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out the Nazis in the third gun em- maintained, if the nations of theplacement* I mnrlH ant tAcrothAi* u/ith thr r^PrtnlpVOLUME XIX — fCarrizozo News, Vol. 34*Pledge Allegiance ** To the Flag of rhf United States of America,and to rhe Republic forwhich it stands; oneN r ion... r .indivisible, with Liberty and• for all.President Franklin 1). K « scvelt\cwas a guy always ready for a fight.’Earlier that memorable morning,the 23 year old sharpshooter, crouchedWith The Men-#- In Servicebehind an old stone grinding wheelSanta Barbara. California.October 21, 1944.“I’ve got good reasons for killingnear a farmhouse, observed severalGermans moving about. “That wasthe time I almost got two Nazis withone bullet — Two of them, close together were lined up in my sights,but just as I started to squeeze theINazis,” stated Corporal Thomas Tru-ax, Silver Star holder, decorated intrigger, one of them moved away, got the other one though—a major. Later on we found more informationthe same action with Lieutenant Ernest V. Childers, who won the na-on his than you could shake a stick%at.”tion’s highest military honor, Congressional Medal of Honor.the Twenty minutes later, on this ac-“My brother was killed in the Mer-tion crammed day, an enemy sniper tried to pick off a captain headingchant Marine by a Nazi submarine.If it had only been his ship that wassunk, I guess I wouldn’t have been so bitter—but he was killed in a lifeboat that was shelled by the sub.”the Corporal’s platoon. Figuring outthe direction of the shai'pshoter’s shots, the youthful infantryman belly-crawled through thick brush to aereek bottom where he located theCorporal Truax told his story in the comfortable atmosphere of the Army Ground and Service Forces Redistri-Nezi sniper, shot.”I nailed him with oneCorporal Truax fought on Sicily asbution Station for overseas returnees well as all through Italy, taking partwhere he is temporarily stationed in the first landings at Gala. He alsoThe young soldier from the Hondc fought in the bitter struggle for Ras-Valley, New Mexico, estimates hf eani Airport, and at the “Battle ofkilled nine Nazis near Oliveto, Italy Bloody Ridge” in northern Italy. Pridethe day he won his award.in his outfit, the renowned 45thAdvancing on a German held hill Division, is strong.his battalion, atempting to join forceswith another infantry battalion, ofthe 45th Division, was pinned downSergeant Bill Mauldin of that outfit, Stars andby murderous fire from three enemymachine gun nests, dug in on the terraced hillside. Volunteering, Corporal Truax, an expert sharpshooter, offered to wipe out the German gun positions with Lieutenant Childers.Snaking their way up the slope, the young marksman and the Lieutenant each chose a nest for themselves.Hugging the ground, they circled tothe rear of the gun emplacements ascrackling concentrated fire from theirrifle company kept the German gunners’ heads down so the Nazis wereStripes cartoonist,famed creator of “GI Joe, is one ofhis many friends. An experience of the Corporal's gave Mauldin Ihe idea for one of the cartoonists most well received drawings.Attributing his rifle marksmanshipto a boyhood passion for hunting, thegood looking young southwesternerrecalled, “My brother and I always hunted together. If you saw one of us and looked close ec.nugh, you’d be sure to see the other.” Wistfully he added, “I’d sure like to hit some hunting this year.” He thought for a moment . . . “But there’ll be other years.”not able to observe the two soldiersuntil they were virtually on top ofthe gun pit.“As I approached the nest I saw three Germans,” said the New MexicoTwo of them wereinfantryman, firing light machine guns—I got up in a half crouch and one of themQuavered at the Hotel Miramar in the Army’ s restful Redistribution Station, Corporal Truax is undergoing processing and reclassification amidst peaceful surroundings, where he thoughtfully thinks of the future.With a hopeful note in his voice hespoke of his Dad's 280 acre farm. “I'd kind of like to drift back therespotted me—as he tried to swing his gun on me I let them have it fromIafter the war. Formerly a studentat Carizozo High School, New Mexico,the hip—the whole eight rounds, killed them all.Almost simultaneously, LieutenantChilders, who had been fighting allday with a broken ankle, slew theGermans in the other nest. Teamingthis earnest young man wants to continue his interrupted education. HeR, s3 2 . * ~ \ Ew’rf ' *■* ** Si -w' K ^ m E- ■ JxW' flH * iwishes to study industrial chemistry, a subject he is vitally interested in. Under the GI Bill of Rights, lieisup, the soldier and the oficer wipedplanning on four years of college. Peace, after the war, can and willAs a result of Corporal Truax’s and Lieutenant Childers ’ heroism, their batalion stormed and captured the hill, joining forces with the other outfit. They then assisted in evacuating the wounded.world get together with the people behind them, the New Mexico soldier avows. He believes American soldierswho have been overseas, developed an understanding and sympathy of otherpeople and this will help matters. Favoring a world securtiy organization,In officialdom's precise language, Corporal Truax’s citation reads, HisCorporal Truax has one qualification,44Politics should be kept out of it.superb courage and devotion to duty reflect great credit to his and to the men of the Armed Forces.”The war veteran has a philosophyregarding Nazis. Grimly he said The best lesson for a Nazi is a bullet—“I liked going on patrols with the that’s what they had cooked up forLieutenant” grinned the corporal. “He us.
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Carrizozo Lincoln County News
Carrizozo, New Mexico, US
Fri, Nov 10, 1944
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CO, USA 21 Apr 2020
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