Submitted by
Steve Harwood
sharwood73@yahoo.com


Interviews
P.F.C. Burch Carson
Interviewed by Jennifer Marshall, Cindi Harriman and Brian Reeser
Written By: Steve Harwood

Burch Carson entered military service with the US Army in 1942.  His basic training was at Fort Worth, Texas. He served from February 9, 1942 until March 1, 1945.  He was sent to the South Pacific and fought during the invasion of New Guinea.  On April 28, 1944 he was severely wounded and earned a Purple Heart during the campaign. He was a member of the 24th Infantry Division.

Mr. Carson was first sent to Hawaii for a year. The unit then went to Australia for combat training.  They docked at Sydney because no docks were available farther north that could accommodate the large transport ship.  They stayed in Sydney for about ten days before the unit shipped out by troop train the thousand-mile trip to the semi-tropical country near Rockhampton.

The 24th then moved to Goodenough Island, where they constructed a camp and stayed for two months.  The next step for Mr. Carson and the 24th was to invade New Guinea.  A large armada was sent to New Guinea.  The armada included 250 ships, including submarines, aircraft carriers, cruisers and other naval vessels.

Mr. Carson's company landed on the beach aboard an LCI.  They were expecting strong opposition but were surprised to find the landing much easier than anticipated.  The objective was to capture three Japanese airfields near Hollandia.  The 41st Infantry attacked from one side and the 24th came in from the other.

About half way to the objective a large force of Japanese engaged the outfit.  On the fifth day of the operation the airfields were in American hands.  All three airfields were captured and the GIs thought that the fighting was over.  The company killed several Japanese soldiers who had ventured too close and dug in for the night near the vacated Japanese barracks.  The Americans had cut firing lanes through the jungle in order to fire down them should the Japanese attack during the night.

At daylight on April 28, 1944, the Japanese launched an attack.  Mr. Carson reported that, " Japs were all around me when I heard them crawling in.  A Jap major with a sword came for me right down my firing lane.  I didn't want any part of that sword.  I shot him in the chest and he fell not eight feet from me.  Then I shot to the back and to the left of him, and I could just barely make them out.  As they kept coming, I kept firing at close range.  They don't take cover like Americans, I think that I shot all of them in the chest."

After Mr. Carson's rifle was empty, a hand grenade thrown by a Japanese soldier rolled into his foxhole and exploded near his right foot.  Mr. Carson had to crawl and pull himself to the back area while bullets from both the Japanese and his own side whizzed overhead.  He was able to get to his own lines and get medical attention.  He lost his right foot as a result of his wounds.

His captain presented him with the sword, which belonged to the Japanese major.

P.F.C. Hoy Haught
By Christina Drake and Bill Epperson

Hoy's earliest memories of World War II were prior to 1941 and Pearl Harbor.  People were entering the service and anticipating war.  In April 1943, at the age of eighteen, Hoy was inducted into the army at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock, Arkansas.  His basic training was at Camp Roberts, California, which, at the time, was the largest infantry-training center in the world.  After completing basic training, Hoy stayed and trained other recruits, which made his stay at Camp Roberts about eighteen months.

Hoy's next station was Schofield Barracks on the island of Oahu in Hawaii where he stayed until December of 1944.  In January 1945, he joined the army's 27th infantry division.  His outfit saw action at Saipan and then trained on a French owned pacific island called Spirit of Santo located off the coast of Australia.   Then they boarded ships on 21 March 1945, and joined the largest convoy in the world.  He did not know his destination until the night before they landed.  On 1 April 1945, on Easter Sunday at the break of day, Hoy's division, with three days of C-Rations, went over the side of the ship in full combat gear.  The destination was Okinawa, the last Japanese Island to be taken prior to Japan.

Okinawa presents a difficult terrain with a coral reef, which prevented the digging of foxholes.  The best, the American G.I.S., could initially do was take cover in holes made by artillery.  Prior to the invasion, the island was hammered by constant bombing, and Special Forces cleared the beaches.  Hoy was ashore in the second wave and pushed ahead as far as approximately 300 yards before the Japanese began firing.  The 27th Infantry had a marine division accompanying them on their right.  Because of the corral reef and the inability to "dig in" for cover, many lives were lost.

