A TRIBUTE TO THE GREATEST GENERATION Life Care Contents:

From the Editor 2 Harve Norman A Man of The Fighting Lady Ever since I was a young boy, I’ve loved stories. I love hearing them, and I love telling them. LEASPECIAL EDITIONDER There is something powerful about stories that brings people together. They remind us that we Darryl Webster are not alone – that other people love, laugh and cry. They not only capture our imaginations; 6 In Great Supply they teach us right and wrong. Some of my favorite stories are the war stories that my grandfather used to tell me when I 10 Francis Paul was a boy. He was a medic in the army during World War II. As a child, my mind was flooded Triumph in Love and War with the acts of bravery, humility, servanthood and sacrifice that his stories shared. Many Life Care residents have similar stories. Every day, in our facilities across the country, 14 Jerome Welter our associates serve those men and women who once served our country during the greatest Patriot’s Pride war this world has ever known. Hands that once held rifles now struggle to hold a drinking A TRIBUTE TO THE GREATEST GENERATION glass. Ears that listened to emergency radio signals now strain to hear what is being spoken Wally Pabitzky 18 Marksman on a Mission to them. Our associates know this and are proud to lend a helping hand and provide a good Life Care Leader is published semi-annually by Life Care Centers of America for our conversation, for though our residents may be older, they are still heroes. residents, the corporate family and friends of Life Care. William Corrigan My grandfather is 90 years old now and can no longer share like he used to. The stories 22 A Charmed Life he once told have become mine to tell to my boys. I will also be sharing with my children the stories from this issue of LEADER, so they will know the kind of brave men and women who Chairman Forrest L. Preston Randall Richardson have made the United States of America great. 26 The Evolution of a Flying Tiger

This issue of LEADER was born out of the recognition that we need to honor our veterans of President Beecher Hunter World War II while their stories are still within living memory. It is our privilege to have spoken 30 Thomas D’Aquino The Master Behind the lens with them and gleaned from their wisdom. Those who supported the war effort and fought Editor valiantly during World War II have often – and rightly – been called “The Greatest Generation.” Rob Alderman We are proud to bring you this special edition of LEADER Magazine that features the war 34 Luther Craig Associate Editor Dead-Eye with a Tender Heart stories of residents from Massachusetts to Hawaii. Their bravery and influence have spread far Leigh Michels beyond their imagining to the benefit of us all. Art Director To our residents who served in World War II, we cannot thank you enough for all you have Richard Swart Bob Grayson 38 Chasing Challenges done and given. Let these stories be our tribute to you. We love and appreciate you. Graphic Designer Jamie Philpott Dean Perry 42 the replacement Permission to reprint any portion of Life Care Leader text or photographs may be granted upon written request. Comments and 46 Nicus Loveless Rob Alderman suggestions are welcome. Please address them building bridges Director of Public Relations to: LIFE CARE LEADER 50 William Houston Life Care Public Relations a profile of a prisoner of war P.O. Box 3480 Cleveland, Tennessee 37320 (423) 473-5533 54 William Wallace a civilian hero

An equal opportunity employer © 2011 Life Care Centers of America 58 Women of the War the unsung heroes 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 19 39 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945

Harve Norman N N COLONIAL HILLS NURSING CENTER N N Maryville, Tennessee A Man of The Fighting Lady By Jared Powers

The USS Yorktown participated in the attack

Photo by Vick Laney of Iwo Jima and supported the Marines that landed there in the early part of 1945.

A hero lives in Maryville, Tenn., Norman completed basic While performing an attack on in April 1945. While supporting Yorktown attending to the national defense and on his wall hangs a painting. training in Bainbridge, Md., and the Japanese Islands in the same troops on the island of Okinawa diesel engines, far from any through the military This is no ordinary image. It married his sweetheart, Emma, year, the Yorktown received its only with air raids, the Yorktown action on the flight deck.I t application of nuclear encapsulates all-but-forgotten on June 19, 1943, while home on battle scar of the war. During an all- crew discovered an operation was the diligence of men like energy. He also worked memories in the shape of a World furlough. He then received training day counterattack by the Japanese, put into motion by the Japanese Norman that kept the ship’s for Burns and Roe, an War II aircraft carrier. It is a proudly to work on diesel engines at a Naval a formation of three Yokosuka D4Y government. Operation Ten-Go, engines running. engineering firm. He and displayed remnant of a time when Training School in Cleveland, dive-bombers, given the reporting or Heaven One, was a mission to The Yorktown and her crew Emma lived a long and happy this hero saw the world through Ohio, before he learned he would name of “Judy” by the Allies, began beach the largest battleship ever went on to aid in supporting life together until her death on younger eyes – one chapter in a long serve aboard the Yorktown. a bombing run. The first two failed constructed, the Yamato, on the the amphibious landing April 22, 2011. and full life. Norman was happy he was in their attempts and were shot shore of Okinawa. The ship could and taking of the island The Yorktown received This hero’s name is Harve serving in the Navy. “You didn’t down; the third was successful in then act as a shore battery and no of Okinawa. They were two refits and served the Navy Christopher Norman, and he have to be in the line of fire all the releasing its payload, hitting near longer fear being sunk. also near Japan during until the end of the Vietnam was born in Byington, time,” he explained the signal bridge. The Yorktown, along with other the atomic bombings of War. It then was portrayed as a Tenn. Norman may not have The bomb passed through the carriers in its task force, hurriedly Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japanese aircraft carrier in the 1970 On April 14, 1943, been in the line of fire, but flight deck and exploded near scrambled jets from the deck to For his time aboard the film “Tora! Tora! Tora!” about the at the young age of his company saw some of the hull, leaving two large holes, stop this last desperate offensive. Yorktown, Norman is authorized attack on Pearl Harbor. 19, he was drafted the fiercest battles of the approximately 12-14 feet in diameter, After several torpedo hits, the to wear the following medals: an The Yorktown is docked in into the Navy. One second half of the war in in the side of the ship. The lives Yamato, ablaze, finally crawled to American Theatre Asiatic-Pacific Charleston Harbor in S.C., where it day later, the aircraft the Pacific Theatre. of five men were lost, and 16 were a stop and began to sink. When Ribbon with one Silver Star and serves as a museum. carrier in the painting on Early in 1944, the Yorktown injured as a result of that bombing. the fires aboard reached the main four Bronze Stars, and a Philippine Norman loved serving his the wall was commissioned the USS was part of the task force that took Losing crew members was tough magazine compartments, the Liberation Ribbon with two country and was proud to be a Yorktown (CV-10). Norman’s tale two islands in the Marshall Islands, for the Yorktown crew. “It didn’t take Yamato erupted in an explosion Bronze Stars. member the Yorktown’s crew. The is intertwined with the tale of the the first penetration of the outerring too long to make buddies,” Norman that could be heard and seen 125 After his honorable discharge painting, displayed in front of Yorktown, or The Fighting Lady of Japanese defensive islands. explained. Working and fighting miles away. from the Navy in November 1945, his bed, is the one piece he looks as it was referred to in a 1944 U.S. The Yorktown also participated together created strong bonds; these Norman’s job at that time was Norman went on to work at the at daily to remind himself of the Navy film. The Yorktown became in the attack of Iwo Jima and men were family. Motor Machinist Mate Third Class, Y-12 National Security Complex in chapter of his life where he selflessly his home for the next two-and-a- supported the Marines that landed Norman and the Yorktown crew which meant he was in the engine Oak Ridge, Tenn., a Department of served and fought for freedom. half years. there in the early part of 1945. experienced their greatest triumph room deep in the bowels of the Energy facility that works to improve

2 3 This infamous German phrase translates to “Work sets you free” and was hung at the entrance of many Nazi concentration camps to greet incoming prisoners. This one is at Auschwitz I and was made by prisoners.

March 1933: March 1935: First concentration camp opens Hitler violates the Treaty of Versailles by January 1933: outside Berlin. beginning to rebuild the German military. September 1935: Adolf Hitler becomes chancellor German Jews lose rights under the of Germany. Nuremberg Laws.

4 5 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 19 39 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945

Darryl Webster N N LIFE CARE CENTER OF VISTA N N Vista, California In Great Supply By Ryan Faricelli

Dec. 7, 1941, changed the course of U.S. history as Japanese

Photo by Charles Summerhill Photography fighter planes attacked Pearl Harbor. This attack officially pulled the U.S. into World War II.

Darryl Webster was still During Webster’s first year of written log of where he went, how that same general came to him for Webster’s time in the Philippines out of business. He became a attending Louisville High School service, his stockroom experience he got there and with whom he use of a jeep, Webster told him was not always so lighthearted. In traveling salesman for Wolverine in Louisville, Colo., when Pearl helped shape his military training. went, his attention to detail and there wasn’t one available. He did March 1945, he received word that Boots, and eventually moved the Harbor was attacked. An avid He attended an Army Specialized records utilized once more. say that he could probably find his father had passed away. There family to Helper, Utah, where he athlete, he watched as teammates Training Program in engineering Boarding the USS Catalina, one if the general could locate was no one qualified to take his bought another department store who had graduated the year before reporting to Camp Lee Webster traveled from Sacramento, enough beer for the men. The place, so the commanders would in 1968. They remained in Helper before enlisted to fight in the war. (now Ft. Lee), Va. There, Webster Calif., to San Francisco on Oct. 21, beer arrived that afternoon. not allow Webster to travel home until 2002, when they retired to He used the organizational and graduated from Administration and 1944. Arriving in San Francisco, he In the summer of 1945, Webster to help his mother through the California, to be closer to family. record-keeping skills he learned Supply School. immediately boarded the USS La was assigned quartermaster difficult time. It brought a great Webster and Elsie will celebrate in the stockroom of his father’s Assigned to Regiment Co. Porte, setting sail on the Haskell- duties in Tacloban, Leyte, deal of strife between him 65 years of marriage in November, department store to track and C, 3rd Bn., Webster underwent class attack transport’s maiden in the Philippines. The and his mother, as she spending their afternoons keeping collect the newspaper articles an extensive three-month voyage for Oro Bay, New Guinea. U.S. had just taken believed he simply didn’t one another supplied with love. about those local heroes as they quartermaster operations and They arrived Nov. 11, taking the islands, and all want to return. went off to war, won medals or functions course, graduating LCP(L) amphibious transports supplies for the troops On Jan. 27, 1946, were listed as killed in action. Quartermaster School in late July ashore. On Dec. 1, Webster was were routed through Webster received his After graduation, in early 1942, 1944. As a quartermaster, his job assigned to the 343rd Depot Supply Webster. Conditions orders to return to the he needed to do more. was to maintain and distribute Co., APO #503, as a tally-out clerk were particularly hard on United States. Traveling with With a group of his friends, all supplies on a base or military for Class II and IV supplies. the locals, who were hungry and 1,512 other soldiers aboard the USS Webster attempted to join outpost. He began working in the Near the end of his service as battered, and Webster did what he Santa Maria, he finished his service the Navy. Unfortunately, he battalion supply office at Camp quartermaster in New Guinea, could to help. at the rank of Sergeant (E-5). and one of the others failed to Beale, Calif., and remained until Webster worked to acquire beer “They would throw a stick of That same year, he met Elsie, qualify because of their eyesight. October, when his regiment was for the few remaining soldiers dynamite into the river, and then and the two were wed in November Refusing to give up, he instead ordered overseas. cleaning up the encampment they’d let all of the people who lived 1946. They raised four children enlisted in the Army, which had Using a map of the Pacific and before they left. It was a difficult there go and get the fish,” recalled in Louisville, where Webster took no eye test. On May 5, 1943, Far East he was issued during boot task, and the local commander Webster’s wife, Elsie. “They’d go over his father’s department store Webster was inducted, traveling camp, Webster drew lines marking refused to help. Webster remained and get great big buckets, like rain and kept locals supplied until the to Ft. Warren, Wyo., for basic his path as his regiment crossed dedicated to his friends and was barrels, full of fish. Those people “big box” stores moved into the training. the ocean. He also began a hand- always a bit of a joker, so when were just in fifth heaven.” town and ultimately put them

6 7 German Chancellor Adolf Hitler is saluted by Parliament members at Krolloper (Kroll Opera House) in Berlin, Germany. The raised right arm was the traditional Nazi salute in the 1930s and ‘40s and was often accompanied by the phrase, “Heil Hitler.”

