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Vance joined the service right after high school. He was always fascinated with airplanes. After basic he volunteered for K-9 duty. He had to go through Air Police training and then Sentry Dog School. He was assigned to guarding B-52s in Oklahoma before being sent to Vietnam. In Vietnam, Vance patrolled the perimeter of the base with his dog, Dutch. He and Dutch went through training together. Dogs were trained to detect intruders and also Booby Traps. Sentry duty lasted all night and they were responsible for the integrity of the base. Handlers would alert the Air Police when an intruder was detected. Although Vance's unit received a Presidential Citation and an Outstanding Unit Award with the V device for Valor, he was most proud of the Good Conduct Medal. In the Air Force, a person needed good conduct for three years, which he admits was difficult. Vance had a difficult time transferring Dutch to another handler. "Not a day goes by that I don't think of Dutch." After Vietnam, Vance was again sent to Oklahoma to guard armed aircraft. Upon discharge, Vance returned to Michigan and eventually retired as a Supervisor at AT&T. Vance is married and has two children and eight grandchildren. After his retirement from AT&T, he took a job at Milan Precision. Vance is very active in the community and in Vietnam organizations. -
Edward McLogan was born in Flint, Michigan on April 2, 1920. He entered the Army as a Second Lieutenant after graduating from the University of Michigan in 1942. He was eventually sent to the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. Since he was single at the time and 23, he volunteered for Merrill's Marauders. He spent time in Burma on some very dangerous assignments. At one battle, Lt. McLogan decided to pull his platoon back to a less vulnerable position. At dawn they heard cries of "Banzai" and Death to the Americans." The Japanese followed with a barrage of grenades on the position previously held by Lt. McLogan's platoon. They let the Japanese come down to within 15 yards before opening up. The discharge of 40+ weapons was devastating to the Japanese. During his service, Ted received a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and a Combat Infantry Badge. He is a member of the Ranger Hall of Fame. Ted was a Captain and later in the Michigan Army Reserves was promoted to Major.
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While in college at Eastern Michigan University, Jack joined the Naval Air Reserve. He received a notice from the Ypsilanti Draft Board in August 1951 and volunteered the for a two-year term in the U.S. Army. Jack was inducted into the army at Fort Custer in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After basic training, Jack received his military occupational specialty as a cryptographer. After going through cryptography school, he was kept on as an instructor for a while. Then Jack received his Far Eastern Command and traveled to Camp Stockton, California where he boarded a troop ship for a 17-day trip to Camp Drake, Japan. He was assigned to the battalion headquarters in Yokohama, Japan. While in Japan, Jack was on the Honor Guard, in charge of quarters, and played on both the company and battalion basketball teams. Jack returned to teaching in Michigan after his tour of duty was completed. He obtained his masters from the University of Michigan and his doctoral degree from Michigan State University. Later on, he went on to work for Michigan State University, the Michigan Department of Education, and finally Eastern Michigan University where he retired in 1992.
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Harvey C. Morrison was born on January 28, 1925 in the city of Prairie Depot, Ohio. He volunteered at the draft board in Flat Rock, Michigan when he turned 19 in 1944. He received basic training for six weeks at Camp Hood, Texas. Then Morrison volunteered for airborne training, which he received at Fort Benning, Georgia. After this, he went to Fort Bragg where he was assigned to the 17th Airborne Division. His division went to England in late May to act as replacements, if needed. They parachuted into France after D-Day, but were well past their target due to flak and loss of altitude. It took three days to regroup with other airborne units after encountering little German resistance. Assignments while in France included holding bridges and train yards and disarming infrastructure. The 17th Airborne Division was set up in St.-Saens, France, from which they proceeded on foot to Germany. When the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes got underway, the 17th was sent in as replacements for the 101st and 82nd Airborne in Bastogne, Belgium. Morrison remembers the severe fighting and even more severe weather, which was made worse by their lack of winter gear. He was wounded in Bastogne but soon returned to full service. He carried a standard rifle along with a BAR and a Bazooka (used to take out German emplacements). He received Special Forces training and was authorized to wear a "T" under his Corporal bars. His company crossed the Rhine in a glider and secured Wesel, Germany. From there they went to Hamburg and Dusseldorf, encountering slow house to house fighting. Along with 17 other men, Harvey captured the son of a German diplomat named Von Poven in the Ruhr Valley. In April they began occupation training in Dusseldorf. It was there that they received word of Germany's surrender and were sent to Nancy, France to receive training to go to Japan. Three days out on their way to Japan, the atomic bomb was dropped and the men began to go home. Harvey returned home in January to a parade in New York along with his division. From there, he returned to Fort Bragg and was called back into service before the outbreak of the Korean War. His job was to handle reservist and draft papers in Fort Wayne near Detroit and Battle Creek, Michigan. Due to his and his wife's stay in hospitals, Harvey was not sent over to Korea during the conflict. Harvey was awarded the bronze star for meritorious service.
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Austin Norton was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan on June 15, 1924. His family was in the florist business, in which he admits he had no interest. After completing high school, he enrolled in Michigan Normal, later becoming Eastern Michigan University. While at EMU, he took courses that covered weather predicting. When he was drafted, they placed him in the Navy. After extensive training in weather forecasting, he was assigned to an aircraft carrier, the USS Bunker Hill. His job was to forecast weather for the flights. The Bunker Hill was the Flag Ship for the Admiral. On May 11, 1945, at sea near Okinawa, his ship came under attack. Sensing the critical moments of WWII, the Japanese began using their planes and pilots for Kamikaze attacks. Nobody saw the planes coming. Two huge explosions rocked the ship. The first plane hit the flight deck. The second hit the super structure close to where Austin was working as weather engineer. There were explosions all over the ship. Austin was trapped inside a burning area. He was able to free himself eventually and then helped the crew fight the fires. The carrier burned for 24 hours. The ship was eventually returned to Hawaii. Austin was discharged in March, 1946. He returned to Michigan and enrolled at Michigan State University, where he met his wife, Dorothy. He majored in Horticulture. He eventually went into the family florist business. Austin still feels honored by being invited to participate in a special recognition for the crewmen of the USS Bunker Hill. He was the only member of the original crew that was physically able to travel. He currently lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan, with his wife Dorothy.