Every morning the Americans would advance as far as they could by following tanks and closing all gaps in their line of advance.  Normally, by ten or eleven o'clock in the morning, they had advanced as far as they could go and would have to stop and dig in.

Nighttime was the worst time during the battle.  The most dangerous area was in proximity to the tanks.  Because of the tanks value to the Americans, they were a prime target for Japanese gunners during the night.  As a precaution the Americans would try to move the tanks just before dark to fool the enemy, but according to Hoy, it usually did not work.  At night no one left their foxholes for fear of getting shot, possibly by friendly fire due to the fact that a good deal of soldiers had a nervous finger on the trigger.  There were passwords and counter passwords, and everyone was in radio contact with one another.

Speaking of friendly fire, one of the worst instances of this came when a U.S. plane mistakenly strafed an American unit.  The results were disastrous with many casualties.  Luckily, Hoy was toward the rear of the group.  The G.I.S. in the front were decimated.  During the daytime, Okinawa civilians would attempt to come into the American lines.  They were prevented from doing so due to the fact that they could be carrying explosive satchels.

Because of the attitude of the Japanese, few prisoners were taken by the Americans.  Really about the only time a prisoner was taken was when they were taken by surprise.

After advancing beyond the coral reef and beach area, the terrain of Okinawa was one of hills and valleys.  The valleys normally had rice paddies.  In the beginning, the troops were short on rations for a few days because of the kamikaze attacks on the Navy supply ships.

The Americans resorted to killing and eating some of the scrawny chickens, which ran loose on the island.  The chickens would be boiled and sometimes flavored with bullion.  There were plenty of streams but the water was unfit to drink because of the lack of sanitation and the presence of a dead, bloated Jap in the water.  Water was brought in barrels and sacks.  Later, purification units were set up.  One problem with the water was that it had a distinct taste of gasoline.

At 10:00 on 26 April 1945, Hoy's unit stopped at the top of a hill and dug in.  Hoy had spread his poncho across some loose dirt, and he had taken his M-1 rifle apart for cleaning.  Hoy's shirt had been removed, leaving him in his white tee shirt, which was actually not so white because of the conditions.  He speculates that this color might have alerted a Japanese soldier below them.  The Japanese soldier fired, and the first shot hit Hoy after being deflected partially by the loose dirt.  The bullet went through the dirt and flattened out, striking him in the right leg at the neck of the femur.  The force of the shot knocked him down in the hole.  Hoy's buddies dropped an explosives satchel near the sniper which ended his threat.

With his leg splinted to keep it isolated, Hoy was placed on a stretcher.  He was carried out through the rice paddies.  Again, friendly fire became a problem.  The front person on the stretcher kept going while the person in the rear was exposed to being hit.  Hoy was carried to a jeep, which was capable of carrying two stretchers at a time.  He was then taken to an airfield and was flown to an evacuation (tent) hospital in Guam.  Hoy spent three days and nights there and was administered plasma and pressure bandages.  During this time he was constantly passing out and could not eat.  On the fourth day he was flown to a hospital in Pearl Harbor.  On the fifth morning surgeons operated and extracted the bullet.  The operating doctor asked Hoy if he wanted anything, and Hoy said, "I want that bullet!"

Upon awakening Hoy found the bullet taped to his chest.  To this day Hoy carries the bullet with him in his wallet.  Hoy was then put in a body cast completely covering his arms and legs.  Return flights back to the states were based on the length of time the patient had been there and the length of time the patient had been free of fever, which needed to be three consecutive days.  The person next to Hoy was scheduled to be on the next flight back to the states, but came down with a fever and Hoy was able to take his place.

In the United States, Hoy was sent to an army hospital in San Francisco for about a week.  Doctors cut a hole in the body cast and dressed the wound.  Then, he was sent to a convalescence hospital in New Orleans.  About six weeks after the body cast was put on, it was finally removed.

Hoy was put in traction with his right leg elevated because the doctors knew he would have a shortened leg.  Without turning over once, he spent seven and one half months in bed without once turning over.  From there he progressed to a wheelchair and then eventually to crutches.  The hospital was eventually closed, and those who were not discharged were sent to Brooks General Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.  Hoy was discharged from there in late May 1945.  He had spent 12 months and 14 days in the hospital.  Today he suffers from a shortened leg and muscle loss.

