TEHRS TRADITIOn 2008 A Collection of World War II Histories submitted by Men of the NROTC University of Texas 1943-1945 i . • FROM THE EDITOR •4 4 The World War II classes of the University of Texas NROTC are generations removed • from the time of their wartime experiences, but they maintain a deep-rooted respect for • those among their ranks and acquaintances who served their country in this time of war. Regrettably, the reality of dwindling numbers of living classmates has resulted in an t incomplete record. Time or circumstance can be an enemy in an effort such as this. The t activities of daily life, developing careers and raising families interfered with a concern for recording and preserving their experiences in World War II. Those whose histories were unobtainable leave an unfortunate gap, for they shared this great adventure as well. Written and verbal accounts varied greatly, but the personal accounts had many things in common: love of country, obligation to duty, appreciation of opportunity to grow and mature into productive citizens and pride in their commissions as Officers in the United States Navy. Their wartime experiences had a profound effect on their lives. They admitted to gaining knowledge of their worth as a person, learning the value of thinking beyond themselves and working as part of an organized unit. They returned to civilian status with an added maturity, leadership skills and a genuine satisfaction for having fulfilled an obligation to their country willingly and well. It was my privilege and pleasure to compile these historical accounts into a narrative format. I hope that readers from whatever generation, present or future, who read this small volume, will be mindful of a call to valor that was answered willingly by young men of Texas during a dark and challenging time in our nation's history. Marge Flados ii - TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page .......... ... ..... ....... .......... .. ......... ............................. .... .... ....................................... i From the Editor- Marge Flados .......................................................... .. ......... ... ................. ii Table of Contents ... ..................................... .. .... ................................................................ iii Foreword - William T Barnhouse ..................................................................................... vi Dedication ....... .... ... .... ........................ .. ... ....... ... ... ....... .. ..................... .......... .... .. .............. vii Navy Hymn ........ .. ........ .. ......................... .. ...................................................................... viii Killed in Action .................................................................................................................. x Epitaph from Apostrophe to the Ocean - Lord George Byron ..... ...... ......... .... ...... ............ x NROTC at the University of Texas ................. .. ..... ..... .. .. ................................................... xi Recollections and Reflections - Marge Flados .. ..... ....... ........ .... .... .. .. .... ... .................. .. .. xiii Personal Histories: Max Allen ....... ...................... ........ ..... .... .... .. ..... ........ ..................................................... 1 James E. Allison , Jr. ... ........... .. .............. .......... ..... ................... ............ ......................... 2 Clayton D. Baird .. ...... ............. .... ...................... ..... .............. ....................... .................. 3 William T. (Bill) Barnhouse ..... .......................................... ..... ...... ... ............................... 4 Frank W. Bellows .... .... .... .......... ........ .. ... ....... ................................................................ 5 Arthur K. (Swede) Bergstrom ............. ......... ..... .......................... .. ................................ 6 Frank E. Bertucci ...... ..... .......... ................................. ................... .... .. ........... .. .............. 8 C.H. (Butch) Britton .... ..... ... .. ....................................................... ...... .. ......................... 9 Jack A. Brookshire ... .. .......... .. .... ..... .................... .. ......... .. ..... ............ ....... .. ................ 10 William Alvin Burns ............ .. ........... ...... ... .... .... .... .. ..... .............. ... ....... ... ...... .. .. ..... ...... 11 Don E. Cain .................................... ... ..... .... ...... .... .. ........................... ......................... 11 Roy R. Campbell ...................................................... .. ......... .. ..... ..... ......... ....... ...... .. ... 