NINE MONTHS ON THE FRONT
By Arnold B. Parish
THE ARMY
Page 1
I grew up on a farm nine miles east of Kosse, Texas. My
father and both grandfathers were farmers. July 1935 during the great
depression my father was ill and unable to work. He asked me if I would be
willing to sign up with the Civilian Conservation Core, usually refered to as
the CC"S I entered the Civilian Conservation Core in July 1935. I said
good bye to my Dad, Mother, and five sisters and brothers. I was sixteen.
We thought I would only be away a few months but it was not to be that way.
I never went home to stay again.
Two months after I left home my father died. I remained in the Civilian
Conservation Core about four years, (Which was the maximum time allowed.)
After my release, I worked at odd jobs (mostly farm work.)
In September 1940 I was looking for work in Corpus Christi, Texas. With no experience in the oil field my chances were slim. I became very discouraged. The draft law had passed and I decided to sign up and serve my time. Maybe, after a year things would look better.
I went to the recruiting office in Corpus Christi, Texas. They gave me a physical examination and told me I needed glasses. The Sergeant said, "Go to one of the dime stores. They will fix you up with glasses." I bought glasses and passed the test.
I was given trainfare to San Antonio, Texas with instructions to report to the recruiting office there. I was in the recruiting office in San Antonio by 8:00 the following morning.
The Sergeant at the desk behind the counter approached the counter. I gave him my papers from Corpus Christi, Texas. He asked, "What part of
Page 2
the service do you want to serve with? We have the Infantry, Air Force, Artillery and Cavalry." I said, "The Air Force." He examined the file cabinet, came back to the counter and said, "There are no openings in the Air Force. What is your next choice?" We went through the same Procedure with the Cavalry and Artillery. There were only openings in the Infantry. I think he was instructed by the War Department to put all farmers in the Infantry. The gave me a more through physical and I passed without eye glasses.
I took my basic training at Dodd Field, Fort Sam Houston, Texas and was assigned to Company F of the 38th Infantry Regiment, Second Infantry Division. The 38th was at Camp Bullis, Texas at that time and were belleted in Army tents. I found there was lots of training we needed to become fully qualified soldiers.
We had learned the Manual Of Arms and to march in close order drill, to dissemble and assemble our rifles (naming each part along with a full description of that gas operated weapon.) We also learned by memory our serial numbers and general orders; to salute and other military basics.
At Camp Bullis we began our training for combat and spent almost every day in the hills of that vast army camp. There were so many ticks we could lay our hand on the ground and it would be immediately covered. We were then sent to the firing range for target practice. We were there for two weeks firing our weapons. the targets were two, three and five hundred yard distance. Most of us were firing the M-1 30 caliber rifle which was the standard weapon for an infantryman.
The day we fired for record the wind had changed and most of us only
Page 3
qualified for Sharp Shooter. We used most of the day adjusting the sights on our rifles.
The following week eight of us from Company F, were sent to the firing range to fire the Browning Automatic Rifle; (normally called the BAR.) This rifle, capable of firing more than 600 rounds per minute was well designed and had proved to be a very effective weapon. I became qualified as expert marksman with the BAR and it became my assigned weapon. It weighed over 21 pounds; about 13 pounds more than the M-1 and we had to carry more ammunition. Two other men in the squad also carried part of the ammunition for the BAR.
When the first draftees arrived, I was promoted to Corporal and was assigned to a detail to train recruits. After the recruits were assigned to the platoons, I went back to my platoon and was assigned as assistant squad leader.
On November 8, 1941, I took my thirty day furlough and was home with my mother, brothers and sisters most of the time. I returned to camp on December 7th about three o'clock in the morning. I awoke to a loud radio broadcast. Everyone seemed to be excited about something. I listened and could not believe the Japanese were attacking Pearl Harbor. I had heard of Pearl Harbor but did not know where it was. I knew in a few minutes. We were gathered around the radio all that day. There were spot announcements for all military service men to report to their units as soon as possible. At about 3:00 PM the soldiers on pass or furlough began arriving. We were sure we would be sent somewhere to combat before the end of the week but to our dismay we did not see combat for
Page 4
two and a half years but we did do a lot of training in preparation. About a month later our squad leader went on pass; got drunk and went AWOL (absent without leave). He was demoted and I became the squad leader. I held that position as a Corporal through the Louisiana maneuvers in 1941 and almost through the maneuvers in 1942.