Hoy was discharged as a Private First Class.  His medals and ribbons include the Purple Heart, an Asiatic Pacific Battle Ribbon (two stars), a U.S. Infantry Badge, The Good Conduct Medal, and a Combat Infantry Badge.

Hoy's most vivid memory of the war was being shot, the sudden trauma and awareness of it, and ... with a sense that it could be fatal.  The G.I.S. had a phrase called a "million dollar wound," something that was not life threatening but would get you home.

All in all, Hoy is thankful just to be alive.

Other observations made by Hoy Haught are the following: On General MacArthur: Hoy believes that Douglas MacArthur was one of the greatest generals of all time, and he has the utmost respect for him.

On Okinawa: The island was very difficult because of the way the Japanese had dug in with railroad tracks connected to caves so artillery could be rolled in and out.

On Weapons: The greatest American weapons were flame-throwers and satchel charges.  Flame-throwers could especially seal up the enemy.

Danger: Machine gunners were in particular danger and were constantly being zeroed in by the Japanese.

On World War II: Hoy believes that the United States had no choice but to fight and defend our homes and neighbors.  After Pearl Harbor, it was believed that the West Coast of the United States would be in jeopardy.  Also, never before in the history of this country have the people united in such a cause, giving full support for the war effort and backing our servicemen.

Hoy is a member of the VFW, D.A.V., the Purple Heart Association, and the American Legion.  He has been a member of the American Legion for 51 years and, in this capacity, he is a National Executive Committeeman, Past Post, District, and State Commander.

He is also on the Governor's Task Force for Veterans Affairs.  He is also a member of the American Legion's National Magazine Committee and is a member of the National Legislative Commission for Veterans.  Hoy has been a Finance Officer for the American Legion for forty years.  When asked why he has served in all these capacities for no monetary compensation, he said that it was because of the ill treatment of the veterans of World War I.  Because of the efforts of the World War I veterans, the vets of World War II received better treatment.  Hoy continues in his crusade for veterans' rights, a strong military, and protecting our flag.

P.F.C. Raymond Nice
Interviewed by: Kevin Shinn and Brian Reeser
Written By: Steve Harwood

Raymond Nice went to war in January 1943.  He had just turned nineteen. He had never been away from home for more than two weeks before he entered the army. The experience, according to Mr. Nice, "made you grow up in a hurry."  Raymond was assigned to the 291st Combat Engineers.

He served in Europe and participated in all five major engagements on the European front. Mr. Nice was stationed for 9 months in England prior to landing in Normandy.  His job was to build huts for servicemen who were sent to England. He noted that although he constructed huts for others, his unit lived in tents the entire time.  Raymond Nice landed in Normandy and ended up in Munich, Germany at the end of the war.  For most of that time he drove a jeep on the front lines, he attributed that assignment to keeping him safer than his comrades in the back lines. He was one of the few men in his unit that did not receive a Purple Heart.  Raymond participated in the Battle of the Bulge, in which his unit was cut off from the American Army.  He was at the site of the Malmedy Massacre a scant hour before it happened.  He later saw the bodies of the murdered Americans frozen in the snow.

His unit was the unit that built the first bridge across the Rhine at Remagen.  It was there that he saw his first jet, used by the Germans to attempt to destroy the bridge.

He also witnessed the horror of the concentration camps.  For his service Raymond received many medals including; the good conduct medal, the French Croix de Geurre, and several Presidential Unit Citations.

His worst experience was when the American Air Force accidentally bombed his unit. The most rewarding experience was when he finally came home, after 34 months and 10 days.

During his service he twice saw General Dwight Eisenhower.  He admired Eisenhower and Bradley but did not care much for General George Patton whom he described as "A glory seeker who just wanted to make a name for himself."

Of the many things Mr. Nice learned in his time in uniform, one of the most important was learning to get along with other people. He related; "You might hate some guy, but if you got in trouble he would be there to help you, that's the way it is in the army."

He said that he had never been so hungry or so cold in his life as he was in Europe during the war.

Mr. Nice said that he wouldn't take a million dollars for his trip, but that he wouldn't give a nickle for another just like it.