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Martin Nurkkanen was born October 20, 1920 in Kaleva, Michigan. He was married in 1942 and in 1943 his son was born. Martin was then drafted into the army in February of 1943. He received basic training in Little Rock, Arkansas at Camp Robinson and then went on to Camp Phillips for additional training and finally Arizona for desert maneuvers. At the time of training, his unit, the 80th Infantry was to be deployed to North Africa, but by the time they were ready to deploy, that front was closed. Instead, Martin went with the 80th over to Europe on the Queen Mary, and then on to France. Martin’s unit landed at Omaha Beach, after the D-Day invasion, and proceeded through France. While at the Falaise Gap, Martin narrowly escaped being killed by a German shell by jumping into a ditch. The blast left his backpack in shreds and he was injured by the shrapnel. After being treated for his injuries, he was told he could choose not to go back to the front lines, but he decided to rejoin the 80th as he believed they still had a job to finish, and he wanted to help finish it. Along with the 80th, Martin relieved troops at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Martin’s unit crossed into Germany, liberating a concentration camp and then went on into Czechoslovakia. After the war ended, Martin traveled back to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin and was discharged. He then returned to his job at Ford Motor Company as a quality control employee.
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Daniel O'Donnell enlisted in the Navy when he was 18 years old. He spent eight years in the Regular Navy and five years in the Naval Reserves. After boot camp, Daniel became a gunner controller. He like the Navy in spite of the primitive living quarters. They slept in hammocks. During his time on the Arkansas, they escorted supply ships across the Atlantic. In November of 1944 they took Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Casablanca and Tehran. They also returned him to the United States in December of that year. Daniel was assigned to the USS Iowa which was assigned to support the highly vulnerable "baby carriers." As the war ended, Daniel's ship shelled southern Kyushu Island. When the war ended, Daniel's ship entered Tokyo Bay as part of the surrender ceremonies. Daniel returned home and was discharged. He eventually retired to Fox Run Residential Center in Novi, Michigan.
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Prior to being drafted, Don had been in pharmacy school in Grand Rapids, MI for two years. After being drafted in January 1942, he received basic training at Camp McCoy in Wisconsin. He then went to pharmacy training, and into the army specialized training program (ASTP) for engineering. It was held at Kansas State College and it lasted nine months. Other programs included were foreign language and medicine. It was a large program but it was eventually closed down because the army needed the manpower to serve overseas. After several more camps for training, he was sent to Camp Shanks in New York in October of 1944. From here he was sent overseas in a navy convoy of 25-30 ships including several destroyers. His job overseas as combat engineer was connected with the 3rd army under General Patton. His unit’s job was to build and repair bridges and structures and to handle water purification units for the infantry. They welded repairs on bridges to allow for tanks use and they picked up minefields. This was done very carefully, and often with bayonets. Don landed at La Havre and then moved into Luxembourg. There they came under fire. General Patton was moving so fast that they couldn’t keep enough gas in the mechanized tanks and keep the troops completely supplied. Don stayed with General Patton’s unit all the way across the Rhine River and into southeastern Germany. Later, he went into Austria and eventually ended up in, what was then, Czechoslovakia (Czech Republic today). One story he recounts is of a Hungarian gunboat that was captured as it came up the Danube River. It was escaping the Russians, but it was caught by his unit. They joked that they had captured the entire Hungarian Navy. After the war ended, he was in Passau, an old German city, from May to November of 1945. They were occupying the area, as well as building barracks and housing for civilian refugees in Regensburg, a nearby town also in Germany. His route home was from Marseilles, France into the Strait of Gibraltar and out to sea. The voyage was not uneventful as they ran into a storm near the Azores and the ships power blew out. The flue on their ship’s boiler had blown. Luckily, another ship came along, gave them a new flue and helped them with repairs, and then they were on their way back to the US. They then landed at Newport News, VA. His last stop was at Camp Henry Harrison in Indiana and then he was separated from the army and sent home. He returned to Michigan in January 1946, and by February he was back at school. He finished his pharmacy degree at the University of Michigan on the GI Bill. He graduated a year and a half later and became a pharmacist in Ann Arbor.
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Colonel Russell M. Paquette was born in Jackson, Michigan on April 29, 1918. He attended St. Mary's Catholic School in Michigan. He attended the University of Detroit and graduated in 1941. Colonel Paquette received a law degree from the University of Detroit. He was recruited into the Marine Corps after college. Colonel Paquette did his basic training in Parris Island. Upon recommendation, Mr. Paquette attended officer training school in Quantico, Virginia. While at Quantico, Colonel Paquette learned "tough command presence" from W. W. Windsinger. He was assigned to the 4th Marine Division and continued training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and Camp Pendleton, California. He was sent to the Pacific upon completion of training and stationed in Maui, Hawaii. His first battle experience was on Roi-Namur in the Kwajalein Atoll of the Marshall Islands. He headed up the heavy weapons unit for the 4th Marines including half-tracks and a French 75mm cannon left over from WWI. Colonel Paquette saw action in the Battle of Saipan where he was wounded when his halftrack backed over a land mine. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his actions in Saipan. He landed next on the Northern Beach of the Island of Tinian which later became famous as the launching point for the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Colonel Paquette, amongst other Marines, made efforts to stop civilian suicides on the Tinian upon entry. He was in the 7th wave to land on the Island of Iwo Jima. His unit was responsible for bringing ashore heavy weapons and artillery. After five years of service, Colonel Paquette returned home by way of San Diego and was offered a commission in the reserves as a Major. Upon his return to Michigan, he attended Wayne State University Law School where he earned his Juris Doctorate. After law school, he worked as an attorney for the Veteran's Administration for twenty years. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Upon retiring from the Veteran's Administration, he entered private practice. Colonel Paquette has one son and three daughters. He currently lives in Harper Woods, Michigan with his wife Isabella. Colonel Paquette assisted in the development of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. He also has helped to develop and lead "Ye Knights of Olde," a gathering of Marine Veterans. Colonel Paquette spent 27 years in the Marine Corps, 20 years with the Veterans Administration and 20 years in private law practice. He continues his practice to this day.
