A Publication by the Indiana Military Org,
a privately owned and funded organization dedicated
to the preservation of Indiana Military History. James D. West, Editor
December 2002 Volume 8 Number 12
Continuing a
Proud Tradition in Reporting Since 1941 Atterbury Crier-Camp
Crier-Cardinal-Wakeman Probe-Caduceus-Twingine Times-Big
Times-Splint & Litter- Wardier
Click on the 31st
'Double D' emblem
to visit the Web Site
World War One
75 mm Gun Crew
World War Two
"Battle of Colgan Woods"
painted by Jackson Walker of Orlando, Florida at the cost of
$6,000. Many 31st Division Veterans contributed to the cost
along with the Florida Heritage Series. The 4' x 4' art
hands in the 124th Infantry Museum, Orlando, Florida.
It
depicts Chaplain Colgan ministering to a wounded soldier,
when he was killed. Henceforth the woods in Mindanao,
Philippines was known as Colgans Woods.
(courtesy of Mrs. Marion Hess, President - 124th Infantry
Regiment Association (widow of Fredrick W. Hess, Jr.)
General
Hutcheson, Commanding General of the 31st Infantry Division
taking General Morozumi's surrender at Minanao, Philippines.
(courtesy of Mrs. Marion Hess, President - 124th Infantry
Regiment Association (widow of Fredrick W. Hess, Jr.)
Colonel
Hardenberg and Japanese General Morozumi walking between lines
of the 31st Division Headquarters troops after the surrender
on Minanao, Philippines.
Colonel
Hardenburg hand-picked the troops so that all were 6 feet tall
or more. This was so they would "tower" over the Japanese
General.
(courtesy of Mrs. Marion Hess, President - 124th Infantry
Regiment Association (widow of Fredrick W. Hess, Jr.)
Japanese
Surrender Document
(courtesy of Mrs. Marion Hess, President - 124th Infantry
Regiment Association (widow of Fredrick W. Hess, Jr.)
THE INFORMATION
SECTION
Analysis Branch
HEADQUARTERS ARMY GROUND FORCES
Washington 25, D. C.
1 March 1947
FACT SHEET ON THE 31st INFANTRY DIVISION
SHOULDER PATCH: The patch is a white disc on which is a red
circle. Within the circle are two red D's, back to back. The
D's stand for Dixie Division, the 31st having drawn its
strength in World War I from National Guard units of Fla., and
Ga. and in this war from La., Miss., Ala., and Fla.
TYPE OF DIVISION: National Guard
NICKNAME: "Dixie Division".
SLOGAN: It Shall Be Done.
HISTORY: The division was
organized in Oct. 1917 at Camp -Wheeler, Ga., end went
overseas during Sept., Oct., and Nov 1918. Upon arrival in
France it was designated as a replacement division. The
personnel of most of the units were withdrawn and sent to
other organizations. 41 somewhat skeletonized division
remained at Brest returning to the U. S. in Dec. 1918, and was
demobilized early in 1919. The 31st was reorganized in 1923 as
a National Guard division with its several component units
coming from La., Miss and Fla. The 124th Infantry Regiment was
organized from companies which date back to June, 1921, A
cross of red on the shield is from the flag of the State of
Florida. The 155th Infantry Regiment dates back to 1798 when
it was organized as the Adams County, Miss., Militia. It
fought in the War of 1812, the Creek Indian War, the Mexican
War and then, as the First Mississippi Volunteers, it
participated in the War Between the States. When World War I
broke out it was stationed on the Mexican border and later saw
service overseas with the 39th Infantry Division. Its
regimental
motto is "Stand Fast." The 167th Infantry Regiment comes from
Alabama and originated on 15 July 1911. During World War I it
was part of the 42d Infantry Division.
INDUCTION DATE: 26 November 1940
INACTIVATION DATE: 21 December
1945 at Camp Stoneman, California.
TRAINING UNDER ARMY GROUND FORCES:
The 31st was assigned to Camp Blanding, Fla., on its
induction. It took part in the Third Army maneuvers held in
Louisiana in Sept. 1941 and in Nov. 1941 participated in the
maneuvers held in the Carolinas under GHQ and the IV Corps.
Early in 1942 it moved to Camp Bowie, Texas, and on 9 March
1942 came under the Army Ground Forces. From Aug. to Sept.
1942 the Dixie Division played an important part in Third Army
maneuvers in Louisiana and at the completion of maneuvers
moved to Camp Shelby, Miss. During July and Aug. 1943 the
division was part of the Third Army which maneuvered in
Louisiana. Upon completion of maneuvers the 31st moved to Camp
Pickett, Va.