John Beasley

John Beasley served in the South Pacific; he was in the 41st Infantry Division.  He was a service troop truck driver. Mr. Beasley remembers that the worst thing about his service was when the Japanese soldiers would slip up on American at night.

Chief Pharmacy Mate Honsel Binniger
Written By: Leigh Harwood
Interviewed by Michelle Fowler

Chief Pharmacy Mate Honsel Binniger knows exactly what he was doing when Pearl Harbor was bombed, he was right in the middle of it.  Binniger was stationed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.  When asked about the most rewarding thing that happened during the war he said, " pulling the kids out of the oil and getting them breathing and sending them to the hospital."

When asked what he was fighting for in World War II, Binniger replied, " For my own life really." He was stationed in many places including San Diego, Pearl Harbor and Wake Island.

He remembers Wake Island, "The Japs killed everyone, about four people were left, they hid under a bridge, and the Japs didn't find them."

The saddest thing for Binniger was seeing so many people get killed.

He recalls that information was hard to come by, other than what they heard on the radio. Even after "fifty something years" he still thinks about the war when he sees something about it on television.  His experiences made him appreciate people more.

P.F.C. Odie Fowler
Written and Interviewed by: Michelle Fowler

During World War II, Odie Fowler served in the infantry as a Private First Class.  He was stationed in Northern Luzon in the Philippine Islands and was later re-stationed in Nigon Gulf.

The most important thing that Mr. Fowler remembers about being in the war was being away from home. The saddest thing Mr. Fowler remembered about the war was the incineration of the dead. "A layer of bodies, a layer of hay, a layer of bodies, a layer of hay and then they put diesel over the thousands of bodies and burned them."  The most rewarding thing was when he was finally being able to come home.

During the war, Odie Fowler believed that he was fighting for our country.  "The Japanese and the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor and we were showing them who was the boss."

Fowler never had much information about the war.  Occasionally he had a newspaper with information about the war. After the war Fowler didn't think about it that much.  He says that the war experiences have changed his life, "I couldn't even explain it.  It would change anyone's life, It makes you appreciate everything more."

Captain Bruce Wilson
Written By:
Interviewed by:

Captain Bruce Wilson was a member of the signal corps in the United States Army.  The majority of his time was spent in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, during the war.  He was stationed there when he heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor.  At that time he was twenty-five years old.  Among the places he was stationed were Germany, Great Britain, Italy, France, Austria, Belgium and Austria.  Wilson was stationed in Munich, Germany when he heard that the atomic bomb had been dropped in Japan.  The only major battle that he saw was the Battle of the Bulge in Luxembourg.  He was not directly involved but he saw a lot of bombs and aircraft in the area.  He kept a journal during the war and wrote down everything that happened and marked his route.

When asked about a picture or phrase that comes to mind he replied, "It was probably the Marines raising the flag in Iwo Jima."

He also recalls that the saddest thing he remembers was going to the Jewish concentration camp at Dachau in Germany and seeing how bad the holocaust really was.

He remembers the USO, an organization that sent Hollywood stars to entertain the soldiers.  The thing that he remembers the most about the service was that you could do almost anything you wanted to do when commanding the troops.  There was a lot of discipline, and you didn't ask questions.

The most rewarding thing that happened for Wilson was the ending of the war. (A sentiment echoed by most veterans)  The war changed his life only a little physically, but the biggest change in his life was when he met his future wife as a result of quitting his job.

When asked how strong his memories were, he replied, "Some things I remember well, and some things I don't...but war really puts something on you that you don't ever forget." When asked what one lesson he thinks we should learn, Wilson stated, "We live in a great country that we should fight for and always preserve our heritage."

Aviation Ordinanceman Second Class Paul Arment
Written and interviewed by: Bryan Reeser

Paul Arment served from 1 February 1944 to 15 May 1945 in the United States Navy.  Paul's tour of duty was spent mostly patrolling the East Coast.  He served in four different squadrons after he entered the Naval Air Corps.  Paul was stationed on the aircraft carrier Midway.  He was an Aviation Ordinanceman Second Class.

Paul thinks the most important thing that the military teaches is the "sense of obligation and fulfillment."  He also says that "You have to know the meaning of teamwork, and individual effort is great but teamwork is the key to a successful troop."  Paul also mentioned that "Some men are there trying to be the best individual possible.  But there is always a good commanding officer to lead the men and that you shouldn't follow orders because you have to, but because you want to."  He said, "You know a good commander when his men follow willingly not because they're forced."   The most influential thing that the Navy taught Paul was how to relate with other people and work well in a team.