September 1939: September 1939: Germany invades Poland, Britain and France March 1938: triggering the start of World War II. declare war on Germany. September 1939: Germany invades Austria. South Africa and Canada declare war on Germany a few days after Great Britain and France’s declaration.

8 9 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 19 39 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945

Francis Paul N N LIFE CARE CENTER OF ATTLEBORO N N Attleboro, Massachusetts Triumph in

Love and War Author David McCullough described the general this way: “You couldn’t shrug your By Cari Shanks shoulders at Douglas MacArthur. There was nothing bland about him, nothing passive about him, nothing dull about him. There’s no question about his patriotism, there’s no question about his courage, and there’s no question, it seems to me, about his Photo by LaPrade Studios importance as one of the protagonists of the 20 th century.”

In the months following the assigned to several ships in the Atlantic Paul became a quartermaster and those GIs assigned to the 24th first daughter. Not long afterward, bombing of Pearl Harbor and the fleet, one of which was sunk beneath mechanic. He was sent to school Division under Maj. Gen. William F. orders came to send Paul back to entrance of the United States into him in action off NorthA frica.” in Tokyo for advanced training in Dean. He was shot in the leg during America, and upon their arrival, World War II, many young American Specifically, Paul served on the SS the 24th Division. Life in the Army an ambush by the North Korean the couple was united in a Catholic men volunteered to join the various Virginia, SS John Fiske, SS Webb took an unexpected but happy turn Troops on July 29, 1951.” ceremony at St. John’s Parrish in branches of the military, and some Miller, SS Negley D. Cochran and the for Paul during the occupation of For the wounds he sustained Attleboro. A missionary performed were drafted into service. US Mariposa. The latter sank in battle. Japan because it was there that he in the battle, Paul was awarded the the ceremony and aided Kiyo in the Francis Paul lived both of these When the time came to re-enlist met the young lady who would Purple Heart. He was later awarded translation of the language. experiences. or leave the Navy, Paul decided become his wife. Her full name English, and she said, ‘The neighbors the Bronze Star for actions performed Paul was glad to discover that people A native of Attleboro, Mass., born he wanted to move on to another was Kiyoko Segana, and she was a appreciate what you’re doing.’” beyond his regular duties in the in his community accepted Kiyo, and on March 22, 1924, Paul was drafted branch of the military. He joined the native of Tokyo. Their meeting was Paul continued to take the leftover conflict; after he recovered from his for the 55 years that have followed, they by the Army at 19, but wanted to go Army and was sent to Japan during unexpected, certainly, but Paul’s role rations over a period of time. He wounds, he returned to action on the have been going strong. The couple has into the Navy. So in typical confident, the United States’ occupation that as quartermaster brought him into would bring huge bags of rice to Korean front. Fortunately, he was not enjoyed a beautiful life together with independent fashion, he signed up for followed the surrender. contact with local citizens frequently. Kiyo’s house so all the neighborhood wounded again in battle. their two daughters and son. the Navy at the recruiting office in the “I was under MacArthur!” Paul “We used to get rid of the old could enjoy the food. “I was lucky. I’ve got a leprechaun He is a member of a generation old Attleboro City Hall. declared, proudly. rations that were outdated for He was stationed six years in on one shoulder and a guardian angel whose unassuming qualities and quiet “All you had to do was pass the Author David McCullough the Army but were still good to Tokyo, which were interrupted by on the other,” Paul mused. perseverance have inspired our nation. test,” Paul said. “I told them, ‘I’ve described the general this way: eat. Rations were taken to an area a mission to fight in Korea. Paul Following his service in Korea, When asked what his military service been drafted!’ They said, ‘Don’t worry “You couldn’t shrug your shoulders where local residents could pick described one of the sources of the Paul was happy to be reassigned to means to him now, he said firmly, about it.’” at Douglas MacArthur. There was them up,” Paul recounted. “Her conflict there: “The food in Korea was his former post in Japan so he could “You don’t give up. No matter what Paul did pass the test, and as of nothing bland about him, nothing father came out to get some of grown primarily in the South. That’s return to Kiyo. happens, you’ve got to keep going.” Dec. 11, 1942 – just after the first passive about him, nothing dull the leftover rations. I said, ‘Papa- why the Northern army came down to “Her father was a little iffy anniversary of the bombing of Pearl about him. There’s no question san, where do you live?’ He said, invade the South because of the need about [the marriage] – like most Harbor – Francis Paul was a member about his patriotism, there’s no ‘Over there.’ So I followed him in for food.” fathers would be!” Paul remembered, of the Navy. question about his courage, and my truck, and all the neighbors Paul faced great danger in Korea. laughing. “But her father liked me.” His hometown newspaper, “The there’s no question, it seems to me, were coming in and getting some “The Pawtucket Times” reported They were blessed in a marriage Pawtucket Times,” reported some about his importance as one of the of the rations. That’s where I met his story of love and war on Jan. 29, ceremony by local Buddhists. Many of his Navy service, noting, “He was protagonists of the 20th century.” my wife. She could speak some 1952, and said Paul was “among months later, he and Kiyo had their

10 11 In 1944, Argentan, France, was bombed heavily before and during the D-Day invasion. The city was almost completely destroyed.

November 1939: May 1940: Polish Jews are ordered to identify Germany invades Belgium and September 1939: themselves with Star of David April 1940: the Netherlands. The United States declares armbands. Germany invades Norway its neutrality. and Denmark.

12 13 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 19 39 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945

It was a day that saw, for the first time, U.S. troops take Japanese soil. The victory dealt a strong blow to the morale of the Japanese army and signaled a turn of the tide in the conflict. There were many Jerome Welter witnesses of the flag raising that day from the N N LIFE CARE CENTER OF CAPE GIRARDEAU N N Cape Girardeau, Missouri various branches of our country’s military. Jerome Welter was one of them. Patriot’s Pride By Cari Shanks

It is an image that has become historical account notes that it “was and readied the attack, they were 56 inches) was taken from one of the aid. As the six men struggled to raise the model for the Marine Corps Memorial part of our national consciousness. strategically important as an air base for again surprised to find no Japanese landing craft. Photographer Rosenthal colors, Rosenthal snapped the picture, in Washington, D.C. It has come to symbolize military fighter escorts supporting long-range soldiers. They had gone underground immediately realized the purpose of which has been called the single most Richard Nixon, vice president of struggle, comradeship and triumph. bombing missions against mainland to hide in caves dug within the this second flag and closely pursued famous photograph ever taken.” the United States at the time of the The photo that chronicled the raising Japan. … The seizure ofI wo Jima volcanic crater of the mountain. its bearer. Sgt. Michael Strank, Cpl. Evelyn Welter shared how her dedication of the memorial, delivered of the flag atI wo Jima on Mount would allow for sea and air blockades, On Feb. 23, 1945, as the Marines Harlan Block, Pvt. Franklin Sousley, husband did not speak much about these words on Nov. 19, 1954: “This Suribachi won a Pulitzer Prize for the ability to conduct intensive air scaled the 560-foot mountain, Navy and Pvt. Ira Hayes carried the colors up his military experiences with her in statue symbolizes the hopes and dreams photographer Joe Rosenthal. It was a bombardment and to destroy the personnel observed their progress the hill. As they reached the summit, the years following the war. But when of America, and the real purpose of our day that saw, for the first time, U.S. enemy’s air and naval capabilities.” from the ships in the surrounding he saw the flag raised onI wo Jima, foreign policy. We realize that to retain troops take Japanese soil. The victory The battle lasted 36 days. waters. Welter, was one of the scores of she said, “He thought that was really freedom for ourselves, we must be dealt a strong blow to the morale of Commander, PacificF leet/ crewmen watching from the decks of something. He was really enthused and concerned when people in other parts the Japanese army and signaled a turn Commander in Chief, Pacific the ships. felt patriotic and proud of his country.” of the world may lose theirs. There is no of the tide in the conflict. There were Ocean Areas Admiral Chester W. There were two flag raisings by the In the years that followed the greater challenge to statesmanship than many witnesses of the flag raising that Nimitz described the actions of U.S. Marines the day American forces took decisive Battle of Iwo Jima, Welter came to find a way that such sacrifices as this day from the various branches of our servicemen that day and forever sealed the island. The troops marched up home and met his wife one night in statue represents are not necessary in the country’s military. Jerome Welter was it into American memory when he the trails to the volcano’s crater. The a honky-tonk in Kelso, Mo. The two future, and to build the kind of world one of them. declared, “Among the Americans who American flag was attached to a length danced the jitterbug, and “it was love at in which people can be free in which The oldest son of a farming family, served on Iwo Island, uncommon of pipe the Japanese had been using first sight,” she said, laughing. nations can be independent, and in Welter chose to enlist in the Navy when valor was a common virtue.” to pipe water down the mountain and commanding officer Lt. Harold G. Remembering the love of her life, which people can live together in peace war was declared. His assignment to the After days of bombardment by raised on the edge of the crater. Schrier ordered that the second flag be Evelyn Welter said, “Everything’s special and friendship.” Navy eventually took him to the South the Navy, Army and Marine Corps Upon the Aug. 20, 2006, death raised and the first flag be lowered. Sgt. about him! Our wedding day was Jan. 14, Jerome Welter and scores of Pacific and, ultimately, to the Battle of fighter planes, the Japanese were of Rosenthal, the photographer who Strank found a second length of pipe 1947. He was a good dad and husband. servicemen like him who served Iwo Jima in 1945. waiting out the guns and explosions. immortalized the flag raising in his and fastened the larger flag to it. Seeing He never gave me a [difficult] time – he during World War II sacrificed a great The nameI wo Jima means “sulfur When the Marines advanced to the photograph, Associated Press writer that the four men were having trouble was always a good husband and never part of themselves to see the conflict island.” The island’s volcanic activity beachhead, no enemy soldiers were in Justin M. Norton gave the description raising the flag on the rugged terrain, cursed in front of me.” through. We will always remember bore that moniker out, although the sight. A platoon of 40 U.S. soldiers of what happened next: two men standing nearby – Pharmacist’s The photograph of the scene Welter them for their valor, and for their volcano was considered inactive at the was ordered to scale the hills to reach “Once the original flag was raised Mate 2nd Class John H. Bradley and witnessed that day from the waters pride in their country. time of the battle. The U.S. Navy’s the summit. When they arrived there on that summit, a larger flag (96 by Pvt. Rene A. Gagnon – came to their surrounding Iwo Jima became the

14 15 From the bomb bay door, airmen got an up-close view of their targets.