OVERSEAS TRAINING: Trained
briefly at Oro Bay, British New Guinea, prior to entering
combat.
DEPARTED U. S. FOR FOREIGN DUTY:
12 March 1944
RETURNED TO U. S.: 12 December
1945 (HQ)
BATTLE CREDITS (Division) New
Guinea and Southern Philippines. DATE ENTERED
COMBAT: DIVISION 16 July 1944
FIRST ELEMENTS 13 July 1944
SUCCESSIVE COMMANDING GENERALS:
Maj. Gen. John C. Persons from. 1940 to Sept. 19/14; Maj. Gen.
Clarence A. Martin from Sept. 1944 to inactivation.
COMPONENT UNITS: 154, 155 and
167th Inf. Regt. 31 Cav Ron Tp (Mecz) 106 Med. Bn; 106 Engr C
Bn; Div. Arty: 116, 117 and 149th F.A. Bns (105 how) and 114
FA Bn (155 how) . SD Tps: 31 QM Co, 31 Sig Co, 731 Ord Co (LM)
Hq Co. MP Plat and Band.
CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR WINNERS:
Cpl Harry R. Harr, Company D, 124th Infantry Regiment, for 5
June 1945 action at Maglamin, Mindanao, P.I.
DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION 106th
Engr C Bn fo r 22 Apr 30 June 45 action at Midanao, PI.
COMBAT HIGHLIGHTS: Once having
reached the Southwest Pacific the 31st wasted little time
moving into combat. In March 1944, the 124th Infantry Regiment
went to Aitape and caught a heavy assignment for its first
action. In the bloody fighting along the Druinimor River the
regiment killed more than 3000 of the enemy and played a major
part in breaking the back of the by-passed Japanese Eighteenth
Army Or, 22 March 1944, General MacArthur was able to announce
that 30,000 Japs were trapped between Aitape and Hollandia.
Later the 155th and 167th Infantry Regiments fought in the
Wakde-Sarmi area of New Guinea. Fighting was much lighter here
and by 18 May the capture of Wakdo was announced. These two
regiments accounted for more than 1000 Japs while on the
Maffin Bay perimeter which guarded the Fifth Air Force's
airstrip. In Sept. 1944, the Dixie Division sailed from Maffin
'Bay for the re-conquest of Morotai and on 15 Sept. hit the
beaches of this Dutch island less than 350 miles from the
Philippines. The 31st quickly secured a beachhead and by noon
of D-Day had seized Piton Airdrome. The capture of Morotai
gave our forces control of the Halmahera Sea and cut off
20,000 Jap troops on the island of Halmahera. On 15 Nov. 1944,
a battalion combat team from the 167th Infantry Regiment
backtracked several hundred miles to the tiny Mapia Island to
knock out a Jap spotter station. This battalion killed 167
bitterly resisting well-entrenched Japanese in two days with
the loss of only 12 American lives. In the nearby Asia Island
group a reinforced company of the 124th Infantry Regiment
landed to find no Japs. For months the West maintained the
perimeter defense on Morotai for the 13th Air Force and
carried out patrol missions into Morotai's rugged interior.
The 31st was sent to Mindanao, P.I., in April 1945. The
divisions first assignment was to push north from Kabacan." It
had not gone five miles, however, before it successfully
engaged in a six hour battle with Japs who had been advancing
to attack to attack Kabacan. Their defeat at this point
prevented the Japs from erecting defenses in the gorge country
farther north which might have proved costly in men and time.
Working through central Mindanao and fighting a fanatical
enemy who used every advantage of terrain and cover, the 31st
by 18 April 1945, had pushed 17 miles in a period of three
days to recapture the former American air base at Valencia.
Five days Inter the 31st paced a nine-division assault to
clean out the last major Japanese resistance in the
Philippines and captured the provincial capital of Malaybalay,
the last big enemy-held city on Mindanao. It also wrested the
airfield near the city from the Japs. In June 1945 the 31st
was reported mopping up scattered resistance on the island.
Units of the division sailed for home in Nov. and the division
was inactivated on the west coast in Dec.
COMMENDATIONS: Lt. Gen.. Robert
Eichelberger, commanding general of the Eighth Army, commended
the 31st for its execution of operations which resulted in
splitting all Jap forces in Mindanao.