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Robert Parks enlisted in the Marines following graduation from High School. He volunteered for the Paratroopers. He was especially interested in the extra $50 per month that was paid to paratroopers at that time. Bob eventually became a flame thrower operator. After his basic training, he was sent to the South Pacific. He participated in battles at Guadalcanal, Vella Lavella, Bougainville, and Iwo Jima. Bob describes Iwo Jima in detail. He said that after 120 days of bombing and shelling, the Japanese only lost 125 men. They were so entrenched in caves that the bombing did little or no harm. Bob mentioned that the historic flag raising took place before the Island was completely secured. He was part of a replacement unit that was sent to the other side of the island. It was there that he was shot in the leg. His buddy, Jim Cleveland carried him 150 yards to an Aid Station. His unit, as others, was happy about the Japanese surrender after dropping the Atomic Bomb. It seemed everyone was ready to prepare for the invasion of the mainland of Japan.
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Paulo Pereira was born in Passos, Minas Gerais, Brazil. He received a scholarship to go to school where he learned English. After school, he traveled to Italy where he met Americans who, in 1964, convinced him to go to the United States. In order to get a permanent resident visa to live in the U.S. he needed a job. Paulo made a connection with the foreign student advisor at the University of San Francisco. He got a job because he knew Spanish and Portuguese. However, part of his permanent visa meant that he could be drafted after living for six months in America. Paulo's job was to teach Portuguese at a Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. Eventually, he was drafted into the Armed Forces. He was sent to Oakland, California for induction. In February 1967, Paulo was ordered to Georgia. A recruiter offered him the choice of his duty if he promised to stay an extra year in the service, increasing the term to three years. He agreed and chose to pursue chemical, biological, and nuclear warfare. He was approached to apply as an officer, but forgot about it. Paulo then got orders to go to Vietnam. Paulo chose to visit his family in Brazil before going to Vietnam. He decided to inform them of his tour in Vietnam after he was three months in. He then returned to Fort Hood, Texas. Upon arrival, he was promoted to Lieutenant. His orders to go to Vietnam were cancelled by President Nixon, and so Paulo missed the Tet Offensive. He was ordered to restart training with a year of service and was sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Consequently, his salary went up considerably. Paulo was assigned to the Signal Corps and learned about communications. He also chose to undergo airborne training. He was given new orders to Vietnam as a tactical communications officer attached to an artillery unit. After arriving north of Saigon, a colonel recognized his ability to speak Portuguese. His orders were changed and he joined a group of Portuguese speaking officers in headquarters. Paulo became a part of a one-star general's staff and was in charge of communications. Eventually, Paulo was sent to Saigon to replace a lieutenant. There, he learned about the country and the war from the local people and became fascinated with the ideological struggle against Communism. For rest and recreation, he went to Japan. While in an Army hospital for minor health issues, Kris Kristofferson visited the facility. After about a year in Vietnam, he was sent home. Because of laws at the time, Paulo had to lose his Brazilian citizenship in order to become an American citizen. In order to work in his native country, he had to get a permanent visa. Paulo worked as an English teacher in Brazil for five years. He married an American woman and moved back to the United States. He began studying the flaws in Communism and was hired as an interpreter to go around South American governments to promote the "don't fall for Communism" ideology. He is grateful for his service in Vietnam mainly for how he learned about Communism. He lost contact with his fellow soldiers. He also used the GI Bill to get a Master's Degree in linguistics.
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Lee Peterson was born in a very small town in Iowa. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at Iowa State University. After his first year, he went to Ypsilanti, Michigan, to work in the B-24 Bomber Plant in Willow Run. While there he received his draft notice. At the time they were recruiting for all branches. Lee requested and received the Army Air Corp. After basic training and Gunnery School training, he was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 92nd Bomb Group, 326th Squadron. Lee is part of the "Lucky Bastards" group. He flew 35 missions without a scratch, plus five that were not counted. His is most proud of his DFC which he earned on a bombing raid into Germany. His B-17 lost two engines, on the same side of the plane, before reaching the target. A third engine went out over the Channel. There was an emergency air strip in Dover, England, but they decided to push on their base, 15 minutes further. They made it. The ground crew replaced all four engines, tested them in flight, and had the plane ready for another mission the next morning. During the flight back to England, Lee shot down a Me109 that was trailing them. Lee related a story about a training flight in which one engine failed. The pilot feathered the engine, but when they were approaching the field to land, the pilot gave the feathered engine full throttle, against the instructions of the flight engineer, Lee Peterson. The crew had to bail out. At the inquire, the pilot blamed Lee, but all of the other officers on board did not agree. That pilot flew 20 missions with Lee and never said a word to him other than when they were in flight. Although Lee has expressed enormous respect for that pilot's skills, he also knew that the pilot prevented him from getting promotions. After that pilot was replaced, Lee received two promotions in a very short period of time. Lee returned to the U.S. before VE day and was an instructor for flight engineers. After discharge, he returned to Ypsilanti and worked at the Kaiser Frazier Auto plant. When they went out of business, he got a job at Wayne State University. He started as a one-man department and before he retired, he had three separate sections that related to the Engineering and Liberal Arts Departments. When he retired, they held two parties because the one ballroom that held 800 was too small.
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Raymond Post was born in Detroit, Michigan. After attending high school, he went to the University of West Virginia. After his third year in college, General Motors offered him a job. Shortly after Pearl Harbor, Raymond enlisted in the Air Corp with the hope of becoming a pilot. The Army decided that he was not meant to be a pilot. Although that was discouraging, he felt is saved his life because practically all the people who were in training with him were killed. Raymond was sent to Virginia where he sailed for Naples, Italy. The trip over took 11 days. Besides zigzagging to avoid subs, it was stressful due to sleeping on five-high bunks, four decks below the water. There was a fire on board but they were told to stay put. Fortunately, the fire was extinguished. When they landed in Naples, they were bombed by the Germans but escaped any real damage. Raymond spent a year in Naples in an Air Operation unit. Their job was to check out the fuel and cargo, plus filing flight plans. He had a chance to go to the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg and sit in on Herman Gering's trial. Also, while in Italy he took courses from the University of Florence. Although Raymond does not have a degree, he has had extensive studies including many courses given by GM. When he left the service, he returned to GM and worked his way up to Regional Manager. Through GM, he and his wife hosted many trips to Europe, Hawaii, France and New Zealand. Raymond married his wife while he was in the service and they spent 59 and one-half years together before she suddenly died. Raymond feels that he has had a great life and is thankful for his time in the service of his country.