12 Kirk Cansler ................ .. ........ .......... ..... .. ........... ... .. ...... ....... ..... ... ........... ........ ............. 12 Joe Chesnick ............................ .. ....... ... ...................... ............... ... .............................. 13 Hume Cofer ..... .............................................. .. .......... .. ..... ........... ............................ .. 14 John F. Cooke .............. ........ ....... .... ... ... ... ...... .... .. ..... ....... ...................... ......... .. .......... 15 Malcolm E. Cross .......... .... .... .. .. .. .... .. ............................. ..... .. ..... ..... ....... .................... 16 Franklin J. (Sandy) Crow .... ................... .................... ..... .. ... ..... ..... ..... .. .................... .. 17 Nelson E. Davenport, Jr..... ............. ..... ... ... ... ............... ..... ... ... .. ............ ... .. .. ...... ... ...... 18 A. M. Derrick, Jr. ........... .... ..... ................... ..... ........... ........ ............ ...... ... ...... ..... .......... 18 John Rumsey Doole .................. ... ...... ... ... .. .................... .............. ............... ............... 19 James D. Dyer ........ ..... ................. ... ................. ... ....... .... ...... .. ......... ........................... 20 iii Ivan Elmer .... ........................... ................... .. .. ....... .......... ..... ........ ..... ... .. ...... ... .... ....... 21 Norman D. Flados ......... ..................... ................................. ... ....... ... ... ............ ........... 22 Macon (Mac) Freeman ....... ..... .... .. .. ................................ ... .................. ... .......... ... ...... 23 Ralph Fuge ........ ....................................... ......... ............................................. .. .......... 24 Francis W. Gerling .................................... .... .... .. ... ........... ... ..... ............................ ...... 26 Charles R. Graham ..... ... .. .... .... ..... .... .................... ...... ........... ... .................................. 26 James A. Gray ............................... .. ... ........................................... .... ........... .... ... ... .. .. 27 John Hill .. ........ .. .... .. .. ....... ........ ..... ........ ........................ ..... .... ... ... ... ... .... .. ... ... ... .... ..... 28 Bernie Hillen ......... ... ........ ......... ...... ...... ............................ .... ....... .. .................. ........... 29 Henry P. Hodge ... ........ .. ............... ................. .... .................. .. ...... ....... .... ... ......... ... ..... 30 Bruce Jamieson ................ .................... ......... .. .. ....... ... .. .... .... ....................... .... .. ... .... 31 Andrew Johnson ... .. ... ...... .. .... ................. ......... ... .. .. ... ...... ... .... .............. ...... .... ..... .. .. .. 31 T. Lawrence (Larry) Jones ..... ... .... .. ...... ........................ ... ........... ............ .......... .... .. .... 32 Jack G. Jordan .......... ... ... ..... ... .... ..... ... .. .... ..... .......... ............................. ....... ..... ... ... ... 32 Teddy A. Klein ... ....... ...... ........ ......... .... ...... ....... ......... .. ......... .. .... .... .. ........ .... .... ... ........ 33 Dan M. Krausse ........ ..................... ... ...... ..... .... ...... .. .. .. ... ........ .. .. .... .... .... .. ... ..... ... .... ... 34 Richard R. Le Rouax ....... .... ... ... ..... ... .. .. ... ... ................... ... .. ... .... .......... ... .. ..... ... ... .... .. 35 Thomas M. Lemon ............. .. ........... ...... .... ....... .. ........ .. ........ ....... ................................ 35 Carl Laurent Lichte ........... ..................... .... ............ ........ ... .. ....... .. ...... .. ..... ............... .. 36 John William Love .................................... .... ... .. .. ... ....... .. ... .... ... .. .. .. .. .... ...... .. .... .... ... .. 36 James E. Loveless .... ... .. .. ........ ...... .. .......... ... .... .... ..... ...... ... .... ... ..... ... .... ....... ... .... ...... 37 Loyal E. Loveless .. .. ......... ..................... .............. .... .. ... .... .... ...... ................................ 37 Thomas P. Lovett .................................. .. .. ........ ..... ... ... .. .... ........... ........... ................... 38 Howard R. Lowe ........ ............ .... ... ..... ........ .... .. ...... .... .. .. .. ... ..... ... ... ... ........... .. .. ........... 38 Robert T. Martin ...... .... ... ..........