FORWARD
September 7, 1940 was a time of uncertainty for the world as a whole. The United States was just coming out of the Great Depression and would soon be pulled into World War II. Germany bombed London for the first time and I was born on this day. My parents were of course happy about me but horrified for the people of London and the possibility of war. My father had been a Military Policeman, in the Ohio National Guard, and would be re-called to active duty, fortunately he was never sent overseas.
All of the male role models in my life from the time I was born until I graduated from high school were warriors so it seemed natural for me to join the military. Two of my uncles landed at Normandy, one was later in General George S. Patton’s bodyguard. My parish pastor was in the 101st Airborne in Bastogne (The Battle of The Bulge). One of my neighbors was wounded in Korea during the POW uprising on Kogi Do Island. There was a housing development, called the Amvet Village, consisting of over 900 homes built for returning veterans within view of my home and I attended church with many of them. One of them was a celebrated member of the OSS.
I enlisted in the active regular United States Army January 27, 1959 with the intent of making it my career. I retired 20 years later January 31, 1979. This book is about those twenty years and the short time that I spent in the Ohio National Guard from July 11, 1958 to January 26 1959. I would serve at nine different installations in the United States and five foreign countries. Along the way I would try to learn to speak five foreign languages. I remain proficient in only one of them, German.
My entire military career in the active Army was spent working in logistics. No one can fight a war without, ammunition, fuel, food, medical support, transportation, clothing or maintenance support for their equipment. These are however the most overlooked necessities of war when anybody writes about the military. I was fortunate enough to have been involved in nearly every level and area of support. These soldiers are the unsung heroes of any conflict, hot or cold. This book is about me and the soldiers I served with. I was never alone on any assignment.
My story may not be special to you but you have to remember that there were always others with me that may be or have been your friends, neighbors or loved ones. I will name names whenever possible to honor those with whom I have served. I have forgotten many names and I hope you guys will forgive me. There will be occasions where a name is changed in order not to disgrace anyone but some people may recognize themselves or their fellow soldiers.
I was given a ream of paper and 2 dozen pencils as a going away gift by an exchange student from East Germany that my wife and I hosted in 1994-1995. He said I should write a book about all the stuff that I told him. Many other people have told me that I should write a book because I’m always telling stories. After thinking about this for years I sat down and began writing down random thoughts which evolved into an outline as I tried to remember things that have happened to me or that I was witness to during my military life. I suddenly realized that my life may not have been so common or dull after all. I have been fortunate enough to be present for a few historical events and many not so historical but, nonetheless, intriguing or interesting. I will try to find a way to relate these events to you in a manner that will be entertaining to you.
I hope that I don’t bore you with some of the trivial aspects of my life or the men and women that I have served with.
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