May 1940: June 1940: Winston Churchill becomes prime Germany takes over the Channel minister of the United Kingdom. June 1940: June 1940: Islands, the only British soil to Germany officially occupies Italy enters the war, declaring war on actually be occupied by Germany. France. Britain and France.

16 17 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 19 39 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945

Wally Pabitzky N N LAKE FOREST NURSING CENTER N N Lake Forest, California Marksman on a Mission By Heidi Tompkins

The USS General R.L. Howze is credited with making 11 trips into battle, bringing much-needed troops and supplies to Guadalcanal, Micronesia, the Cook Islands, New Caledonia and other locations in the Pacific, as well as transporting prisoners of war.

“H ey, Wally, wake up! We’re going by aircraft and amphibious The Howze returned to San The Americans For a man who enlisted to war!” vehicles, Pabitzky’s job was Francisco, and before the second had better success in the war and faithfully These were the first words primarily defensive, keeping the hitch, the Navy took control of at the Marshall carried out his mission as 20-year-old Wallace Pabitzky Howze safe so it could deliver what the vessel. Islands in January a marksman, perhaps it heard on Dec. 7, 1941. His it needed to. Pabitzky’s most vivid memories and February 1944. is not surprising that this brother, Bill, delivered the news On Pabitzky’s first hitch, or of the war came from this second They surprised the same patriotism inspired of the Pearl Harbor bombing journey at sea, the crew was engaged hitch, when the ship saw combat Japanese by going him to put even his that morning at their home in in the New Guinea campaign, in the Gilbert Islands and Marshall after some of the peacetime skills to work for Redondo Beach, Calif. transporting troops to Milne Bay and Islands. The battles on these inner islands in his countrymen. Pabitzky, who everyone called Lae on the eastern side of the island. islands (many were really atolls the chain and only Wally, soon volunteered to serve New Guinea was a key to controlling with little land space) kicked off suffered minimal casualties. and supplies to Guadalcanal, his country in the Coast Guard. Australia, not only because of the island-hopping strategy the Pabitzky and the crew of the Micronesia, the Cook Islands, He loved the ocean, so proximity but also because it Allies would carry on, continually Howze participated in the battle of New Caledonia and other serving at sea was a offered an unusually large pushing the Japanese forces back Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands. locations in the Pacific, as well perfect fit. landmass (the island is east toward Japan. “Planes flew overhead, enemy as transporting prisoners of war. After training the second-biggest in the The attack on the Gilbert airplanes,” Pabitzky remembered. Pabitzky can personally attest to in San Diego in world). Islands in November 1943 proved “We came in during the action, the ship’s power in sinking three or 1942, Pabitzky Edward J. Drea to be a testing ground for the we started to get bombed, and we four Japanese ships (not counting was assigned to a with the U.S. Army Americans. Defensive structures just fought and shot down a few aircraft). brand-new transport Center of Military History stood up to aerial attacks, the planes. Our ship took a hit herself When the war ended, Pabitzky ship, the USS General wrote: “The remorseless coral reef proved treacherous from the torpedoes. It scared us returned to California. He went R.L. Howze, stationed at Allied advance along the for landings, and at Tarawa, the all.” on to marry a lady named Nancy, San Francisco with 1,500 sailors. northern New Guinea coastline missing the high tide left troops The ship was sent to dry dock and the couple had two sons. He became a marksman on the toward the Philippines forced the stranded on the beach, making in Seattle, Wash., for repairs, but Pabitzky’s life, however, had rear of the ship, loading shells and Japanese to divert precious ships, them easy targets for Japanese fire then it was sent back into the war. been forever changed by his war Photo by Diane Ealy firing the heavy artillery. While planes and men who might otherwise from the shore. The Allies captured The Howze is credited with experiences. He worked many years much of the offensive during the have reinforced their crumbling the territory in the end, but with making 11 trips into battle, as a finance officer in the Veterans war in the Pacific was performed Central Pacific front.” heavy casualties. bringing much-needed troops Affairs office in Oakland, Calif

18 19 Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft guns, like these aboard the USS Hornet, were commonly used throughout the war.

The destruction of Paris by the Axis powers was vast and widespread. American troops assisted with the liberation.

July 1940: September 1940: Battle of Britain begins. The London Blitz begins. August 1940: September 1940: Britain begins air raids Germany, Italy and Japan sign on Berlin. the Tripartite Pact, officially establishing the Axis powers.

20 21 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 19 39 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945

William Corrigan N N LIFE CARE CENTER OF BRIDGETON N N Bridgeton, Missouri A Charmed Life By Tanya Bumgardner

Corrigan was a part of a unit of engineers Photo by Clark Woolsey assigned to build roads and bridges adequate for Allied troops and their vehicles.

WorldI War I stories of battle, atrocities In his book, “Me and My Guardian But Calcutta presented its own with simple tools such as picks and a large table. I guided the other two “We slept in the trucks at night. The and survival in Europe and Japan Angel,” he wrote: challenges. Corrigan was a part of a unit shovels. Men reported that equipment fellows to the table, and we crawled rains began, and the next day, the road abound, but approximately 15,000 “We saw two Japanese subs, so our of engineers assigned to build roads and often did not work, and parts were under it. In just a few minutes, the table caved off.I was ‘driving’ down the side American troops were actually fighting captain headed south until we crossed bridges adequate for Allied troops and scarce. They did all this while constantly with us under it was all that was left. of the mountain, trying hard to miss the two wars in Southeast Asia – one against the Equator before he started toward their vehicles. In 1942, the Japanese had fearing attacks from wild animals and The entire building was gone. … One trees and rocks when I felt a hand on the Japan and one against nature. William Australia. We were supposed to land captured Lashio, Burma, thus, closing their greater enemy, the Japanese, who of the Indians had a leg cut off in the steering wheel helping me drive!” Corrigan was one of those men. in Sydney, but there were two subs on off part of the BurmaR oad, China’s were in the surrounding areas. storm, but he wouldn’t go to the hospital Corrigan remained in China until Corrigan was drafted in 1941 and top of the water at about 3 o’clock. last route for supplies. In an effort to Corrigan wrote: “One evening, because he wasn’t relieved of duty. I the end of the war. When the war was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood The captain turned off everything and push the Japanese out of the area and someone yelled, ‘Come quick. There’s finally took him myself.I used a crane finally ended, a fellow soldier shared in Missouri, where he performed odd coasted past them. I could have thrown get supplies to China, the Allies decided a dog fight in the sky.’I t was British to lift the heavy objects off a number the announcement he had just heard jobs including office work, guard a rock and hit one of the subs. They to build what would become known as Spitfires shooting at a Japanese bomber. of other soldiers. For this I received a on the radio. Corrigan couldn’t get duty and overseeing the base’s theater. must have been having tea or sleeping. the Ledo Road, later renamed Stillwell They were able to down the bomber. citation. There were 14 killed in that home fast enough, despite an offer It was during this time that he met Our captain headed for Melbourne, Road, and connected it to a part of the As he was going down, he threw a storm in the British group.” from his captain. and proposed to a young girl named [Australia], and we got there OK. Burma Road. The road was vital to the bomb, and it went through a B-29 and While he wasn’t fighting on the “Our captain called me in and said Jeannette. She agreed under the “We left [Melbourne] about noon Allies’ success. didn’t explode. We soon learned to hit front lines, Corrigan had his share of that he would make me a captain if I condition that they would not marry [one day], and the captain followed a Prior to Corrigan’s arrival, the British the ditches and bomb shelters and not life-threatening moments, but he always would stay another six weeks. I told him until the war was over and he was British freighter about a mile behind had already been working with the watch the fireworks.” managed to escape unscathed. He claims I wanted to get home as fast as I could home safe. until sunset. He had a feeling that Indians to build the road. The Japanese If disease, wild animals and threat he had a guardian angel protecting him so that I could get married,” he stated. Eventually, Corrigan was given we needed to pass this freighter. The had pushed them back out of Burma; of attack weren’t enough, the monsoon the entire time. Corrigan was later sent to After several weeks of travel, orders to report to Camp Beal in Japanese sub that had been following however, in 1943, U.S. forces stepped season became another formidable China, where the conditions weren’t much Corrigan finally arrived home. He and California and then to Calcutta, us didn’t realize that we had passed the in to help. enemy. The torrential rains not only safer. Again, he felt divine protection. Jeannette married as soon as he returned India, an area of the world not usually freighter and fired on ‘us.’ They sank the Building the road was no easy task. washed away their hard work, but often He wrote: “I left Kunming, [China,] on and have had, as Jeannette puts it, a associated with World War II. But freighter instead. Existing roads in the area were in no turned violent, creating conditions a truck convoy. I was in the fourth truck. “charmed life.” this lesser-known theater was critical “Believe me when I say I saw condition to handle military vehicles, almost as frightening as battle. The first several days were not so bad, and Corrigan claims his guardian angel to tearing down the stronghold of those several days from a very scary and other parts of the proposed route “One night, we heard a very loud then we started a route where the road wasn’t just with him during the war, the enemy. While traveling to India, point of view. We were all very, very were in thick, uninhabited jungle. Many noise, and the wind came up blowing curved back and forth almost on top of but all his life. And his 93 years are a Corrigan soon realized his time in the glad when we came into our port at of the soldiers faced malaria, dengue really hard,” recalled Corrigan. “Our each other. The driver of the first truck was testament to that. military was becoming more dangerous. Calcutta, India.” fever and dysentery, all while working lights went out. I knew where there was shot by a band of guerrillas.

22 23 By 1944, more than 20 million women were filling the shoes of brave men who went to fight. Previously, women had typically done clerical jobs or taught, but the war opened up opportunities for welding, construction and assembly work.

October 1940: March 1941: Btitian defeats Germany in the Battle of Roosevelt signs the Lend-Lease Act to assist Britain; this is considered one of the first October 1940: November 1940: the Allies with war equipment; this signifies major victories for the Allies. Draft registration begins in the Franklin D. Roosevelt is re-elected as the unofficial end of U.S. neutrality. United States. United States president.

24 25 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 19 39 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945

Randall Richardson N N LIFE CARE CENTER OF KONA N N Kailua-Kona, Hawaii The Evolution of a Flying Tiger By Dara Carroll It soon became clear that the AVG's unorthodox combat techniques gave its pilots the upper hand in air battles

Photo by Glen Dohie against the Japanese. As news of their successes spread around the globe, they were hailed as the Flying Tigers.