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Charles Reeber was drafted immediately after high school graduation. Although he was registered for the college program, he was rejected because of his eyesight. He was assigned to a mortar squad and carried the base plate. Charles was put on the line in Belgium. Things were quiet until the Germans attacked on December 16. His platoon leader was killed and left the group disorganized. His group was captured and after marching for several days they were put on trains. Eighty prisoners were stuffed into each train car and since there were no markings on the trains, Allied planes strafed them, killing several prisoners. The group was without food for several days. Charles became sick but his friends saved his life by giving him soup. Prisoners were stacked on shelves, 50 to a building. While marching to different camps, they saw stripped prisoners, Jews. One ran to them asking for help. The Brits gave him an extra uniform and he continued on with them. On April 19, 1945 the Brits liberated his camp. He was asked if he was "tortured, what was it like? "He responded, “no, however they didn't feed us for several weeks.” After being liberated, he was returned home in April of 1945 and discharged in November of 1945. He went to work at Ford where he retired after 35 years. He and his wife were married for 55 years (in 2005).
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(Ann Arbor News - June 5, 2004 - Jo Collins Mathis) Ripple was a 20-year-old kid from Monroe who had never been out of the country, and rarely been in a boat or used a gun, when he was sent to participate in the greatest invasion in history. As he headed for the beaches at Normandy on June 6, 1944, Ripple remembered what a general has just told them: This would be easy. By the end of the day, nearly 5,000 Americans lay dead in the surf and on the beaches. "On the morning of D-Day, I saw more dead soldiers in an hour than most soldiers see in a year," said Ripple, 80, sitting in his ranch home near Pleasant Ridge Elementary School in Saline. Ripple said he would have been killed as soon as he got off the landing craft, had he not bent over to help retrieve a machine gun that a fellow soldier had let slip into the water. That soldier was killed minutes later, as Ripple hurried ahead to the high-water mark. "It's very hard to explain," said Ripple. "But once you smell the smoke and have the bullets flying over your head, all you want to do is, you want to go kill. They train you to kill or be killed."
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Salvatore Scarpace has been an integral part of the Allen Park community for over fifty years. He has served as the Commander of Allen Park Post 409. He has supported sponsored youth baseball for many years. Scarpace is a World War II veteran who was interviewed for the Veterans History project on March 8, 2006 at the Allen Post Hall. Scarpace was working in his family business when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1942. He was drafted in February of 1942 and trained before being sent to Australia. He recalled his duties on the battlefield in Australia and throughout the Pacific Islands. One memory that stood out was when he actually felt the "whiz" of a shell go beside his head. Scarpace credits his good fortune to a lucky charm that he always had with him. He recalls VE day and remembers that those in the Pacific Islands believed, at the time, that the end of the war was near. He wasn't so sure in 1945 when his regiment was about ready to invade the island of Japan. Just prior to the attack, about a week he recalls, the United States unleashed the Enola Gay on Hiroshima. The signing of the peace treaty aboard the USS Missouri brought great relief and cheer for everyone, especially his regiment, who was about to invade Japan. Scarpace noted that he, and his fellow soldiers, realized that a mainland attack would have been extremely dangerous. The partying within his ranks was fierce after the signing. Upon returning home, Scarpace's family business wasn't doing well so he had to find another line of work. He soon married and would join the local American Legion. He tried to remain in contact with some of his wartime friends but as time went on that become harder and harder. He doesn't recall holding any racist attitudes toward Germans. It was just their job. He said that there wasn't much of a chance to exhibit racism, not at least in this area, toward Japanese people since very few were in the general area. Each year he attends a reunion of World War II soldiers. He says that it is something that he appreciates more and more every year. Unfortunately, each year the turnout is smaller and smaller due to illness or death. Scarpace believes wholeheartedly in supporting past soldiers of past and present wars. To him, it is a question of doing your duty. He doesn't know if he agrees or not with the reasons for the current war or Vietnam but a soldier's job is to free people of terror. His advice to the youth of today is to appreciate the freedoms that they have, and to appreciate those who fought to give them their freedom. He believes that young people now do not realize the sacrifice made by those in previous generations. At 88 years old, he continues to serve his American Legion Post and his community in a variety of fundraisers and youth activities. He is truly an American hero for all that he has done in his lifetime for the people of the United States.
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Ivan Schaedig was born in Rogers City, Michigan on January 28, 1932. He was drafted into the Army and after basic and specialized training, he was deployed to the Japan/Korean Theater of the war. While in Service, Ivan Schaedig obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was assigned to the Heavy Mortar Company, 21st Regiment, and the 24th Division. Ivan's Citations/Awards include the Korean Service Ribbon, the Bronze Star, the United Nations Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea Presidential Service Citation. After leaving the service Ivan returned to Alpena, Michigan.
