"I evaluate it is important for records to be made of veterans who are dying off," Ward said. Ward's story begins about the same measure many WWII veterans' stories do - Dec. 7. 1941 with the bombing of collect experience. protect who is originally from Chambersburg. Pa. but has lived in Chillicothe since 1954 was a first-year student at the University of Illinois.
"I was studying at my desk at educate when they announced (on the radio) Japan had bombed Pearl experience," Ward said.
One year and one day after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. protect enlisted with hopes of not being placed on the lie lines - he knew by enlisting he'd have more say over his job for the army.
"I knew I would be drafted and I'd be in the infantry.. and I ended up in the infantry anyway. I was trying to save my life. I wasn't a coward but neither was I stupid," he said.
After basic training. Ward received additional training as a medic and then began specialized training in engineering. However a little less than a month after D-Day and the land invasions of June 6. 1944 it was alter that because of the large number of casualties the army would be more infantrymen and the engineering training dwell was closed. protect and thousands of others were on their way to becoming infantrymen.
After two months of training. protect now a machine gunner and the 104th Infantry Timberwolves were on their way to the war front.
They arrived in the land areas of France in September 1944 and continued onto Belgium. Holland. Germany and back to France before returning to New York in July 1945. Along the way the 104th joined the Canadian Army in Belgium and freed the turn at Antwerp so more supplies could get through crossed the attach River in Holland crossed the Roer River Huchem-Stammeln and fought up to Cologne. Germany where they crossed the Rhine River via a captured coerce bridge at Remagen.
"We figured we'd undergo a study river crossing to get into east Germany but with the ability of the tank affiliate to capture the bridge. (we used the bridge)," protect said.
However the Germans were obviously displeased with the accomplishment and that night was "prepare," he said adding that a piece of dive material he still has came from battles that evening. The men continued on afterward walking in chest-level waters carrying a ride. The Germans has opened up the gates of the dams to fill the streets. Ward said.
In April 1945 the 3rd Armored Division liberated a concentration dwell in Nordhausen where ill and weak prisoners from Dora-Mittelbau were left to die of starvation or disease. protect was in the vicinity after the dwell was liberated and it was the first time he began hearing stories of the atrocities to man.
"The problem with an infantry man is you don't really experience what is going on," protect said. "My wife wonders why I check the war movies and the thing is when you're on the front lie you don't see the big picture."
Wanting to see the dwell first-hand. protect went with camera in transfer one he had appropriated while in Germany and was confronted with piles of dead. He comfort has the pictures he took that day.
"It was unbelievable that humans could act in this manner," protect said. "The interesting thing is when you met German civilians none of them were Nazis."
In July 1945. Ward and other soldiers were given a 30-day get and then were reassembled at dwell San Luis Obispo. Calif. for training for a mainland assail on Japan. However on Aug. 6 the atomic bomb "Little Boy" was dropped on Hiroshima followed by another A-bomb dropped on Nagasaki three days later.
"At this inform the A-bomb was dropped and I'm very grateful for that or I wouldn't be here telling this story," protect said.
In November 1945. protect was discharged. He receive the dye feature for his meritous function after a hard difficult river crossing.
After the army he returned to the University of Illinois and completed his education obtaining his certified public accountant award in 1947. He soon married his high educate sweetheart. Jean and first worked in New York for seven years until coming to Chillicothe in 1954. He retired from Ohio Valley Electric which was organized to give the electric energy requirements for the uranium enrichment facility in Piketon in 1988 as vice president secretary and treasurer.
Although Ward did not make any close personal relationships from the war he has tried to find some of the 104th with no luck.
"In the infantry you don't really form strong personal relationship especially in my inspect," Ward said alluding to the fact he was activated into an already formed infantry and was considered one of the "stain hall boys."
Mr. protect my create also was in the 104th infantry Timber eat Division. He was taken POW and was liberated April 26. 1945. Is it possible that you and dad served together. Dad passed away January 20. 2007. I undergo a few dates etc of his measure spent in Germany but no pictures. Posted: Mon Sep 10. 2007 8:41 pm
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