Weapons

M1 Rifle (Expert) 30 Cal Carbine 45 Cal Pistol 30 Cal Hvy. M.G.

Decorations

Bronze Star Good Conduct Asia/Pacific Camp. C.I.B. Philipine Liberation

First Combat

On Morotai. Attached to G Co in a shore to shore landing.

Vivid Memory

Very near miss ( 2 ft,) with a Jap Mortar Round.

Funniest Memory

One of my squad leaders left his fox hole for a bathroom break, got caught in Jap knee mortar fire and was running uphill to his fox hole, stepping over trip wires, trying to pull his pants up.

Worst Memory

Tullahoma, Tenn. Dec. 7th 1941. Had just walked out of a Western Union office after sending a wire home saying I was coming home on leave. Heard the news about Pearl Harbor and had to go back in to cancel the message.

Final Comments

I think my history with the 33rd is a little unique in that I joined H co 130 in July 1940, was assigned to the 2d platoon as #4 ammo bearer. We were inducted into Federal Service Mar 5th 41and went to Camp Forrest Tenn Where I was promoted to Cpl. Squad Ldr. Then to Sgt Section Ldr. At Fort Lewis Wash. Pro! moted to Staff Sgt Platoon Sgt. After arriving in Hawaii Moved up a grade to Tech Sgt Served throughout the war in that capacity. When Discharged in the states I had never left my platoon. Me and Sgt Wilbert Haak, Also of Lincoln IL were the only two men left of the original Co H.

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