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Merlin Schaedig is a Veteran of the Korean War. He was born on 10/19/1930 in Rogers City, Michigan. He obtained the rank of Sergeant before he was finally discharged. Merlin was part of the 25th Infantry Division. His awards and citations include the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Medal, the American Defense Medal, the ROK Service Award, and the Combat Infantry Badge. He currently lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
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At the age of eighteen, Leonard and his buddies tried to enlist, but the government closed enlistments at that time. He was able to "convince" his draft board to draft him. Soon after he entered the service, Leonard volunteered for Jump School (an extra $50 dollars per month was given to paratroopers). Sickness prevented him from going to the South Pacific. He was then sent to demolition school, and was eventually assigned to the 542nd Regiment and sent to England. While in England, Leonard was assigned to the 101st Airborne, but missed going to Normandy because there were not enough planes. Leonard's commander had given him a choice: S2 Intelligence or machine gun training. Few people wanted to do the machine gun training since gunners were always the main target of the enemy. Despite this, Leonard chose the machine gun training. Leonard jumped into Holland and was part of the "Market Garden" offense. He was very impressed with how grateful the Dutch were for being liberated. Eventually, Leonard fought in the "Battle of the Bulge" where he was wounded and finally evacuated to an Army Hospital. When he was first sent to a Mash unit, the doctor wanted to remove his leg. An old classmate was working as an assistant and talked the doctor out of the amputation. Leonard spent more than two years in various Army Hospitals before being discharged in 1947. He returned to the Michigan area and went to Art School. He worked at various modeling jobs for all the Big Three. He talked about how many people resented him as a veteran. He returned to civilian life two years after the War had ended and peopled treated veterans differently by then. Leonard received the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Infantry Rifleman's Award, and the European Theater with two Battle Stars. Leonard feels that he had a guardian angel watching over him: once when a gunner was shot and killed right next to him; another time when in Holland, two soldiers on either side of him were shot and killed; he felt lucky that his old classmate was able to talk the doctor out of amputating his leg. Leonard finished his interview by saying: "I'm proud of my service and I'd do it again."
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Dennis was drafted after his first year in college. He trained at Fort Knox, before being sent to Vietnam. He was assigned to a Light Infantry Battalion. Their duties consisted of patrolling to engage the enemy. Coppers flew them to their destinations whether it took a few days or a month. Dennis reported feeling frustrated because they would clear out an area, only to have the enemy return the next day. Dennis described the time he was wounded. A bullet passed completely through his shoulder and he was also hit in the hip and the stomach. He was sent to a field hospital, a base hospital, and eventually to Japan. There he was given the choice of returning to his Unit, which would have shortened his time be three months, or going home. He chose home. He returned to Fort Knox where he started his military service. After returning to Ann Arbor, he went back to his job at Jacobson’s from where he retired. Since he was only 50, he took a job at the local lumber company where he stayed for eight years. Dennis and his wife have two children and four grandchildren. A letter to the editor of the local newspaper is how we found this Veteran. He had suggested that the 4th of July parade be led by a true war hero, his buddy Gary Bowen who grew up with Dennis, was drafted and trained with Dennis, and served gallantly in Vietnam.
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James Shaw was born in Detroit and grew up near the six mile/Telegraph area. He went to Redford High. After graduation, James went into engineering at a Southfield company, where he was a draftsman for two years. He was drafted, and on September 16, 1966 he shipped out. James recalls basic training being as bad as it sounds, but he says it was a neat experience. The food wasn’t very good. His drill instructor was Sergeant Davis. Basic training really turned people into fighting machines. Upon completion, he went on to advanced training for 6-8 weeks. His training was in artillery, which he says was much more interesting and less demanding. He also had an interest in helicopters and he worked with them in “air mobile.” His flight to Vietnam took 42 hours. They landed in Cameron Bay where it was incredibly hot (105 degrees). He went up to An Khe and the landing zone that was located in the middle of a rice paddy on top of a hill. The villagers nearby helped them with day-to-day tasks. He lived in an underground bunker with no electricity for seven months. They survived on B rations (canned food) which weren’t tasty but soldiers persevered. Everyday life was difficult, even simple things were hard. There was no hot water, and no bathrooms with about 100 people on the landing zone, which was under surveillance. James was ready to fly the day after he arrived. His job was a gun observer for the helicopter. James would be given coordinates and he would survey the area, and assess damage etc. On the first day out, his unit was under fire and James used a machine gun to stop it. He got two hits on his first day out. He was bothered by having killed someone, even though he realized that’s what they were there to do. They flew 9-12 hours a day, seven days a week, and did not keep track of days because they melded together. It was a very busy job even at night when James had guard duty after an exhausting day. One incident he recalls includes Major Sorensen, and Pilot Quin in the Yang Province mountains. They were flying with two scout ships into a valley about 60 feet off the ground, surveying a hostile area. They heard fire and were hit. It happened so fast, the next thing they knew they were headed toward the ground, and without control of the ship. They went down flat, hit on the skits, and broke the rotor blades. They unbuckled and ran out of the helicopter where they were shot at. They ran to the cover of large rocks and kept the machine gun with them. Their wing ship fired on the enemy and called for back-up. Within five- or six-minutes other gunships were there and took out the enemy fire. They were rescued by one of the gunships and flown back to base camp. The entire ordeal lasted no longer than 10 minutes. No one was injured. James mounted a grenade launcher on his machine gun to more effectively fight back against the system of holes/tunnels the NVA used. In mountain ranges, which were hotspots, they would call in B-52 bombers, which were silent due to their flight altitude. The whole sky would light up as they bombed. The A Shau valley was a thick jungle, and one day they went scouting after a B-52 bombing, and found nothing left but dirt. The damage was about a mile wide, and three miles long. James was bitten by a centipede, and he still recalls it as the most pain he’s ever felt. Out on a mission near a rice paddy outside of another base (LZ English) he saw movement. It was about 50 NVA soldiers in full gear. They started firing and made many hovering circles while continuing steady fire. A wing ship joined in and called for more gunships. His ship’s crew was uninjured and they managed to take out many of the NVA. They discovered later that there were hundreds more NVA in surrounding paddies, and the fight turned into an all-night battle with flares going up all night long, like daylight. It was constant fire as they shelled the whole area and the path from which the NVA came in the mountains. The US troops wiped out an entire NVA regiment that night, and some were captured. James was very shaken after that. It was his last mission as a gunner. He had logged 1200 hours of combat by this point. He said he could not fly anymore, and he became a helicopter mechanic. He was already a sergeant. He worked as a mechanic for two months to keep the helicopters in working order. He was sent home in February of 1968.
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John Sherzer served as a commissioned officer in both the Second World War and the Korean War.
