APRIL 4, 1946  was a good day. On this day, I received my army discharge at Ft. Meade, Maryland after having served in the military since March1943. After being inducted at Ft. Myer, Virginia, I was sent to Camp Lee, Virginia,for a short period of time, and then boarded a train with other recruits and transported to Camp Wolters, Texas, an infantry replacement training center.

I received 4 weeks of infantry training, learned how to fire an M1 rifle, and underwent a test called “Hells Bottom”, which consisted of crawling on back under barbed wire while a soldier trainer fired live bullets from a machine gun. We were instructed not to get up,in order not to get shot. I was glad to pass this test.

 After the four weeks training I was transferred to a barracks with other veterans who would receive training to be clerks(that’s me), auto mechanics, truck drivers, and cooks. I completed the training, and was able to pass satisfactorily because I was a good typist.(Thanks to my brother, Phil, who recommended that I take typing in high school.

After completion of the training, I was transferred to a personnel section, of the 542d Field Artillery Battalion, 42d Infantry Rainbow Division. As previously mentioned on another post, I maintained service records, typed orders, and other correspondence, prepared payroll records,etc.  My division was located in Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, near a small city, Muskogee, and a larger city, Tulsa.My division etc. Around August of 1944, our artillery battalion, and other artillery battalion were sent to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, a permanent artillery base, that exists today.We were scheduled to be in Ft. Sill for a short time.While stationed there, I recall receiving a telegram, on August 19, 1944, that stated, my father was seriously ill–come home at once. I applied and got a furlough, and proceeded to a nearby railroad station. The travel time to Washington,D.C. was about three days. While waiting for the train, I phoned my home in D.C.,and was told that my Dad had already passed away, with the funeral scheduled for August  20th, 1944. I rushed back to camp to attempt getting a flight to D.C. After checking the price, I discovered I did not have enough funds to purchase a plane ticket. I again rushed, out, to the Red Cross, to request a loan, but informed,that the Red Cross, does not, lend money for plane trips. Again,I went back to my unit, and spoke to my personnel officer in charge, Charles L.Brown, who offered to give me a loan. I reserved space on several planes, and fortunately arrived in Washington in time to attend my father’s funeral. The funeral service, pursuant to my Jewish religion, had to take place on the day following the death of the deceased.

 I will continue my memories on my army experiences on the next post.I invite you to keep reading

my back,with my rifle