I remained a Corporal leading a squad for more than two years without promotion to Sergeant. I guess someone was saving the Army a lot of money since two out of the three of us squadleaders in the first platoon were still Corporals. Our assistant squadleaders remained private First Class as they could not be promoted to Corporal until we were promoted. The other three platoons did not have the same problem. I had heard that our platoon Sergeant did not think we were qualified and was looking for someone that was. Seems as thought he could have found someone out of the thirty nine men in the platoon.
One very hot day in 1942 while on maneuvers in Louisiana we were on a forced march; I was thinking about the rating I should get and I was feeling pretty low. I decided I would do something to be demoted. That was a foolish thought but before I thought it over good I delibertly disobeyed an order. We had been given orders to fill our cantten with water before we left our bivouc area that morning. That would be all the water we could have to drink for the day. A few minutes later as we were marching parallel to a stream of water, I stepped out of rank and began filling my canteen. Our platoon leader ordered me to pour it out. I poured it out. I am sure he thought I was protesting the order which was not my reason.
Page 5
"maybe I will get busted". I stepped out of ranks and walked about fifteen steps to a spring and started filling my canteen. My platoon Leader a Second Lieutenant, said. "Pour it out, thats an order". I poured it out. That evening I was ordered to report to the company commander and was told I was no longer a Corporal and would be transferred to Company K. I would not have disobeyed the order if I had known about this new ruling. I was the first one in Company K to be transferred for a reduction in rank.
The next morning a jeep came from Company K to pick me up
with my equipment. Dugless McFadden the driver of the jeep was to become a
very good friend.
Soon after my transfer the Second Division returned to the base at Fort Sam
Houston, Texas and we resumed our garrison training.
In November 1942 the Second Division moved to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. A four months program of intensive training for winter warfare followed We tested new equipment for fighting under extreme cold weather and we became proficient in the use of skis and snowshoes.
After one week of training I was learning the basics but I needed more. While going down a steep slope a skier in front of me fell down. Trying to miss him I fell and cut a two inch gash in my left knee. I did not get to return to skies again for three weeks. I had missed the most important part of the training. Maneuvers were next.
The Division traveled to Michigan by train. After traveling all night and into the next day the train stopped. We got off in a field or maybe pasture. The snow was a foot or more deep and was falling steady, and
Page 6
Being in the first car behind the engine two of us walked to where the train crew were standing beside the engine and I asked "What is the temperature?" One of the crew said, "Forty five Below; it will get colder though."
Most of the skiing in Michigan was across country. There were not many hills. As I had been on the casualty list for three weeks, I was barly able to stand up on the skies and I could not keep up with the rest of the Company and after the first day I had large blisters on my heels . Toward evening I would be a hundred yards or more behind the Company column falling down every few yards. The Company Commander who stayed in rear of the Company would shout at me saying "Par-i-sh! get up from there and catch up." I was embarrassed and would try but could not keep up, however I was skiing well before we finished the maneuvers and the Captain was off my back. Two weeks and the maneuvers were over.
During the last days in September 1943 the Second Division moved by rail to a staging area at Camp Shanks, New York and sailed October 7 in a large convoy. The convoy was protected by battleships, destroyers and airplanes.
The Second Division arrived in Belfast, Ireland October 18, 1943. And traveled by truck to Bestbrook, Ireland and moved into metal buildings. The town hall became our messhall.
We spent the next six months training in hedgerows. This should have given us an idea of what we were training for. I do not think any of us thought of the hedgerows in Normandy, France. I knew nothing of them.
Page 7
The division moved to Wales in mid April and we continued our training. We did close order drills and calisthenics then we went out on the road for two or more hours of running with ten minute breaks each hour. Some of the men would get cramps in their legs. They were very painful. I was fortunate I did not get cramps.
In the closing days of May the Division moved into its final staging area in Bristal Channel ports. The pre-loaded Bristal Channel Build Up Force was the name given this set-up in Allied Headquarters. Just prior to D Day the units of the Division began its move to an active war front.