Army airman recounts service in Pacific and Palau
John Willians of Park Forest recalls enlisting in September 1942 after marriage, serving 39 months in the U S Army Air Force. He trained in aircraft and engine courses and aerial gunnery, was hospitalized for nose trouble, served in the western Pacific and eastern mandates, and returned home on Christmas Eve 1945 with multiple medals including overseas service bars, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, Bronze Battle Star, Good Conduct Medal, and Meritorious Unit Award.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Angaur
Palau Islands
U.S. Air Force
U.S. Army Air Force
Pacific Islands
Air Force
D Day memories from Arthur Gottschalk Flossmoor
Arthur R Gottschalk recalls joining the Fourth Infantry Division in 1942 as a liaison scout for the 29th Field Artillery Battalion. He describes Operation Tiger off Slapton Sands, D Day landings at Utah Beach, LCTs, a mine strike, and two fractured fingers that were cured by wartime improvisation. He mentions Cirencester, Purple Heart, and lingering questions about whether the airborne troops survived.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
University of Illinois
Fourth Infantry Division
29Th Field Artillery
Florida
England
English
Slapton Sands
Devon
Normandy
Utah Beach
D-Day
Army
St. Mere Eglise
Fourth Infantry
Haertgen Forest
Germany
Cirencester
Gloucester
D-Day Memories From a CBI Navigator in Burma
Charles Vance recalls joining the U S Air Corps pilot program, serving in the China Burma India theater with the 4th Combat Cargo Group. He describes flying the Hump into China and the shock of Hiroshima and Japan's surrender, ending with the call of home.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
D-day
Manhattan
Kansas
U.S
Luftwaffe
Europe
U.S. Air Corps
CBI
Hiroshima
Japan
Savides Park Forest memories of World War II service
Harold A. Savides recounts his World War II service from Oro Bay New Guinea where he commanded a Signal Corps detachment and later 35 technicians. He notes two years overseas without leave, the arrival of D-day looming, and his brothers serving in P-47 and B-29 roles while news of the European invasion offered hope for the war’s end.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Oro Bay
New Guinea
Signal Corps
France
Townsville
Queensland
176Th Signal Repair Company
D-day
Germany
D day memories from hometown WWII veterans report
This eighth installment in a veterans series recalls World War II D day experiences. Veterans share where they were stationed how they felt and what happened to them fifty years ago with more stories promised.
Also Mentioned on This Page
John Willians
John Williams
Arthur R. Gottschalk
Flossmoor
Charles Vance Park
Luliang
China
Harold A. Savides
Discount Liquor
Calumet City
Gold Coast Lane
Seagram’s
Dekuyper
Kamikaze & Others
Milwaukee
Midlothian
Crawford
August Sebastiani
Bartles
Jaymes
Sauk Village
Mendota
Sauk Plaza
Meridan St
Miller
Wolfschmidt
Chicago Heights
Joe Orr
Michelob
Ernest & Julio
Stroh
Regula
Rickton Park
O'Hare
Tri State
Chicago Met
Pier and Expo Authority
TRI State Coach Lines
Ronric
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