Gender

Male

Birth date

1920-12-5

Place of birth

Berkeley CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1943-8-1, Salt Lake City UT

Enlistment type

Volunteer

Service branch

Army

Service type

War

Unit type

Combat

Units served

5th Army, Italy; 7th Army, France, Germany

Military specialty

Gun Crew, 105 Howitzer

Stationed

U.S.A., Italy, France, Germany

Separated

Ft. Devons MA

Unit responsibility

Artillery Support

Personal responsibility

Operate and maintain artillery piece.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Rome-Arno (Italy); Vosges Mt. (France); Rhineland (Germany)

Living conditions

Slept mostly in individual tents near our guns. Bathed mostly with wet towels. We had a good kitchen crew that improvised whenever possible to make our regular rations more palatable. Didn't do too much for entertainment.

Most vivid memory of military experience

Seeing half-starved prisoners of Nazi Death Camp at Dachau when they were freed. Had no idea who they were but found out soon enough.

Missed most whilst in the military

Missed my personal freedom, freedom from strict regimentation, but then that's the Army.

Most important thing, personally, to come from military experience?

The friendships made among my fellow battery mates I cherish the most, especially now in our twilight years as our numbers dwindle. Would like my family and friends to know that they can be most proud and grateful for the supreme sacrifice made for them by those who gave their lives there.