More than two years before Germany times what servicemen were being Detailed reconnaissance and A s fame of the Flying Tigers Navy airbase in Texas. In addition to three Chinese dialects and could “get invaded Poland, inciting the start of paid by the U.S. forces – but the real intelligence were keys to Flying Tiger increased, so did worldwide discord training new pilots to fly on an N3N by” in several other Asian languages. World War II, China and Japan were pull for Richardson was the chance victories, including reliable weather toward Japan. Oil and steel embargos Navy trainer, he was able to use his Richardson logged hours in dozens already at war. The Second Sino- to edge closer to his lifelong dream of reports. Analyzing everything from air against the nation crippled its ability to background as an aerographer to teach of different makes and models of aircraft Japanese War, which started in the becoming a pilot. pressure to wind speed and direction, fight China, but Japan would not go them about weather patterns and in mostly unfriendly skies. Close calls early morning hours of July 8, 1937, Born in 1919 in rural Jamestown, Richardson and other members of the quietly. While Richardson was working reading the skies. came often, including escalated into the Pacific War and raged Tenn., Richardson grew up believing aerological branch of the AVG were in French Indochina on Dec. 7, 1941, At the end of flying in a convoy of until the Japanese surrendered on the that the best way to achieve his goal charged with the task of preparing he heard the awful news: Japan had World War II, aircraft delivering supplies USS Missouri on Sept. 2, 1945. of flying was to join the Navy.A fter weather maps and forecasts before bombed Pearl Harbor. The next day, the Richardson was to embattled French To stymie Japanese expansion in high school and two years at Lambert missions. These charts helped pilots U.S. declared war on Japan. Three days discharged from forces at Dien Bien Phu the late 1930s, the U.S. helped finance College in Jackson, Tenn., he enlisted. determine the best flight levels, and later, Hitler declared war on the U.S. the Navy, but in northern Indochina war supply contracts to China. One of In November 1940, Richardson details about wind and air density aided The U.S. suddenly found itself when he heard on May 6, 1954. One these contracts authorized the creation was sent to aerographer school at NAS the accuracy of aerial gunfire.I t was fighting a war on two fronts, and Chennault was of the planes was shot of the American Volunteer Group, led Lakehurst, N.J., where the Hindenburg tedious, yet lifesaving work. the defense of China was no longer organizing a down, killing legendary by retired U.S. Army Air Corps Capt. had crashed three years earlier. He TheF lying Tigers were a tight- a priority. When the one-year AVG new group in China – the Civil Air pilot James “Earthquake McGoon” Claire Chennault. A 1941 executive graduated in January 1941 and was knit bunch, and Richardson has vivid contracts expired in July 1942, the Transport – Richardson was quick to McGovern and five others. These were order signed by President Franklin assigned to FAW-5 at NAS Norfolk, Va. memories of their colorful personalities. group disbanded. join and return to China, this time among the firstA merican fatalities of D. Roosevelt gave AVG leaders the Before getting settled at his new post, he He enjoyed working for Chennault. Eager to join the fight,R ichardson as a pilot. the Vietnam War. authority to recruit from the Army was recruited as an aerographer by the “He was a great guy,” he said, “a good re-enlisted in the Navy in February On the surface, CAT was a Richardson is one of only a handful Air Corps, Navy and Marines. AVG and left for the Far East. employer and a straight shooter.” 1942, before the AVG officially broke commercial airline, but the airline of original Flying Tigers still living. He Willing servicemen were given special It soon became clear that the AVG’s Richardson’s memories of other up. Like a surprising number of Flying evolved into Air America and became retired from the CIA in 1974, No. 7 on discharges so they could volunteer for unorthodox combat techniques gave famous Flying Tigers are a little less Tigers support personnel who integrated a cover for covert CIA operations the pilot seniority list. At the end of his one-year contracts with the AVG. In its pilots the upper hand in air battles tame. When asked about ace Maj. back into the armed forces, Richardson throughout Asia. During his stint with storied career, the little boy who longed addition to fighter pilots, ground crew against the Japanese. As news of their Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, the first became a pilot, finally realizing his the CIA, Richardson flew thousands to be a pilot had grown up to bravely and support staff were also needed. successes spread around the globe, they thoughts that popped into Richardson’s dream of soaring through the skies. of top-secret missions, including log 27,800 hours of clandestine flight Navy aerographers mate Randall were hailed as the Flying Tigers, easily head had more to do with barroom After flight school in St. Louis, assignments during the Chinese Civil time and 32 years of service. Dreams do Richardson jumped at the opportunity. recognizable by the ominous shark teeth brawls than aerial catfights. “Pappy was Mo., Richardson spent the remainder War, Korean War and Vietnam War. come true. The pay was lucrative – up to three painted on the noses of their aircraft. very fond of Scotch whisky,” he mused. of the war as a flight instructor at a Along the way, he became fluent in

26 27 Many beautiful cathedrals and buildings were damaged or lost in Europe. Pvt. Paul Oglesby, 30th Infantry, stood before an altar in a Catholic church in Acerno, Italy, and observed damage that became all too common.

Before the war was even over, the flag of Iwo Jima was a symbol of American sacrifice and triumph.

June 1941: December 1941: Japan bombs Pearl Harbor. The U.S. Germany invades the December 1941: Soviet Union. November 1941: declares war on Japan. Battle of Moscow slows the German Great Britain, the Netherlands, New attack on the Soviet Union. Zealand, Australia and China declare war on Japan.

28 29 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 19 39 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945

Thomas D’Aquino N N WOOLDRIDGE PLACE NURSING CENTER N N Corpus Christi, Texas The Master Behind the lens By Dara Carroll

Although D'Aquino was in Dachau less than 48 hours, the things he witnessed there never left him. The sights, smells and sounds of the liberation were seared in his heart and mind, just a sleepless night away.

In the 1940s, war shattered Soldiers in the division came of a piper plane as it flew over “Leave him alone; don’t bother him. and, before you knew it, we just I had been living outdoors so the innocence of America, from all parts of the country, but Marseilles, D’Aquino spied He’s very sick.” swarmed in there.” much… It was all very difficult.” and professional photographer prejudice was nonexistent. “It the yellow banners and took D’Aquino moved closer to Inside the compound, Rainbow D’Aquino experienced one of the Thomas D’Aquino did not escape didn’t matter if they were Jews, photographs. Collins used investigate and discovered that the Division found more than 30,000 most notorious events of the 20th its intrusion. He was drafted in Catholics, Poles, Italians, or what,” D’Aquino’s photos to locate his boots beside the patient’s bed were prisoners and the bodies of century, but his children grew up not 1943 and assigned to the 42nd D’Aquino said. “Once we got a troops and quickly reform them. wet. His socks were wet, too. thousands more who had already knowing the role their father played Infantry Rainbow Division. Made uniform on, there was no such As Rainbow Division marched “I knew he’d just gotten there,” been exterminated. as a Dachau Liberator. famous during World War I, the thing as black and white. There through France and Germany, said D’Aquino. “He’d just gotten “The prisoners were “He witnessed many horrors,” his division was elite – the only one was no concern about that because D’Aquino’s team often went in bed. And in his closet was his emaciated,” said D’Aquino. “All daughter, Linda Charlton, said, “but composed exclusively of National we all suffered the same ahead of the main army uniform: he was SS. We pulled him you could see was skin and bones, he just put them away. I’m sure he Guard units from across the way.” to scout the territory and out of bed and dragged him down a lot of teeth missing. They saw a lot of things that brought back United States. In 1944, Rainbow radio information back to the stairs.” smelled badly, very weak voices. memories, but he never discussed it.” “We had a special salute, unlike Division set sail for the rest of the division. As Rainbow Division marched They were half-dead.” In his life, D’Aquino has captured the rest of the army,” he said. Europe. When they Hundreds of German toward Munich, Germany, in the Although D’Aquino was in history and changed history. Now it is “It indicated more of a rainbow reached Marseilles, POWs were captured early hours of April 29, 1945, it Dachau less than 48 hours, the up to us to cherish that history. emblem. There was a lot of ‘glory, France, two weeks along the way. passed through the small town things he witnessed there never left glory’ involved.” later, everyone went Although many of Dachau and raided a local him. The sights, smells and sounds After basic training at Camp ashore in the middle of surrendered without concentration camp. The discovery of the liberation were seared in his Gruber in Oklahoma, D’Aquino the night and quickly incident, D’Aquino changed the course of the war and heart and mind, just a sleepless was assigned to the Signal Corps, in scattered, finding could never let his – for the first time – gave people night away. charge of radio communications. He shelter wherever they guard down, even with around the world a true picture of the After the war, the transition and three team members were trained could. Collins had civilians. On one occasion, after hatred bred by Nazis in their quest to from the battlefield to life as a in radio encoding and decoding, no idea where his men were, so capturing a hospital, D’Aquino and establish a “pure” Aryan race. civilian was not easy for D’Aquino. Morse code and mine and booby he commissioned D’Aquino to his team entered one of the rooms “Suddenly, we were on top “I had no authority anymore,” traps. He also spent time taking photograph the area. Collins to find a nurse standing over a bed. of Dachau,” D’Aquino recalled. he said. “[Life] was going on here portraits, including photographs of radioed his commanders with “He’s krank,” said the nurse, “Some of the units went through when all this carnage was going Rainbow Division’s commander, Maj. orders to hang yellow banners, mixing her German with English. the main gates and started shooting on over there. And everything was Gen. Harold Collins. and, straddling the bomb doors She pointed to the man in the bed. at the SS in the top of the turrets, small to me. The rooms were small.

30 31 On June 5, 1944 – the day before the D-Day invasion – Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower gave paratroopers the order of the day: “Full victory – nothing else.”

January 1942: April 1942: The first U.S. troops arrive in Britain. February 1942: Japanese Americans are sent December 1941: to relocation centers. The United States formally declares Japan captures Singapore. war on Germany and Italy.

32 33 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 19 39 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945

Luther Craig N N THE WOODLANDS N N Muncie, Indiana Dead-Eye with a

Tender Heart As a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne, Craig was one By Heidi Tompkins of the first Americans on Sicily, landing on the south Photo by David Herbert shore of the island on July 9, 1943, a day ahead of the Allied invasion of the Axis-held territory.