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Just after his 17th birthday, while still a junior in high school, Bill enlisted in the United States Navy. He was sent to the Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago, Illinois for his basic training. After six weeks there he was sent to California. Bill was assigned to the U.S.S. Rudyerd Bay, an aircraft carrier. While on board as a Seaman 1/C he served as a gunner’s mate, in the air department on gasoline detail, and on the crash squad. The Rudyerd Bay was involved in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa while Bill was on board. Much of his recreational time was spent playing his saxophone in the ship’s band. When the ship returned to the states, Bill was transferred off due to illness and sent to the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. It was while in the hospital that he received his medical discharge from the Navy. He returned to his home town of Sharon, Pennsylvania where he went on to get his GED and study mortuary science at the college level. He was a funeral director his entire life, until the day he retired. This interview was conducted in San Diego, California during a reunion of the U.S.S Rudyerd Bay.
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Charles Snider enlisted in the Army in March of 1943 while attending the University of Michigan. He took his basic training in Ann Arbor. Because of his interest in foreign languages, after basic training, he began training in a meteorological program sponsored by the Army. Because of his meteorological training and his knowledge of Russian, he was given orders in the middle of the night to report to Great Falls, Montana. After being interviewed by a Russian speaking American officer, he was one of two people selected for a special program. Mr. Snider was given orders to report to Ladd Air Force Base in Alaska where he began conducting meteorological forecasts for the Lend-Lease Program that was sending planes to Russia from the United States. He commented on how he worked with Russian officers daily. He also noticed the Russians had political officers in Alaska to "monitor" the interaction between the Americans and the Russians. Snider noted in his journal that the Russians became very cold toward the Americans after the U.S. dropped the atomic bombs on Japan. Mr. Snider commented on how the best service pilots he ever saw during the Lend-Lease Program were female WASP's or Women's Army Service Pilots.
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James was born in Ironwood, Michigan, on May 17, 1924. After graduating from high school, he tried to enlist in the Marines but was told to wait for the draft. He took a job as a tool and dye apprentice in the De Sota plant. He was drafted into the Marines in early 1943. After several difficult boot camp experiences, he was finally sent for training as a mechanic. After months of training, he was assigned to a B25 unit patrolling the East Coast, after which he was sent to the South Pacific. There he participated as a mechanic on several missions. When the war ended, he was eventually discharged and returned to Michigan. He could not get his job back at De Sota but did get a tool and dye job at Kaiser and then Republic Tool and Dye. James lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan and has eleven children.
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Roscoe (he goes by Tyson) grew up in Mounds, Illinois. He received numerous letters asking that he report for duty. Instead, he went to Detroit to live with relatives. He graduated from Lane College in Tennessee and was slated for a career in Medicine. The Federal Agents caught up with him in Detroit. Tyson was sent to Officers Training School (90-day wonders), and was assigned to train Black soldiers for combat. "Becoming an Officer was quite a distinction and honor" despite the resentment he received from many of the White officers. Tyson was discharged after seven years of service. It amazed him that after spending so much time and energy in trying to stay out of the Army, he worked very hard to accomplish the goals established for him while in the Army. He describes his experience as an honor and he is very grateful. After discharge, Tyson went to Chicago with his wife. He drove a bus for ten years. Eventually, Tyson settled in Ypsilanti. He joined his brother in the construction business. At the time a Black contracting business could not borrow money from Ann Arbor banks so they went into remodeling. Eventually Tyson joined Ford Motor Company as a Testing Technician, retiring in 1987. Tyson often describes "Two Armies - One White and One Black." He does not show any resentment realizing that was the way the country was at that time.
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Gerald Staton tried to enlist after Pearl Harbor but he was denied because he was not yet 17. He joined the Marines when he became 17. Gerald did his basic training in San Diego and had additional training in San Luis Obispo. He was sent to Mare Island just north of San Francisco and from there was sent to Woodlark Island which is a part of the Solomon Islands. The landing at Woodlark was considered Gerald’s worst experience ever. Gerald was assigned to a Caterpillar D-8 Dozer to clear away the thick vegetation for roads and airfields. Japanese planes would attack the island after dark. On one particular night, a Japanese fighter strafed an area near Gerald. He jumped in the river and was bitten by a rat. He was hospitalized for several days with typhus and a high fever. After his hospital stay, Gerald was sent to the US to train as a tank commander. He was shipped to Saipan where he witnessed the B-29 taking off to bomb Japan, using the atomic bomb. After the surrender, Gerald was sent to Nagasaki as a scout for the 2nd Division. He stayed there for 60 days, which ultimately affected his health due to exposure to radiation. After discharge he went to Miami University in Ohio and spent the rest of his life as an insurance salesman. Once a year Gerald and his wife attend a reunion of the Marine Battalion in which he served.
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Philip Stokes was born in Cleveland, Ohio and moved to Ypsilanti, Michigan when he was eleven years old. He graduated from Ypsilanti High School in June of 1943 and enlisted in the Marines in November of 1943. After boot and basic training, Philip was assigned to the newly formed Marine 5th Division, the Division landed on Iwo Jima in February 19 of 1944. They were responsible for cutting the Japanese forces in two. Philip was assigned to the Battalion Headquarters as a clerk. Casualties were heavy, two of every three Marines were killed or wounded. The Marines received a big morale boost when on the 27th of March a damaged B29 landed on Iwo Jima even though the island was not fully secured. That had been part of their mission to provide a landing area close to Japan. Philip's Division returned to Hawaii and began preparing for the invasion of Japan. Philip was sent to Washington D.C. where he was responsible for reviewing requests for hardship discharges. Philip was discharged in April of 1946 and was married in September of 1946. He attended Cleary College and received an Associate Degree, which eventually helped to secure a position at a local bank, from which he retired. Philip has four children, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He continues to live in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
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John Strouss was born in Freeport, Illinois on March 4, 1918. His family moved to Jackson, Michigan during the influenza epidemic while he was very young. John attended the University of Michigan from 1937 to 1942. While sleeping in on a Sunday morning, he and his roommate heard over the radio the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Eighteen of his friends went in for physicals, yet only three passed. John's eyes kept him out of the line officers. After several physicals, he was commissioned in the Navy in the spring of 1942. He became a staff officer in the supply corps - those responsible for the food and clothing in the Navy. John was called up in January 1943 and sent to South Austin Naval Yard for basic training (note: transcriber could not verify the location of said naval yard). He was then sent to Harvard University until the summer for supply officer education. He was assigned to Acorn 16 and sent to Port Hueneme, California to wait for the rest of the officers. In September, Acorn 16 was officially commissioned into the Navy and was granted base personnel for airbases in the Pacific. The unit shipped out to Barber's Point in Oahu, Hawaii. From there, they were ordered to Apamama in the Gilbert Islands along with a Marine Corps unit and a CP unit. An airbase was constructed at Apamama in which John worked. John remembers very friendly Natives and nice weather in Apamama. One incident stuck with John. A Japanese submarine was reported in the area. Despite the harsh weather, a scout plane was still sent out. the plane never returned. John was ordered to gather and send the missing man's belongings to his family. After a little over a year, the airbase Apamama was shut down and John was transferred to Guam. He recalls mud and relentless rain in Guam. He was put in charge of the mess hall. Most of the food was canned, yet at one point they were sent fresh ground beef. Hamburgers were prepared for the men, which gave many a feeling of homesickness. After the war, the Navy put together a class for those interested in aiding in terminating Navy contracts. John volunteered due to his business school training. He was sent to Harvard for the class. From there, he was sent to an office in Cincinnati, Ohio to clear plants for civilian production. Later on, he was transferred to the Naval Reserve and left as a Lieutenant Commander.
