| October 20, 1943: |
Inducted into the United States Army at the age of 36 years
at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Being drafted at age 36 was no
picnic, but Dad was raised on a farm and accustomed to hard work.
Dad was in good physical condition and was an excellent shot with
a rifle, two qualifications for the infantry. |
| November - December, 1943: |
Basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas |
| January - February, 1944: |
Maneuvers in Louisiana |
| March - October, 1944: |
Assigned to the 75th Infantry Division,
290th Regiment, Company L, at Camp Breckenridge,
Kentucky, for advanced infantry training. While stationed at Camp
Breckenridge, his wife, Orral, was able to accompany him. She
lived in Evansville, Indiana. During October of 1944, Dad
received a weekend pass to stay with Mom off base. Upon returning
from the weekend, he was informed that some of his gear had been
packed and the 75th Division was departing —
destination unknown. |
Destinations Unknown |
| October 14, 1944: |
Departed Camp Breckenridge; Four days at Camp Shanks; 40 mile rail trip to Weehawen, New Jersey; Ferry trip to Staten Island and boarded the USAT BRAZIL. |
| October 22, 1944: |
Departed the United States aboard the USAT BRAZIL. |
| November 2, 1944: |
Arrived harbor of Swansea, Wales. |
| November 3, 1944: |
Debarked the USAT BRAZIL, and moved by train and motor to resort town of Porthcawl, Wales. Stayed at the castle St. Donat’s. |
| December 14 - 21, 1944: |
Crossed the English Channel and arrived at Le Harve, France. Transported by truck to field near Yvetot, France and camped for a few days. Departed via truck and train for Hasselt, Belgium. The truck Dad was riding in was involved in an accident whereby some soldiers were gravely injured when pulled out of the back of the truck by overhanging tree limbs. |
| December 22, 1944: |
Departed Hasselt, Belgium, by motor convoy for the ruptured American lines of the 1st United States Army, thus beginning the Battle of the Bulge. |
| December 23, 1944: |
Set up camp near Biron, Belgium. |
| December 24 and 25, 1944: |
Company L of the 290th Infantry Division’s mission that Christmas Eve was to attack enemy high ground between Soy and Hotton, Belgium. During the attack of LA ROUMIERE Hill, Dad was hit with shrapnel and by the grace of God was blown into a hole close enough to the German lines that he could hear German soldiers talking. Unable to answer calls from fellow comrades concerned about his welfare for fear of giving his position away, Dad spent the night in sub-freezing conditions, wounded, trapped and hiding. Christmas morning Companies L and K of the 290th made another attack on the Hill and Dad was rescued. After being rescued on Christmas Day, Dad was taken to the first aid station and transferred to the 24th General Field Hospital and then flown to England for additional treatment of leg wounds and back injuries. Dad was awarded the Purple Heart at the 24th General Field Hospital. |
| December 26, 1944: |
24th General Field Hospital, air transported to PLT Hospital #4102 in England for treatment and rest. |
| January 20, 1945: |
Assigned to the 161 RE PL CO 131 REPL BN, which was a replacement center for servicemen returning to service. |
| February - August, 1945: |
Assigned to the 843rd Aviation Engineers Company B. Crossed the English Channel and landed at Le Harve, France. Went through Paris, France, and joined the 843rd at Loan/Couvron, France. The 843rd was engaged in the construction and maintenance of 18 airfields in the area. Dad worked construction and was assigned guard duty. Was granted leaves after February 25th for trips into Paris. |
| May 1, 1945: |
Departed Couvron, France, for Munich, Germany. |
| May 1, 1945: |
Arrived Metz, France. |
| May 2, 1945: |
Arrived Strasbourg, France |
| May 3, 1945: |
Crossed the Rhine River and on to victory on floating barges to arrive in Ulm, Germany. |
| May 4, 1945: |
Arrived Munich, Germany and worked on runways at Munich-Riem. In the Munich area, Dad came across survivors who had been liberated from the Dachau concentration camp. During his time in the Munich area, Dad was involved in a break-in of a German payroll which netted the men “a wheel barrow full of worthless German Marks.” |
| May 8, 1945: |
Germany surrenders and the War has ended in Europe. Dad expresses concern in letters home that his Unit may be sent to the South Pacific. |
| May 17, 1945: |
Company B of the 843rd was moved to Neubiberg, Germany to construct a 5,000 foot pierced steel plank runway, taxi-track, and hard stands for airfighter group. Dad was also assigned to guard Hungarian prisoners. |
| July 28, 1945: |
Went to Paris, France, on furlough. |
| August, 1945: |
Shipped four guns home; one German pistol, two Italian carbines and one machine gun. Postal Department confiscates machine gun. |
| September, 1945: |
The 843rd Aviation Engineers was demobilized and Dad was transferred to the 831st Aviation Engineers. The 831st Aviation Engineers are stationed six miles north of Mannheims, Germany, working on runway construction. Dad is notified that he will be sent home. |
| September 24, 1945: |
Leaves Mannheims, Germany for Compronge, France. |
| September 26, 1945: |
Arrives Compronge, France, and is assigned to a Receiving Company for processing. |
| October 6, 1945: |
Camp Lucky Strike. Living in tents waiting to go home. |
| October 23, 1945: |
Departed Le Harve, France at 0930 on the FREDRICK VICTORY. |
| November 3, 1945: |
Arrived Camp Shanks at 0830. |
| November 4, 1945: |
Depart Camp Shanks at 1530. |
| November 6, 1945: |
Arrive Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. |
| November 10, 1945: |
Date of separation from the United States Army. Depart Camp McCoy. |
| Dad is reunited with wife, Orral. For most of their married life they lived in Crookston, Minnesota. They raised three children; a son and two daughters. |