Luther Craig wasn’t always known as Americans on Sicily, landing on the that hedgerow. It didn’t take me near as A ccording to Perry Bowden, move, and he could have been killed The men had to go to Dead-Eye. For him, as for many young south shore of the island on July 9, long to get back.” Craig’s grandson, “The mission was or paralyzed for life. Thankfully, the Indianapolis for debriefing before men in the 1940s, war was a terrible 1943, a day ahead of the Allied invasion When the rest of the troops arrived, to parachute close to the enemy gun men got him out safely by sliding a returning home, but Craig finally interruption. It broke into his happy of the Axis-held territory. Craig witnessed war on a scale he had emplacements, sneak in close and board under him in the mud. Then got back to his wife and son. The life in Indiana as he was listening to a “We generally got dropped behind not seen. “I was on a hill,” he explained. disable those cannons by hand. My he was sent to a hospital just east of long, brutal interruption in the football radio broadcast; the announcer the lines – that way we could fight “I could watch the battle, the boys grandfather landed safely and rallied Fez, Morocco. life of this peace-loving man was carried the news that Pearl Harbor had them from both sides – and then we coming in off the ships, and it was very with the other members of his squad. Craig recovered slowly in North finally over. He and Leota went on been bombed. fought our way out,” Craig explained. gruesome to watch.” They managed to get to the enemy Africa and was told he could no longer to have another son, Robert. The It wasn’t long until Craig was “We got out, they’d load us in another It would not be the last sight of emplacements and threw grenades serve as a paratrooper. Due to the injury family has since grown to include drafted. While his three brothers went plane, take us back in somewhere else, war, however, for soon it was time for down the barrel of a couple of cannons from the shell and his back injury, two grandsons (Perry and Sean) and on to join the Navy, Air Force and and that got old real quick.” the All-American 82nd Airborne to relatively easily. The next gun did not go he was reinstated as military police, a three great-grandsons (David, Liam Merchant Marines, he went into the Craig remembers an incident advance in Italy. down so well. The enemy located them position Craig never felt was a good fit. and Aidan). Army. Leaving home tugged on the between two towns in Sicily: During one nighttime mission in and started shelling. One shell landed so He now had to follow other outfits at a For his service, Craig received two tender heart of 20-year-old Craig – he “We were almost back to our lines. Italy, Craig’s group of paratroopers saw close to my grandfather’s position that it distance as they fought in North Africa. Purple Hearts, a Silver Star medal, a was leaving behind his lovely wife, There were 12 of us, and we tried to a snaking black line and thought it was knocked him into a muddy ditch.” As an MP, Craig’s duties at one time Bronze Star medal, a Good Conduct Leota, and their 2-month-old son, make the best way we could. I saw a the river they were supposed to land Craig lay powerless while the battle included guarding German prisoners medal, a European-African-Middle Wayne, for an uncertain future. big bunch of hedgerows. Well, I had to in. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a raged around him. of war in a camp near Casablanca. “We Eastern Campaign medal with two Craig did his basic training at Fort get on the other side, so I was slashing road, and Craig’s back was injured from “I was paralyzed,” Craig said. “The had no problems with them,” he shared. Bronze Service Stars with an arrowhead, Benning, Ga., and became known for off petals here and apples there, andI the impact of the landing. Paratroopers only thing I could do was open and “I think they were glad to get out of the a World War II Victory medal, a his sharp aim, which earned him his finally got about 20 feet.I got through carried equipment weighing 80-90 close my eyes.” shooting part of the war just the same as Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award, nickname. He joined the paratroopers that hedgerow, and I turned around pounds (including jumping gear, weapons While Craig lay in the mud for two we were.” an Honorable Service lapel button, and, because, as he said, “I wanted to ride in and was admiring my work (I’d made and items necessary for survival), so if they days, the Germans moved on, and the Late in the war, Craig’s company perhaps his favorite, his Paratrooper a plane.” a beautiful tunnel so that the later did not let their shoot out early for a hard Americans came through to clean up left for the States from Livorno, Italy, Jump wings. From training, it was off to guys could follow me), but that didn’t landing, the force of hitting the ground the battlefield. Craig was almost left for on a call that they were needed in the Craig doesn’t like to talk about the Casablanca, Morocco, and from there work because there was a German tank could be dangerous. dead in the ditch until a lieutenant saw South Pacific. However, when they got war, but those around him appreciate to Europe. sitting just about 500 yards up the hill. Craig’s biggest injury, however, him blinking. to New York, they were notified that the sacrifice he and the other soldiers As a paratrooper in the 82nd He was shooting at us, and you could occurred when his team was fighting in It was a precarious business getting they were no longer needed, a huge made to ensure their freedom. Airborne, Craig was one of the first hear the bullets coming down through the vineyards, close to the front lines. Craig out of the mud – one wrong relief to the war-weary men.

34 35 This photo was taken on the morning of Dec. 30, 1940, during the Second Great Fire in London. Churchill ordered that St. Paul’s Cathedral be protected at all costs.

April 1942: May 1942: Mass murder in gas chambers Bill creating the Women’s Auxiliary June 1942: begins at Auschwitz II – Birkenau. May 1942: Army Corps is signed. Japan captures the Philippines The Allies defeat Japan in the and Burma. Battle of Midway.

36 37 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 19 39 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945

Richard Swart N N LIFE CARE CENTER OF PALM BAY N N Palm Bay, Florida Chasing Challenges By Dara Carroll During his active service, Swart flew 78 missions as lead navigator on the famed Color photos by Jocelyn J. Espejo Yankee Guerrilla, a Martin B-26 Marauder.

Richard Swart saw his share of groaned. “Take these diapers and Swart never did convince them and another pilot swapped seats sense of adventure. Boldly chasing combat during World War II. But catch the baby as it comes out.” that the story was true, but the mid-flight. A“ s soon as the co-pilot challenges whenever he could, he his most searing memory of the In shock, Swart followed her events were forever etched in his settled into [Dad’s] navigator seat,” never forgot what he was fighting war might surprise you. orders. “She had her dress up over her memory. They reminded him that in recalled Swart’s son, Richard Swart for, and he wanted others to The scene was London, 1943. hips,” he said, “and I could see the spite of the ravages of war, life went Jr., “a piece of shrapnel flew through remember too. A German V-2 rocket fell from baby’s head slowly emerge, along with on. They reminded him what he was the bottom of the plane and took “Dad was always teaching us the sky and met its mark with a lot of blood. I was too scared to be fighting for. out the seat, killing the pilot.” lessons,” said his daughter Tricia a deafening explosion. In the embarrassed!” Swart was drafted into the Army Members of his crew weren’t Perry. “Be honest and polite, work chaotic aftermath, Swart stood After the wailing baby girl was Air Corps in 1942 and assigned to the only friends Swart lost. Oldest hard and never quit learning. He did less than 200 yards away, staring born, Swart used a Swiss army knife the 386th Bombardment Group, daughter, Barbara Harburg, said so many terrific things in his life. I at a smoking crater that was to cut the umbilical cord and then which was sent to Europe in 1943. that on several occasions, “He hope I live to be 90 and accomplish nearly 100 yards wide and 40 fumbled with the slippery cord to During his active service, Swart would be flying in formation, and half of what he did.” yards deep. His heart was in his form a knot. As he finished, the flew 78 missions as lead navigator all of the planes would be shot throat. “That was too close,” he mother announced, “You’ve tied your on the famed Yankee Guerrilla, a down except his.” thought; it would be safer at the first belly button!” Martin B-26 Marauder. Stationed Not all of Swart’s military service base. Swart arrived at the hospital primarily in England, the Marauder was marred by loss. There were Swart hailed a cab, but a few covered in blood. To remove the Men played a vital role in the good memories, too. While touring blocks away, they were stopped by stains from his uniform, he showered bombardment of the continent Windsor Castle one day, he and a a woman standing in the middle in his clothes. When he finally between 1943 and 1945. They fellow airman were approached by a of the road, waving her arms returned to his barrack that evening, bombed Nazi V-weapon sites guard who asked if they would like wildly and screaming. She asked his bunkmates noticed the late hour and airfields in France, Holland to have tea with the queen. Later to be taken to the nearest hospital, and that he was soaking wet. Swart and Belgium, and were so highly that day, they enjoyed high tea with exclaiming: “My water broke!” tried to explain what had happened, regarded that they were designated Queen Mary and also met a teenage The young, single airman had but the unbelievable story was, in as the last group to bomb the French Princess Elizabeth, soon to become no idea what that meant. fact, unbelievable. coast before Allied troops stormed Queen Elizabeth II. Moments later, the lady “Too much drinking!” they the beaches on D-Day. Like so many of his comrades, screamed for the cab driver to pull razzed. “So, that’s how you explain Close calls were sobering and Swart faced his role in the war with over. “The baby’s coming,” she falling into the River Thames.” came often. On one occasion, Swart an indomitable spirit and selfless

38 39 This scene became commonplace as American soldiers fought to protect their homeland and freedom.

November 1942: February 1943: Operation Torch, the U.S. invasion German troops surrender in September 1942: of North Africa, begins. Stalingrad. May 1943: Battle of Stalingrad begins; war Axis troops in starts to turn for Allies. North Africa surrender.

40 41 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 19 39 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945

Dean Perry N N LIFE CARE CENTER OF IDAHO FALLS N N Idaho Falls, Idaho The

Replacement It was January 1945, and Allied troops By Dara Carroll were engaged in the Battle of the Bulge, one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. Perry was sent to the Photo by Scott Tomlinson Photography front lines, in the Ardennes Forest.