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Reuben Swisher had nine years, two months and eighteen days on active duty, followed by five years in the Reserves. He was wounded twice in Korea and earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for valor while a combat infantryman. Swisher was seventeen years old when he served in Korea and was assigned to Fox Company of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was wounded on Hill 578 on February 15, 1951 at Chipyong-ni, near Yangpyoeng as part of a force defending the Wonju Line during "Operation Killer." Besides being wounded twice, he suffered frostbitten feet. After his Army service in 1950-1952 and rise to Corporal, he joined the Air Force in 1957 and served until 1964, achieving the rank of Technical Sergeant. Besides the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, he earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, and the United Nations Service Medal. Swisher then served the Department of Veterans Affairs and earned several honors while employed there, followed by 400 hours of volunteer work at the VA Medical Center in Ann Arbor after his retirement in 1991. He also served as Commander of the Washtenaw County Chapter of Disabled American Veterans for seven consecutive terms.
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Like many young men of his generation, Bud Tracy served in the Armed Forces during World War II. Eager to see the world, he chose the Navy because he could enlist at seventeen and his uncle could help him through the process. He left high school before his graduation date, but made up the credits by enlisting. Mr. Tracy's wartime service was spent in the South Pacific including the Admiralty Islands. Tracy loved being in the service despite facing the same fears and frustrations that other young men encountered. For example, his first night on guard duty turned out to be one of his scariest moments in the Navy. Tracy mistook an anthill for a Japanese helmet and was told by his superiors to fire. Tracy did not want to alert other possible Japanese soldiers in the area of his location. As a result, he sat and stared at it, imagining the "helmet" coming closer and closer as the hours passed. His battle experiences were full of danger and adventure as well. Mr. Tracy was asked to go into the water and sink shell casings, swim up a river at night to scout the Japanese positions, and save his fellow sailors who were in trouble in the water. While completing his duties, Tracy was wounded on coral and was sent to Australia as a casualty to heal his legs which developed jungle rot. There were many enjoyable moments throughout Tracy’s time overseas. He and his buddies enjoyed pulling pranks on other men in their unit. In one instance, Tracy and his buddies rigged up a fake spider in the tent of one of their friends and surprised him with it when he returned from guard duty. USA Tours passed through the South Pacific while Bud was there and he was able to see Bob Hope and other performers in the tours. He particularly remembered a time when Bob Hope visited and ate a meal in the chow hall with the enlisted men instead of going to the officers' hall as was scheduled. Just as they are to American troops serving overseas today, care packages from home were highly valued during World War II. Mr. Tracy told an interesting story off-camera about a care package that he received from home. A couple of months after Christmas, he received his Christmas present from his family back home. When he got the box, the other men all crowded around because there is an unspoken rule that all packages are shared with the unit. The box was opened to reveal several cans of Spam that his mother had saved up her ration coupons to get for him. However, the sailors were regularly fed Spam for meals and were sick of it by that point. Tracy stated that once the box was opened and everyone saw that it was Spam, they left it for him, and never ever ate a single can of it. When Tracy returned home after his military service was over, he utilized the G.I. Bill to enroll in college. He had a successful career working for the phone company and raised a family. Despite this, like many of the men that he served with, Tracy still feels guilt over an incident that resulted in the deaths of fellow sailors, even though he did all that he could to save them. In many cases, those not involved in the situation can look at it and see that there is no reason for the person affected to blame himself, yet in his mind, he still does. Tracy was very humble in his accounts of his experiences during World War II, yet even in the short time it took to conduct the interview, there were examples of his bravery and heroism. Like so many veterans, he did not give the impression that what he had done was very remarkable in the grand scheme of things, yet it was. He risked his life to save others more than once in the memories that are captured in the interview and that can only be a tiny fraction of. what his war experience was really like.
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Amherst Turner was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He earned his English degree and teaching certification from the University of Michigan while also participating in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC.) In 1961, after graduating from U of M, Amherst attended basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia and was trained as an officer. After his basic training, Amherst was shipped out to Korea and joined a unit guarding the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. Amherst did this for for 13 months and became a 2nd Lieutenant in that time. Amherst returned to Fort Benning, was promoted to Captain and eventually was transferred to a base in Florida that was to serve as the staging area for a proposed invasion of Cuba. On this base, he served as a property book officer. In 1963, Amherst left the service, still involved in the reserves, and went into manufacturing. He was married in 1969 and had two children. -
Elliot Valenstein enlisted in the Army at the age of 18 following the Pearl Harbor attack. After training he was shipped to the South Pacific. They traveled without escort and landed in Australia. Before the Coral Sea victory, the Japanese were unstoppable. His unit was then sent on to Bombay, India and crossed to Calcutta by train. Elliot received quick training in how to string lines. There was fear the Japanese who were threatening India would link up with the Africa Corp from the East. In Burma, his unit met up with Head Hunters. Elliot's unit worked under a great deal of hardship including swollen rivers and threats of Chinese bandits. When World War II ended, Elliot was in Calcutta. He was shipped back to Seattle and on to Fort Dix. After discharge he spent time in a VA hospital with malaria. Eventually Elliot enrolled in college and began his research project that eventually attracted him to the University of Michigan. Much of his research was supported by NASA. After retiring Elliot continued to live in Ann Arbor and became Professor Emeritus.
