15 May, 1941 – Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA
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Uncle Sam taps Dad on the shoulder...
4 Apr 1942 – Fort Snelling, Minnesoa, USA
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Uncle Sam finally calls...
1942 – Camp Roberts, California, USA
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Dad's papers from Camp Roberts, California, one of at least two (I think maybe three) camps he got his basic and other trainings in before going overseas, 1942. (WWII)
1942
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This is a barracks at one of the camps my Dad did his basic training at before going overseas
1943-1944
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For 10 months of Dad's service, he was a light machine gunner with a tank unit...
1943-1945 – Pacific Theatre
Dad's War Memories
Added by Trishymouse on 2 Sep 2007
I’d say that everything was pretty quiet that evening. Some writing. Some reading. Small testaments and some praying. Sure enough, about 3:15 a.m. The mortars and heavy artillery opened up, and talk about noise! It was something really to behold. Of course, the enemy knew what was coming and they were prepared as much as possible. We had our meager breakfast and put away in packs things we could get to later. At 5:00 p.m. The small mortar firing stopped as we were going to be walking right into it, but the long-range heavy artillery kept up a good pace and did considerable damage. Sure have to give credit to the mortar and heavy artillery spotters and their judgment as to where the firing was supposed to be sent. If they made a slight mistake, it could land on our own troops, and this has happened. We started out on time and mortar and heavy duty artillery companies sure did their work as the going was not that tough, although the...
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1943-45 – Philipines
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This is a photograph my Dad took from his truck during the war, while he was in the Philipines. Dad called it a truck line up, like many Dad drove in. He was assigned to be a truck driver at one point, after first being with an artillary unit then with a tank corps. He hauled food, supplies, personnel, artillary, even dead bodies and Japanese prisoners when they surrendered at the end of the war. He recalls them coming out of nearby valleys waving the white flag of peace...WWII
1943 – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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My Dad and his Aunt Jesse in front of her Los Angeles, California Home, before he went overseas.
1944-1945
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This is a ring my father, Gordon Short, made out of a 1942 Australian Florin coin during WWII. While overseas, many men, to while away boring pockets of time (and for many, to make a unique gift for their wife or girlfriend), would take a silver coin, punch or drill a small hole in the middle, then slowly tap the inside out to flatten it into a ring. Rather ingenious, eh?! NOTE: At this time, the silver coins were really silver; they were .925 silver, and .075 copper...
1944 – Philippines
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Article about 32nd Division on Leyte...
5 Mar 1945
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Article mentioning Dad's division in March 1945 and what their efforts at that time were concentrating on...
6 Mar 1945 – Philippines
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More about March 1945 push of 32nd Division
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29 May 1945 – Philippines
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32nd secures a dritical flank involving the Villa Verde Trail, during a final push against the Japs...
31 May 1945 – Philippines
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32nd links up with the 25th to push into Cagayan Valley and face the final Japanese forces...
19 Dec 1945 – Separation Center, Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, USA
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...Prior to Discharge, Release from Active Duty, or Retirement
20 Dec 1945 – Separation Center, Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, USA
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Finally Home!
20 Dec 1945 – Separation Center, Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, USA
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1945
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Reprinted from the first page of THE DAILY PACIFICAN, July 28, 1945. An interested side note from a 1945 edition of the New York Herald, said: The entire staff of "The Daily Pacifican," an American Army newspaper in the Pacific area, requested transfer to other duties today [May 29], charging they were required by superiors to "twist, omit, bury and deceptively present news" so that "The Pacifican" no longer was a "free and honest" newspaper. A statement signed by the staff said that there had been increasing pressure to suppress all criticism of government officials or agencies and that stories which tended to satirize officer-enlisted man relationships had been suppressed. As I have often suspected, disgruntled (and most likely rightly so!) soldiers are nothing new. Even the so-called 'good war' had problems within the ranks...
1944 or 1945 – Pacific Theatre, WWII
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Dad is on the far right; I wish I could remember who else was in the photo - Dad told me once - but I don't now. This was overseas in either New Guinea or the Philipines, making camp somewhere...
1945
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The Philippine Liberation Ribbon was awarded to personnel who partiipated in the liberation of the Philippines from 17 October 1944 to 3 September 1945. Either combat service or assignment for at least 30 days entitled an individual to the award.
1945
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The World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. The decoration commemorates military service during the Second World War and is awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of the Government of the Philippine Islands, who served on active duty, or as a reservist, between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946.
1945
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The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was awarded for service in the United States Armed Forces in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946. Requirements for the award were permanent assignment, passenger status or temporary duty for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or combat for which a combat decoration was awarded.
1945
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The Bronze Star Medal may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Armed Forces, distinguishes himself either by heroism in surface compbat against an armed enemy of the United States or by meritorious achievement not involving participation in aerial flight but in connection with military operations against an enemy. On 24 August 1962, Executive Order 11046 was issued which changed eligibility criteria to provide that the medal could be awarded under one or more of the following conditions: while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the U.D is not a belligerent party. This latter qualifying criteria now permits cognizance of heroic deeds or meritorious achievement performed by American sericemen on advisor duty with foreign countried.
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Some (but not all) of Dad's military patches and medals; there were also multi-colored, striped badges signifying his service in the Pacific Theatre and particular campaigns, but they are not included in this photo (reason unknown); the roaring tiger one was for a tank corps he was part of at one point...
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Dad in his uniform
2 Jan 1946 – Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, USA
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2001 – St. Vincent, Kittson, Minnesota, USA
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Supplied by VA
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Emperor Hirohito of Japan, portrayed in this artist's rendition, as a god, WWII
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Artist rendition of soldier carrying a victim of war in Leyte area of Philipines, WWII
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Artist rendition of Red Arrow in the Philipines, smoking out a Japanes 'pill box', WWII
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Artist rendition of soldiers on march/patrol in Philipine jungles, WWII
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Isignia of the 32nd "Red Arrow" Infantry Division, of which the 127th Infantry was a part, WWII
2 Jan 1946 – Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, USA
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Dad posing for a photo...not sure if this was before, during or after being overseas...