In the summer of 1944, Dean Perry’s with enemy soldiers. TheA mericans Once the interrogation stopped, some grass in it or something. If you dug “They put us in four box cars just A few months later, Perry was training at Camp Fannin, Texas, was cut split into three flanks: 300 men on the Perry found himself constantly on right down to the bottom, you might get as thick as they could,” Perry said. reunited with his family in Idaho. While drastically short. The U.S.A rmy was right, 300 on the left, and 300 in the the move. a piece of potato. That’s all we had.A nd, “Americans would bomb the track, and there, Americans dropped bombs on suffering heavy losses and desperately center. The center flank – including On one occasion, they were you might only get that once a day.” we’d sit there in those hot cars until they Japan, and the war was over. A year later, needed replacements. After only 17 Perry – moved first.A s they fought their paraded through the streets of Anything more became a were repaired. Then, we’d go a little Perry was discharged. weeks of training, the teenage rifleman way through the brutally cold night, the Dusseldorf, Germany, as war commodity. further, and the track would get bombed Perry and thousands like him from Idaho was deployed to Europe. Germans opened fire. trophies. They crossed into the city “Their bread is awful coarse,” again. Some got killed in the box cars dutifully fought for the freedom we “We were going in there as a “When we got across that field, we’d on a bridge wired with explosives explained Perry. “But, we’d put part ‘cause the Americans shot holes in them enjoy today. According to his daughter, replacement for somebody who got lost everybody but 30 [out of 300],” as big as bathtubs. As soon as Perry of it in our pocket because we didn’t – not knowing it was us inside. When Dorothy Ann, our duty is simple: we killed,” explained Perry. said Perry. and the others got across the Rhine know when we would get more. In they let us out, a lot couldn’t even walk. must remember. She summed up our It was January 1945, and Allied The survivors headed for the safety of River, the Nazis blew up the bridge your pocket, the bread just turned Hitler’s boys – the SS – were waiting for task with a quote from a recent “Music troops were engaged in the Battle of the an old brick building and captured the so trailing American troops could into crumbs, like sawdust. But it was us. I don’t know what happened to the and the Spoken Word” broadcast: Bulge, one of the bloodiest battles of German soldiers they found inside. not follow. still good.” men who couldn’t walk; they got left “To remember is to read and share World War II. On the front lines in the As daylight approached, Perry and At night, they often stayed in The worst part of captivity was the with the SS. We never saw them again.” their stories, so their memory remains Ardennes Forest, Perry’s life suddenly his comrades spotted men coming barnyards. One night, Perry and a constant fear of death. In the early hours of March 27, alive and fresh. Remembering means we depended on the men around him – and in from the right flank – Nazis. The few others slept in a hayloft. The “You have the fear every day of not Perry was sleeping in a hayloft when strive to avoid making the same mistakes theirs on him – but there was no time Americans had no hope of defending next morning, they decided to hide knowing what they might do with something screamed through the roof that made their sacrifice necessary. To for socializing. themselves and were quickly taken by in the hay, hoping to get left behind. you,” Perry said. above his head. remember is to think of them as they “You gotta blend in with the Germans, who then freed their However, the Germans quickly Never were those fears more real “You could hear that big shell thought of themselves – not as heroes everybody,” Perry explained. “You’ll fellow soldiers. realized men were missing. than in the hours Perry spent at the coming,” said Perry “We didn’t know of extraordinary bravery but simply as have some from New York and some In the first few days of captivity, “They came up there with big, infamous Stalag IX-B, a POW camp in where it was gonna go, but you can hear regular people who recognized their duty from the Southern states, and they’re all Perry was interrogated – and surprised long pitchforks and started digging Bad Orb. the big ones quite a ways off.I t hit the and tried hard to do it.” mixed up. You don’t even know their to find out how much the Nazis knew down in that hay,” said Perry. “We “They had us take our helmets off top of that barn and shattered things, but Perry and his comrades did their name some of the time.” about him. decided we better get out!” and throw them in the corner, into nobody got hurt.” duty. Now we must do ours. We must In the early hours of March 2, Perry’s “They knew a lot aboutI daho,” Constantly moving required a pile that looked like it was 10 feet When daylight broke, the guards remember. platoon had orders to travel to a location said Perry. “They knew about my energy, but food and water were scarce. high,” remembered Perry. “We figured were gone, and Perry was free. He was near the Rhine River. The route was company. They told me [everything]. “They’d give you an old rusty can we were going into the big furnace.” flown toF rance and hospitalized, where blanketed with mines, 10-foot high They knew what the U.S. soldiers and march you past five-gallon buckets,” To Perry’s relief, they were not at Bad he fought to regain his strength. He had hedges, barbed wire and trenches filled were doing!” said Perry. “It was just clear water with Orb long, but he faced more close calls. lost more than 80 lbs. in one month.

42 43 Army soldiers wade toward the beaches of Normandy as part of the D-Day invasion in June 1944. A total of 160,000 troops landed as part of the attack.

June 1944: October 1943: Allied troops land in France and begin September 1943: Italy joins the Allies and declares November 1943: Operation Overlord, which will later Italy surrenders to Allies. war on Germany. U.S. forces invade Tarawa. become known as D-Day.

44 45 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 19 39 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945

Nicus Loveless N N LIFE CARE CENTER OF CENTERVILLE N N Centerville, Tennessee Building Bridges By Ryan Faricelli

Loveless was assigned to the 333rd Engineer Photo by Vick Laney Special Service Regiment, a group specializing in construction of bridges, buildings and roads.

“Iwas thinking I wouldn’t ever see the construction of bridges, buildings and weakened from their treatment the Germans on the run and Loveless’ regiment. On April 24, they “We boarded up on box cars and United States again,” recalled Nicus and roads. during the occupation. For the first time, chasing them back from the began rail and bridge reconstruction headed back to France,” shared Loveless. Loveless of the day he waded through “Our engineer unit was made up of the 333rd constructed a prisoner of war French border. from Nuremberg to Munich, “We thought the next thing we knew the waist-deep harbor water of the skilled labor,” Loveless explained. “They enclosure and employed German POW Less than 10 miles from Patton’s completing another 40 bridges. we’d be going back home. But it was some Irish Sea, moving towards the shore of didn’t get our officers from theA rmy. labor. By January 1945, they were using front lines, the 333rd was rebuilding the On April 29, Loveless and his time before we got out. We didn’t know Liverpool, England. They were contractors, builders and nearly 4,500 POWs. railroad tracks and bridges from France commander left a worksite to scout what was going on in Japan.” Loveless had spent the last 12 everything. But they didn’t have any “They were getting good meals through Germany in order to provide for steel. They came upon the Loveless and his regiment would days aboard the USS James Parker, military training. Maybe Boy Scouts and a place to sleep at night, so maximum rail access for Patton’s men. concentration camp at Dachau, remain in Rheims, France, until after a former PacificR ailroad cargo ship or something, but they didn’t know they were good to us,” Loveless Beginning with the reconstruction liberated that morning, where the bombing of Hiroshima in October, commissioned by the Army. They had anything about the military.” said of the POWs. “We had one of the bridge over the Saar River at thousands of prisoners remained. the true end of World War II. He was traveled from Camp Shanks at the New The threat overseas was always on man working with the German Saarbrucken, they remained on the Twenty American Red Cross trucks discharged on Oct. 19, 1945. York Port of Embarkation to Great Loveless’ mind, and the fear of not laborers on the pilings, and the heels of the advancing ThirdA rmy were on their way. Bodies and bones Despite the fears he felt the day he Britain as part of the largest convoy of returning was very real. He had fallen tide was coming in. A timber for 63 days, building 78 bridges and were everywhere, along with piles of stepped off the James Parker and into U.S. vessels thus far in the war, arriving in love with a young woman from the fell and he broke his leg. He was opening 438 miles of track using only thousands of shoes. Helping to remove the cold Irish Sea, Master Sgt. Nicus in England on Oct. 18, 1943. Brushy Community, the rural area that caught down there: the water was captured enemy steel and materials weapons from the dead German Loveless would see the United States Enlisting in September 1940, was his hometown near Centerville, way up on him. They could have found locally. soldiers, Loveless kept one of the again. While they would return from before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Tenn., and refused to marry her. He not said anything if they wanted “Patton was in front of us,” bayonet-equipped rifles.I t would be different places at different times, all Loveless shared a common belief that would not allow her to become a widow. to. He would have drowned remembered Loveless. “He was taking one of his only souvenirs of the war. 98 of the men who enlisted with him those who enlisted before the draft The 333rd’s first assignment was because he couldn’t get out. And the foot troops with the armored The next day, everything changed. would also go home alive. would get better jobs away from the repairs and upgrades to Aldermaston they came out and got help, got a division. We’d get the roads built and “Just before lunch, they told us Loveless married Eva, the young front lines of combat. He and 98 Airport in Liverpool. Afterward, the crane and picked him out.” railroads, and that’s how we shipped the war ended,” said Loveless. “Hitler woman he refused to risk leaving a other young men from Hickman 333rd began rebuilding the destroyed The work in Cherbourg was in the supplies, gas and stuff, to keep killed himself – committed suicide. We widow, and the two had a daughter County, Tenn., joined the local port of Fort du Roule, a classic 19th– finished on Feb. 28, successfully Patton supplied. We were pushing the were working on a bridge in Munich. named Becky. National Guard unit, Battery C. century fort in the important port city of completing 196 projects there. Germans so fast; they were running It was about 10 a.m. We didn’t finish “Anybody that goes over there in When the unit was activated to Cherbourg, France, on June 27, 1944. On March 10, the 333rd began out of gas!” the bridge.” the service,” concluded Loveless, “if join the Army in the war, Battery C The port had been bombed and its move to the German border. Patton’s advance ended just While the war was not officially you’re up there like we was, you’re all was split up. Loveless was assigned heavily damaged, and the work ahead Gen. George Patton was leading outside of Berlin to allow the Russian over for several days, the members lucky if you come back.” to the 333rd Engineer Special Service of them was daunting. Civilian help was the Third Army in an aggressive military to take that city. The Third of the 333rd were relieved of their Regiment, a group specializing in unproductive, as the French were starved assault across Germany, putting Army headed south, and so did duties. 46 47 In the Pacific Theatre, soldiers often faced the harsh conditions of the jungle during battle.

Marines saluted the Coast Guard after defeating the Japanese forces on Guam in 1944. “They” was a reference to the Coast Guard and the large part they played in the battle for Guam.

July 1944: August 1944: Liberation of concentration camps Guam is last island of the Marianas begins with Majdanek in Poland. August 1944: to be liberated by American troops. October 1944: Paris is liberated. Imperial Japanese Navy is defeated near the Philippines.

48 49 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 19 39 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945

William Houston N N LIFE CARE CENTER OF CARROLLTON N N Carrollton, Missouri A Profile of a prisoner of war By Tanya Bumgardner William Houston was a member of Company B, 43rd Tank Battalion, 12th Armored Division and spent four months as prisoner of the Germans, walking around the European Color photos by Moments in Time Photography by Ellen Davis countryside from prison camp to prison camp in what was known as “The March.”

“Iwas a member of the crew on a William Houston has never knew where we were going. We “ Rumors were stronger [that my brother and her grandmother,” medium tank, an expert marksman, talked much about the war. These were just walking through the day] than ever before,” wrote said Thrasher. “Grandmother saw responsible for firing 75mm guns. On words he wrote – taken from notes wet and cold. God, I was hungry. Houston. “The first [German] someone walking down the road, Jan. 16, 1945, at or around 0500, we and letters that his daughters found During this march, we met many sergeant of our group made an and she said, ‘Well, that looks like attacked our objective near Offendorf, years after the war – are nearly all kind Germans who gave us bread. announcement. ‘The English are [William.]’ Mom turned around France (500 yards from the River his family knows about his time as a Many times, our boys would get two hours away.’ He told us we and looked, and it was him. He Rhine). Our objective was a patch of POW during World War II. the butt of a German rifle for would move out at 0700. was just walking down the road woods about 1,000 yards long and Houston – a member of taking the food. When you are “On April 16, we heard to the house. … Mother said, ‘My 200 yards wide. As we approached Company B, 43rd Tank Battalion, starving, you feel no pain other German convoys going by the barn Houston recalls: “I went with the legs were so weak, I just sat down the objective, two German outposts 12th Armored Division – spent four than hunger.” all night. … At 0630, we were first group because they said I was right in the middle of the garden. I surrendered to our boys. Soon after months as prisoner of the Germans, When they received food, outside making ready to march pretty sick. I was; I weighed right at couldn’t walk.’” that, the first shot was fired by the walking around the European it was usually black bread and when we heard machine gun 100 pounds. I had pneumonia. I had Houston and Anna were Germans. As daylight broke, four countryside from prison camp to soup made from potato skins fire. Someone yelled the SS were been starved for months, and my feet inseparable from that moment on. German burp guns open fired on our prison camp in what was known as or rutabagas. According to his opening up on us. We all headed were frozen. I could not walk.” After returning from the war, those boys and had them trapped. Our tanks “The March.” daughters, Deanna Carr and for the barn. Houston remained hospitalized who know him say you would never were brought up for support, but to In 1944, Adolf Hitler ordered Dorothy Thrasher, Houston “We all got as low as possible, for seven months, first inE urope and know what he had been through. no avail. Two tanks were knocked out the evacuation of war prisoners and claimed the food was horrible, and I know I was shaking like a later in America. On Nov. 30, 1945, He spent his days laughing, joking immediately; the entire crews of both German civilians to the west in an but the cold was worse. Eastern leaf. I was scared. I heard the door Houston was finally discharged so and being a wonderful husband, tanks were trapped inside. The tanks effort to escape advancing Soviet Europe was experiencing some of open. I turned to see a young he could return home. father and grandfather. They suspect burned. … My tank and three others forces. The closer the Soviets moved the coldest temperatures the area English soldier standing there. Back home in Missouri, his experience as a POW left him were heavily damaged and fell back, in, the more the Germans and their had seen during the entire 20th The gunfire stopped, and we Houston’s wife, Anna, had been with an appreciation for life and waiting for artillery support. After a POWs marched. The cold was brutal, century, and the American POWs came out of the barn to see Jerries notified that he was missing in those he has shared it with. while, the artillery support stopped, and supplies were scarce. When were ill-equipped to protect surrendering 4,000 yards away.” action, but never knew his fate. The but the German burp guns kept firing. Houston’s battalion was captured, themselves from it. Houston and the other men were war ended, and all she had left was Soon after, we saw one of our boys with they were forced to join this march On April 15, as Germany’s given soap, dry socks, razors and a bed hope that somehow he was still alive. a white flag and 15 others yelling, that had started months earlier. power was slipping, the marching to sleep on for the first time in four “The way mother found out that ‘Kamerad! Kamerad!’ All firing ceased, “We marched on,” Houston finally came to an end for months. The men were then divided he was OK and that he was coming and we were prisoners of war.” wrote. “I do not believe anyone Houston and his fellow POWs. up according to medical condition. home, she was in the garden with