Paul's worst memory was that of another airman in his squadron.  The man was rather cocky and flamboyant but was a hard worker.  One night Paul and this young man exchanged words, and the next morning Paul realized he was rather cocky himself.  Paul said he had to apologize for the argument he and the other man had the previous night.  About an hour later, the squadron was out practicing torpedo runs.  Paul's pilot was the first plane and the young man was behind them.  Paul's run was successful but he said he saw a plane making a descent, and he knew he was too low.  Paul said, "The plane skipped over the water like a rock and crashed."

Paul said the most important thing a person must know about the military is, "You enter the military to protect your country and to better yourself."  Paul also stated that "The long term benefits of the military include a college education."  Paul received a college diploma through the GI Bill.  He said there are numerous things that the military can do for you, but he also stated that it would be hard to explain.  It is something that has to be experienced.

P.F.C. Kenneth Harwood
Written By: Steven Harwood

Kenneth E. Harwood was a private in World War II. His military qualification was M-1 rifle MRM.  His battles and campaigns were Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe.  Private Kenneth Harwood was awarded six bronze stars for the above campaigns.  He was also awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in France on July 28, 1944.  Private Harwood also received the Good Conduct Medal.

Kenneth Harwood was inducted into the army on 4 December 1942 at the age of 20 years.   He entered the service on 18 December at Camp Robinson, Arkansas.  His basic training was at Fort Hulen, Texas.  He was assigned to Battery A 459th AAA (Anti-Aircraft Artillery) (AW) First Army.  The unit left New York City on 22 October 1943 for the ETO, arriving in Bristol, England 2 December 1943.  The unit landed in Normandy 11 June 1944 at Omaha Beach in Normandy.  The unit was assigned to the 29th Infantry Division on 9 June 1944.  It would serve with the 29th until 29 October 1944. The unit fought through the hedgerow country in Northern France. The Germans fought desperate delaying actions. The unit helped to capture St. Lo.   The 29th Infantry, the 30th Infantry and the 2nd Armoured Division drove south and seized Percy, Tissy-Sur-Vire, St. Germai de Talkvande, Vire and Villebaudon.

Private Harwood was wounded on 28 July 1944 in France near St. Lo.  He was awarded the Purple Heart by General Order 71 from the headquarters of the 29th Infantry Division on 3 August 1944.  The 459th traveled through France including Paris in August of 1944. They passed through Belgium and Holland as well. They entered Germany in November of 1944. By April of 1945 they were just outside of Berlin.

The 459th was also attached to the 9th Army from late 1944 to some time in 1945.  The 459th left Europe 17 October 1945 and arrived in the USA 24 October 1945.  Pvt. Kenneth Harwood was separated from the U.S. Army on 29 October 1945 at Jefferson Barracks Missouri.

P.F.C. John Little
Interviewed by Jennifer Marshall, Brian Reeser and Cindi Harriman

Nineteen year old John Little was drafted in June of 1943. His basic training was in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  He was attached to the 1st Army. In March of 1944, Little shipped out to ETO. He first went to England.  He arrived at Normandy on June 7, 1944.

His job was to bury the dead.  Little was in a special unit that included professional morticians, the 607th Quartermaster Grave Registration Company, a Member of V Corps, 12th Army Group that was commanded by General Omar Bradley. Little's unit buried the dead from D-Day of the Normandy Invasion.  The first cemetery they set up was overlooking Omaha Beach in Normandy.  The unit set up cemeteries all across Europe as the American armies pushed the Germans back to Berlin.

Little also witnessed the firing squad which shot thirteen German soldiers who were caught wearing American uniforms.  He helped to bury the victims of German concentration camps.  Little also recalled burying the victims of the Malmedy Massacre in which Germans murdered American soldiers after they had been captured.  The incident occurred December 17, 1944 in Belgium.

Little was awarded five bronze stars, the Croix de Guerre and other medals for his service in World War II.  While Little would not trade his experiences, he would not want to re-live them.
 

Graphic from Doc's Military & Patriotic Graphics

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