a narrow subject.

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Henry B Steagall
Congressman. Lived on Broad street-built in 1905. Democrat in 1930's.

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FDR elected
Succeeded Hoover . Democrats take control of Congress. Steagall becomes Chairman of the Banking and Currency Committee. Middle of the depression.

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FDR closes banks Steagall wrote key legislation

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War upon us
Starting looking for location. Need to raise large army. Need training camps. Adams family. Key figure.

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Steagall convinced Fort Rucker was a good idea
Key figure in Washington. After December 7th ,1941 urgency increased. Post built in 109 days.

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Serving at Camp Rucker
Did not know would be serving at camp. Spent entire career in Ozark.

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Death of FDR
With remainder of 66th Division. Turned west. Occupied French city. This was a sad time. Elected 4 times-Only President we knew. Very admired.

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Overall experiences-effect on life
No dramatic change. Had uniform since a freshman in college. Pick up rifle one day a week.

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Introduction

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ROTC uniform
Blue/Grey-different from regular uniform. No dramatic change. Good to have military experience.

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Infantry Officer Candidate School
Another world. Instructors of high caliber.  Learn what you need to know in 90 days.  Everyone knew his or her jobs. High demand on students.

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History professor-McPherson
Retired. Hobby- work with Assoc of Fort Benning officer graduates.

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History of OCS
High pressure military training.