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Richard Wegner was born on December 13, 1924 in Blissfield, Michigan. He attended Blissfield High School and enlisted in the Army at the end of his senior year after taking a class in aircraft identification. He left home for Fort Custer near Kalamazoo on July 9, 1943. After passing the necessary tests to join the Air Corps, he was sent down south to Miami Beach for ten weeks basic training. In October of 1943, Richard attended the Air Force College Training Department at Michigan State University. In April of 1944, he was sent to San Antonio, Texas and was trained as a bombardier-navigator for eight weeks. From there, he received flight training in San Angelo, Texas. Richard was assigned as a bombardier/assistant navigator/nose gunner in a B-24. After getting married while on commissioning leave, he was sent to Westover Field Airbase near Springfield, Massachusetts where he became acquainted with his crew and did large amounts of flying and bombing practice. After VE Day, Richard's crew was taken off shipping orders to Europe and was sent to Boise, Idaho. After rendezvousing at the Golding Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, Richard's crew flew to New Guinea where they spent ten weeks. After they arrived at Clark Airbase in the Philippines, the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, and the second on Nagasaki. Richard remembers seeing the Japanese delegation in their white planes at le Shima on their way to the signing of the peace treaty in Tokyo Bay. -
Richard Wegner was born on December 13, 1924 in Blissfield, Michigan. He attended Blissfield High School and enlisted in the Army at the end of his senior year after taking a class in aircraft identification. He left home for Fort Custer near Kalamazoo on July 9, 1943. After passing the necessary tests to join the Air Corps, he was sent down south to Miami Beach for ten weeks basic training. In October of 1943, Richard attended the Air Force College Training Department at Michigan State University. In April of 1944, he was sent to San Antonio, Texas and was trained as a bombardier-navigator for eight weeks. From there, he received flight training in San Angelo, Texas. Richard was assigned as a bombardier/assistant navigator/nose gunner in a B-24. After getting married while on commissioning leave, he was sent to Westover Field Airbase near Springfield, Massachusetts where he became acquainted with his crew and did large amounts of flying and bombing practice. After VE Day, Richard's crew was taken off shipping orders to Europe and was sent to Boise, Idaho. After rendezvousing at the Golding Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, Richard's crew flew to New Guinea where they spent ten weeks. After they arrived at Clark Airbase in the Philippines, the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, and the second on Nagasaki. Richard remembers seeing the Japanese delegation in their white planes at le Shima on their way to the signing of the peace treaty in Tokyo Bay.
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Russell Woinowsk was born on 8/8/1915 in Debut, Iowa. His father moved to Texas when Russ was young. Russ was in the ROTC in high school and eventually joined the National Guard in order to get help with his college expenses. He was able to complete two years before entering the Army. He wanted to be a pilot but "flunked out." His training turned to Bombardier School. Russ became a trainer. He was never assigned as a permanent member of a team. When he was sent to England, he was assigned to a B24 and completed 21 missions before the end of the war. Before V-E Day Russ was returned to the United States where he began training with a B29 group. The War ended before he was able to complete any missions. When the Korean Ward started, Russell was flying with B29's and completed 16 missions. He remained in the Air Corp retiring as a Lt. Colonel. During his service he received 2 DSC's and 4 Air Metals. He spent time in Turkey, the Philippines and many different States. Upon discharge, he returned to college and eventually received a Master's Degree in teaching. He spent 21 years teaching math (20 years in Romulus High School) before retiring because he was 70, the maximum retirement age. For a time, he and two friends owned and flew a Piper Cub. He and his wife had two children. He has four grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was married for 51 years before his wife died. He lives with his son in Ann Arbor.
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Clifford Woodside was born in Masten, PA. on January 22, 1923. Before completing high school, he enlisted in the Navy. This was immediately following Pearl Harbor. He was 17 at the time. Since he had been in the Sea Scouts, he was immediately assigned to training for gunnery. Clifford was eventually assigned to the USS Portland, and later to the USS Yokes. Clifford saw combat at Midway, Guadalcanal, the Solomon Islands, and the Aleutian Islands. At one time he was at sea for 110 straight days. Although he enlisted for eight years, he did not make the Navy a career. He had married by that time and elected discharge in 1947. Clifford and his wife returned to Ypsilanti, Michigan and he eventually went to work as a salesman for a local Ford dealer. Clifford and his wife lived on Ford Lake until he could no longer live independently. He and his wife now live in an assisted living facility in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
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Leon Zimmerman was born in Hersey, Michigan on June 4, 1924 in a town of 206 people. Leon was attending Grand Rapids University when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He enlisted in the Army rather than being drafted and having no choice of assignment. After numerous tests, Leon was finally assigned to Bombardier training. His first six weeks were spent marching, and doing calisthenics. Eventually Leon was transferred to Las Vegas for gunnery school, followed by Advanced Bombardier School in New Mexico. Leon graduated in 2/4/44 and was sent to England by way of Baltimore and Florida, where he was assigned to a replacement crew in the 8th Air Force. Eventually, his crew was assigned to the 457th Bomb Group. His crew participated in a number of training flights before they went on a mission. Their first mission was uneventful, a "Milk Run," that experienced no flak, no losses, no battle damage. There were many other missions by his crew. Two missions especially stood out for Leon. The first was over Stettin where they took a great deal of flak and were very close to ditching the plane. They did return to England safely however. The other was in Northern Germany. His B17 crew had to bail out because of the extensive damage. After a harrowing jump, he was captured by the Home Guard. His treatment was poor until the regular army took over. Leon and his crew were assigned to a camp that was commanded by a former Luftwaffe General who treated prisoners with respect. It was not a pleasant time but certainly it was not overly difficult. Leon's camp was liberated by the Russians. After spending time in different camps and some time in Paris, he returned home, by troop ship. He met and married his wife after his discharge. They are now in retirement in Jackson, Michigan.