50 51 The Pacific Theatre presented its own set of challenges as it was fought from island to island. This American soldier stood guard as tanks lined the beach, preparing for the next battle.

December 1944: March 1945: Battle of the Bulge begins. Allied troops capture Iwo Jima. January 1945: January 1945: Battle of Berlin begins; it is Auschwitz is liberated. considered one of the bloodiest battles in history.

52 53 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 19 39 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945

William Wallace “I saw that we were being N N LIFE CARE CENTER OF WILBRAHAM N N shelled by a war ship. It was a Wilbraham, Massachusetts heavily armed cruiser. We didn’t have a chance, and the captain A Civilian knew that. That’s why we were Hero abandoning ship.” By Leigh Michels

Photo by David Miles Photo Service

“Come over here!” yelled the German officer Navy. This is the work that Wallace took hit the ship and blew in the ceiling of his Within five minutes, the “Actually, we had good sailing weather,” decided to stay because the gun captain from the gangway. up after graduating in the early 1940s. room, causing a serious head wound that Humphrey sank. explained Wallace. “We put a sail up on the needed serious medical care, and they didn’t “I’m coming,” responded a tired and In July 1942, a new assignment placed almost knocked him out. Forcing himself It was in the moments after watching lifeboat. We traveled about 500 miles. We want to leave him alone. injured merchant mariner. Wallace on the SS William F. Humphrey, to focus and get out of his room, he his home-away-from-home sink that were feeling pretty good. We were talking It was during this moment that the “Come over here!” he yelled again. an American oil tanker sailing from Cape ventured out on deck. Wallace decided it would be better about what we would have to eat. We were $300 Wallace carefully grabbed came in The merchant mariner had given up. Town, South Africa, to Trinidad to pick “I saw that we were being shelled to become a POW than to die at sea. hungry, you know? We were just joking that handy. He was able to loan his fellow crew Having just watched his oil tanker sink and up oil. The tanker was traveling alone – by a war ship. It was a heavily armed Thankfully, he was intercepted by a few we’d fill up on hamburgers and hot dogs members money until funds could be knowing he was miles from land, he had without any military escort. cruiser. We didn’t have a chance, and the brave men on rafts. and a few beers to wash it down.” wired to the captain. After a few weeks, the lost all hope. Becoming a prisoner of war of Wallace worked in the engine room, captain knew that. That’s why we were Swimming toward the direction of This tight-knit crew became surprisingly gun captain was settled in the hospital, and the Axis powers was his only option. That and on the ninth day, in the middle abandoning ship,” explained Wallace. the mysterious voice, Wallace joined comfortable and adept at life in a lifeboat. the other 10 knew it was time to return to was until he heard a voice from the opposite of Wallace’s evening shift, a loud noise It was later learned that the war ship 10 other men, including the captain, So comfortable, in fact, that they became lax the U.S. The captain secured passage for direction call out: “Who is there?” and explosion changed the route of the was Michel, a German surface raider. on three different rafts. When daylight about watching the horizon for other boats. everyone except for the gun captain on a In a voice weak from inhaling steam Humphrey. The captain’s orders came Wallace began swimming away from came, the men were able to find two Unknown to them, six-and-a-half days British ship, the Aquitania. and ammonia gas in the engine room, down: full astern on the engine. However, the ship, careful to put enough distance lifeboats from the Humphrey. They used into their journey, the Triton, a Norwegian Once the ship docked in Boston, and the merchant mariner answered, “Third the second part of the captain’s orders – to between himself and the Humphrey. one lifeboat for supplies, and the 11 of freighter, spotted them. Wallace was able to reach a phone, he called assistant engineer.” abandon ship – never reached Wallace. About 100 feet from the ship, Wallace them filled the other boat. “They were circling around us with their home. “My parents were really amazed to The mysterious voice responded, “Well, With the steam lines to the engine observed the sturdy Humphrey still afloat. Nine of the 11 men had injuries, but guns trained on us,” said Wallace. Once the hear my voice because I had been reported come over here. We’ve got a raft.” shot out by enemy fire, the Humphrey It was a strong ship – built to withstand the gun captain sustained the worst injury ship determined that the 11 men were of missing in action twice. They were surprised And, all of a sudden, hope returned. stopped, and the engine room began harsh conditions. – half of his knee had been blown away. At no threat, they picked them up. “They gave I was still alive,” he explained. Born in 1919, William Wallace’s love to fill with steam and ammonia gas, However, the Michel wasn’t done with first he ran a high fever and hallucinated. us excellent care. We were covered with oil. After World War II, he went on to serve for the sea started at a young age. After a permanently scarring Wallace’s lungs. The its attack. The other men all agreed that the gun They gave us diesel fuel to wash up with, the country in the Korean War and the short stint in the Navy Reserves, Wallace sharp impact of the ship stopping and “In the water, I felt something go captain should get as much water as he and then a little fresh water to wash the Vietnam War. The memories of his time attended the Massachusetts Nautical debris flying caused Wallace to receive by my feet. I thought it was a shark, wanted, while the rest of them lived on a diesel off of us.” aboard the Humphrey and the six-and-a- School, a training school for merchant two head injuries. but it was a torpedo that just missed ration of eight ounces per day. Three days later, the Triton docked in half days in the lifeboat are still vivid. marine officers. Managing to escape the engine room, my feet. Then it hit the ship; it was a Not knowing when and if a rescue Sierra Leone. Wallace and the 10 other “If you want to know if I was scared or While all members of the Merchant Wallace stopped by his room to get $300 tremendous explosion. I felt something would happen, the men quickly established men were given the option of continuing not, I was,” said Wallace. “I thought I was Marines are considered civilians, during he had in his locker. As he was placing the go by me again in the water. I knew it a routine and a plan, figuring they were to Great Britain on the Triton or staying in going to die a slow, painful death. I was wartime, they serve as an auxiliary to the money in his back pocket, another shell was another torpedo.” about 800 miles from land. the nation’s capital, Freetown. The group lucky to get out alive.”

54 55 In June 1945, Gen. George S. Patton was honored at a parade in Los Angeles. During his visit to the city, Patton addressed thousands of civilians.

April 1945: April 1945: U.S. troops liberate Dachau. Hitler commits suicide. April 1945: May 1945: President Roosevelt dies, and Harry Germany surrenders, ending Truman becomes president. World War II in Europe.

56 57 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 19 39 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945

Women of the War The Unsung Heroes By Lindsay Tunnell

World War II brought unimaginable changes, challenging the normalcy of daily life in countless households. Despite the struggles of the changing times, women served their nation like never before – both at home and overseas.

For nearly 19 million women being attacked! We’re at war! This is Though the war separated Jacobson military as a private location to house “I worked at the Red Cross every Irene Jacobson the real thing!” and her husband, she never ceased to important wartime documents. Merisso evening until quite late,” stated across the U.S., World War II LIFE CARE CENTER OF THE SOUTH SHORE Scituate, Massachusetts Jacobson recalled, “I looked up at pray for him and sent him hundreds worked with one other woman in a Merisso. “I volunteered there until the brought unimaginable changes, Born in 1914, Irene the blackened sky and saw the Rising of letters as he courageously served the small room of the apartment. Bare and war ended.” challenging the normalcy of daily Jacobson witnessed Sun emblem on the Japanese aircraft. nation in Italy and Germany until the empty, it contained only two small Through Merisso’s tireless life in countless households. Despite many critical events in I thought for sure it was the Day of war’s end in 1945. While her husband desks and two typewriters. efforts, military communication and the struggles of the changing times, the United States – from Judgment.” returned home safely and life slowly Each day, Air Force officials functioning was strengthened during women served their nation like never Photo by Ocean Walk Photographers the Great Depression to With tears streaming down her face, began to return to normal, the day’s would bring the ladies handwritten, the war. The men who worked with Sept.11 – all of which contributed to Jacobson begged God for protection for earth-shattering memories stayed with top-secret information. Sworn to Merisso awarded her a written letter of before – both at home and overseas. her fascination with history. However, herself and her husband. She hurriedly Irene Jacobson for the rest of her life. secrecy, it was Merisso’s job to type thanks and a congratulatory pin for her These remarkable women are no event impacted Jacobson quite like climbed into a military truck and was the information into a document. dedication and loyalty. testaments of courage, servanthood the lingering memories of the Dec. 7, transported to a shelter 30 miles from the Grace Merisso The material was so classified that “I just wanted to help out,” Merisso and determination. While each 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. barracks, along with the other surviving LIFE CARE CENTER OF PARADISE VALLEY the men would bring the pages out shared. “The men were so appreciative of Phoenix, Arizona woman holds a unique war Jacobson moved to Honolulu, military wives and children. There, of sequence so they did not make us women, and I felt so patriotic. We all Hawaii, with her husband, John Peter Jacobson stayed for six weeks, sleeping on Living in Chicago, sense, and the women were locked had to stick together.” experience, a common thread unites Jacobson, in 1940. A lieutenant in the the floor and anxiously checking the daily Ill., at the onset of the in the room to ensure security of them. These are the women who U.S. Army, he was stationed at Pearl casualties list for her husband’s name. war, Grace Merisso was the information. eating Sunday dinner “We would have to leave blank spaces Marjorie Usher were left behind as their husbands, Harbor on that fateful day. Thankfully, his name never appeared. HALLMARK NURSING CENTER brothers, fathers and friends were For Jacobson and her husband, After what seemed an eternity, Photo by Jerry Martin with her family when on some documents for very sensitive Denver, Colorado the morning of Dec. 7 began like any Jacobson finally returned to Pearl she heard the devastating news on the material,” remembered Merisso. “The Marjorie Usher called to serve in battle. Though other as they chatted and read the Harbor and was recruited to work radio of the Pearl Harbor attack. Merisso men would go and write the information was enthusiastic each one answered the call of duty newspaper over a fresh cup of coffee. in the Honolulu post office. She was felt an immediate call to action during in after we typed the rest.” about helping her in her own way, these women Suddenly, Jacobson heard two loud proud to serve the men on base by this time of crisis. After her workday ended, Merisso country in any courageously stepped up on the booms. While shaken, she assumed aiding communication from the island As a result, Merisso left her job would eat dinner and head to the local Photo by Todd Hoeschler of Ageless Images capacity that she could. Living in the small town of homefront and stood behind the they were part of a drill or training to the mainland. Jacobson worked as a traveling cosmetics saleswoman Red Cross to volunteer. She knitted exercise. She realized the gravity of the until April 1942, when the women and and began reporting daily to a small scarves and sweaters for men away at Seneca, Kan., at the beginning of men until the war’s completion – the situation, however, when a neighbor children on base were evacuated and apartment located above a hardware war, packaged medical equipment and World War II provided the perfect true unsung heroes. ran out of his house shouting, “We’re returned stateside. store. This apartment was used by the rolled bandages. opportunity.

58 59 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 19 39 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945

“One day, when I had just turned I had graduated with who were killed in While she was attaining her pilot’s “I loved spinning and doing tricks,” men had left open at home. Though she along the way to pick up other young 18, a group of men showed up at my battle. That was one of the hardest things license, the war began. Sigler found an said Sigler. “One time, I wanted to see intended to inquire about a military job, women who were joining the WAVES; the door,” explained Usher. “They asked me I’ve ever had to do.” advertisement in a local newspaper for how a forced landing felt, so I tried it. a trip to her local post office in Seattle, ride lasted an entire week. to join a team of women in the local Despite setbacks, the pride and a job at the Piper Cub airplane plant I cut my engine off, butI was going Wash., indicated that a job at the Seattle Upon arrival, Sohler studied aerology War Price and Rations department. I enthusiasm Usher displayed in serving her and decided to apply. She was thrilled too fast, and I got right up to the trees branch of the U.S. Weather Bureau was a and meteorology in depth. Although she was so thrilled I nearly hugged them, country is extraordinary. to find she had been hired.E ach day, before my airplane stopped. I ended up better opportunity for someone with her had worked with the Weather Bureau, and I accepted the job immediately!” “The hardest transition for me after she welded landing gear for small upside down!” educational background in physics. On Sohler had never learned to forecast or Usher’s enthusiasm carried over to the war was figuring out whatI would do airplanes. The assignment gave her the Certainly, Sigler’s risk-taking March 17, 1942, Sohler became the first determine weather patterns. her job, which entailed working with next,” Usher reminisced. “I just knew I opportunity to unite two of her desires personality made the WASP the perfect woman employed at the Seattle office. Following basic training, Sohler four other women to review community wanted to keep serving the nation and the – flying and serving her country. fit for her. Sigler flew in theA W SP until After less than two weeks of training, requested to be stationed at the Naval Air residents’ requests for new tires, shoes and men who had just returned from war.” As the war progressed, her extensive it was disbanded in 1944 due to the Sohler began plotting and analyzing Station in Ottumwa, Iowa, to be close other common items. The department, experience, not to mention her daredevil program’s expense. maps, taking observations and briefing to her family. At the base, she served as a under the capable leadership of Father spirit and craving for adventure, made “I was glad to be able to do it,” Sigler the newspapers. weather observer and was no stranger to Matthew, a Catholic priest in town, held Helen Sigler her the perfect candidate for the LIFE CARE CENTER OF KONA explained of the program. “As a woman, “All weather reports were secret,” long workdays. monthly board meetings to discuss the Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Women Airforce Service Pilots – a I was happy to be accepted by the men. explained Sohler. “Every Saturday, we “I had to get used to working a new worthiness of applicants’ requests. Helen Sigler’s brand-new World War II initiative. I was proud they considered me skilled copied the reports by hand and sent them shift every 10 days,” Sohler described. “Father Matthew was efficient and a passion for the open “I read about the WASP in the enough to fly.” to Washington, D.C., for their experts to “One time when I was on the midnight great man to work for,” Usher explained. skies began when she paper,” Sigler remembered. “I wrote monitor. No one wanted the enemy to shift, we didn’t have time to conduct drill “He and the rest of the men in town who was a wide-eyed farm to them, was accepted and moved to find out what weather we were going to exercises during the day, and we had to

Photo by Wes Hall Susan Sohler were unable to fight were very accepting girl from Camden, Texas!” PARKVIEW CARE CENTER have in case they planned to attack.” drill at 3 a.m. on the air field.” of us women. I never felt apologetic as a Maine. Her unbreakable spirit, What Sigler didn’t realize, however, Evansville, Indiana After serving two years at the Weather Sohler tirelessly served in the WAVES woman or that I was being looked down however, began soaring much earlier. was the program’s competitiveness. Of F or the millions of Bureau, Sohler decided to join the United until the end of the war. As a result of her upon. For the most part, I believe men As a young woman, Sigler was nearly 25,000 women who applied for American’s soaring above States Navy WAVES, the Women Accepted service in the war, Sohler received her GI were just thankful that we stepped up.” enthralled by airplanes. She began the program, Sigler was one of only the clouds, Susan Sohler for Volunteer Emergency Service. Bill from the government, allowing her to While Usher buzzed about the office, flying at 18 years old as often as 1,830 women asked to join. proved to be incredibly “There were more opportunities with pay for an accounting course after the war

staying busy until the war’s end with she could, enrolled in pilot lessons As a WASP, Sigler was one of the Photo by Leisa Happe instrumental – with the national government in the WAVES ended so she could stay in the workforce. paperwork of new requests and meetings and worked a variety of jobs to raise firstA merican women to ever fly her feet planted firmly on the ground. program,” explained Sohler. “I felt it would Sohler shared, “I had to give up a lot for reviewing applicants, there were still money to satisfy her unquenchable military aircraft. Her duties included Rather than serving the nation in the skies, give me a better chance of having a job of things during the war.” She quickly many times of discouragement. desire for flight. transporting cargo, towing targets and she had the equally important duty of after the war.” added, “But, I was never afraid. I never “The war was terrible,” Usher Sigler recalled her first ascent, simulating air missions from aircraft monitoring them. Sohler took a train across the United felt as if our country was in danger, and recalled. “I remember reading the explaining, “As soon as I got in the air, factories to military training sites and From the start of the war, Susan Sohler States to complete basic training at Hunter I had faith that our government and newspaper and finding names of people I knew flying was for me!” back again. wanted to help fill the vacancies of jobs College in New York. The train stopped military would take care of us.”

60 61 Our Veterans: Equal to the Challenge

Give me a few moments of your time, and let’s get personal.

This scene was played out Do you attend the church of your faith, worshiping God according to the dictates of your countless times as the conscience? Thank the American veteran. Allied troops liberated Do you choose to play golf or tennis or perhaps spend time reading newspapers and books? towns throughout Europe. Thank the American veteran. Do you participate in presidential, state and local elections, voting for the person you feel can best serve our citizenry in office? Thank the American veteran. Do you freely express an opinion in a conversation about the performance – or lack thereof – of your government or some public servant? Thank the American veteran. As you read a newspaper, do you realize how fortunate you are to live in a country where the government is not allowed to tell the press what it can or cannot print? Thank the American veteran. Do you cherish your right to own property and to be secure in your own home? Thank the American veteran. Yes, we should be grateful to the American veteran – the servicemen and women who have paid the supreme sacrifice for their country and those who survive today who gave years of their lives to the cause of liberty. We should be ever mindful of the precious freedoms that have been secured by the American veteran. He (or she) earned the hero’s badge, fighting valiantly on native soil under Gen. George Washington, in the Civil War, in hilltop charges of the Spanish-American War, in the trenches of World War I, in the tank tracks of World War II, in the rugged hills of the Korean War, in the steaming jungles of Vietnam, and in the heat and sand of Afghanistan and Iraq. Sorely tested were members of “The Greatest Generation,” a term coined by journalist Tom Brokaw to describe the men and women who grew up in the United States during the Great Depression, and then went on to fight in World War II, as well as those whose productivity within the war’s home front made a decisive material contribution to the war effort. “It is, I believe, the greatest generation any society has ever produced,” Brokaw said. He declared that these members of the Armed Forces fought not for fame and recognition, but because it was the right thing to do. Life Care Centers of America is proud to spotlight these heroes of our nation in this special edition of the Life Care LEADER. We are honored to serve those who so willingly stood against tyranny and the threats to our way of life. July 1945: First atomic bomb test. August 1945: The Soviet Union declares Beecher Hunter war on Japan. President

62 63 Col. Paul Tibbets paused to wave The Greatest Generation as he prepared to leave on the first atomic bomb mission; he and his The public is bombarded by news of the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq – in particular, the team would ultimately drop “Little deaths in combat or roadside bombings, the political winds that swirl around any action, and Boy” on Hiroshima.

the outrages that arise from the few in uniform who, by their deeds of misconduct, stain the flag under which they serve. What is not reported are the daily acts of friendship and kindness of American men and women toward children and adults native to those lands. Nor do we hear much about their unwavering love of country that drives them into hell’s fury of gunfire and rocketry, or the compassion that reveals God’s grace in the hug of a fearful child. Associates of Life Care have loved ones in the military, and they serve veterans who come to us as our residents, including members of in “The Greatest Generation,” men and women who answered the call to duty during World War II and others who sacrificed to support the military and who are now rapidly passing from this world. “It is a generation that, by and large, made no demands of homage from those who followed and prospered economically, politically and culturally because of its sacrifices,” journalist Tom Brokaw wrote in his book “The Greatest Generation.” “It is a generation of towering achievement and modest demeanor, a legacy of their formative years when they were participants in and witness to sacrifices of the highest order.” Brokaw said 1940 was “the fulcrum of America in the 20 balanced precariously between the darkness of the Great Depressionth century, on when one side the andnation the was storms of war in Europe and the Pacific on the other. It was a critical time in the shaping of this nation and the world, equal to the revolution of 1776 and the perils of the Civil War … The nation turned to its young to carry the heaviest burden, to fight in enemy territory and to keep the home front secure and productive. These young men and women were eager for the assignment. They understood what was required of them, and they willingly volunteered for their duty.” President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, “This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny.” This special edition of the Life Care LEADER is our salute to all veterans, but particularly those gallant warriors of World War II, and it is a printed symbol of our thanks for their sacrifices to preserve our precious freedoms.

Forrest L. Preston September 1945: Chairman Japan signs surrender agreement, August 1945: ending war. Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

64 65 “United in this determination and with unshakable faith in the cause for which we fight, we will, with God’s help, go forward to our greatest victory.” – Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1944)