DIVISION ASSOCIATION: 31st
Infantry Division Association
C/O Adjutant General
Military Department
State of Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Welcome to
the 31st Infantry “Dixie” Division. I sincerely hope your stay
here will be interesting, pleasant and beneficial. This is on
extremely important period in your life, when you must change
from civilian to military living and habits. We will assist
you in every way that we can.
Our
mission is to develop you into a well-trained soldier.
prepared to perform your duties as o soldier—anywhere in the
world.
To
accomplish this, we have a rigorous and progressive training
program of instruction scheduled to be presented by well
qualified officer and enlisted instructors, many of whom are
veterans of combat in World War II and in Korea.
-
The success of the
program depends largely upon you- —upon your response to the
challenge and responsibilities now facing you—upon your
cheerful and prompt obedience of orders— upon your full
cooperation with your leaders—and upon your wholesome,
give-and-take relations with your fellow trainees.
The
history of the 31st Infantry “Dixie” Division is long and
colorful and one in which you may well be proud of having
received your training.
In bidding
you welcome, I urge each of you individually to take full
advantage of the opportunities presented and get the most out
of your service in defense of your country.
Cantonment Area - 31st Division
At Camp Atterbury
Franklin Evening Star -
11 April 1952 Mass Airlift Is Slated
To Start At Dawn--Monday - 9,000 Men To Arrive At Atterbury
Base in Two-Day Period
Final plans for the arrival of the Infantry Division,
scheduled to be airlifted from Texas to Indiana early next
week, have been completed. The first plane-load of Dixie
Division men is schedule to take off from San Angelo (Tex.)
Air Force Base shortly before dawn Monday (Apr. 14) and to
launch the around the-clock air movement of nearly 9,000
combat-dressed men.
First Plane Here at 8 a.m.
The men in the first plane will touch Hoosier soil, at the
Atterbury Air Force Base, about 8 a.m. that morning and will
be taken immediately to Camp Atterbury, their new home. Lt.
Col. Frank Reagan, who commands advance elements of the 31st.
now at
Camp Atterbury, said that his men have completed their
mission to prepare the camp for the arrival of the Division.
Maj. Gen. A. G. Paxton, the Division's Commanding General, is
expected to arrive on one of the first planes, Division
officials said.
Will Use 277 Sorties
Planes carrying 31st Division men from Texas will be from the
18th Air Force Troop Carrier Wing, Air Force officials said
they would fly "about 277 sorties" on Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday to airlift the 31st.
An Airlift Coordination Committee, headed by Col. R. J. Halada,
Deputy Post Chief of Staff and Lt. Col. W. G. Stotlar, of VI
Corps Transportation. has been organized to carry out the
final phase of the air movement.
Thirty busses will transport 31st men from Atterbury Air Force
Base, 10 miles south of here, to the camp. Camp Atterbury
Military Police and Indiana State Police will work together to
control traffic on highway U. S. 31 between the air base and
camp.
Equipment Comes By Rail
The Division's heavy equipment and a few other men will travel
from Texas to Indiana by rail. Meanwhile, a motor convoy of
about 4.000 men is scheduled to leave Camp Bowie, Tex., next
Tuesday. Included in the group will be the Division's
102-piece marching band. The motor convoy will cover the
900-mile distance in approximately a week, with first units
arriving Apr. 21. The Dixie Band is scheduled to parade in six
cities or the way north. They include Dallas and Texarkana,
Tex.; Greenville, Miss.. Memphis. Tenn., Ft. Campbell, Ky.,
and Louisville, Ky.
Franklin Evening Star -
12 June 1952 10 Soldiers
Are Swept Into River, Escape Drowning
CAMP ATTERBURY, June 12 Ten Camp Atterbury soldiers escaped
possible serious injury or death today when they were rescued
from a swollen stream after their truck went off the road into
deep water.
The 10 men, all members of the 31st Infantry Division, were
rushed
to U. S. Army Hospital after their rescue. Doctors found them
all in
"good shape."
"No one was hurt, but they all got a good bath," military
police officers said.
The accident occurred when a 2.' ton truck carrying combat
dressed men was swept into the stream as it crossed a short,
submerged cement causeway.
The swift current, caused by heavy rain, carried the truck off
the road. It came to a stop in water estimated to be eight
feet deep.
Throw Rope To Men
Military policemen who rushed to the scene threw a rope to the
men. who were clinging to the truck, and they pulled
themselves to shore Two of the men were unable to swim.
The men, all carrying rifles and wearing combat. boots and
helmet liners, were on their way to relieve guards on Camp
Atterbury's rifle range.
The accident occurred about H o'clock Thursday morning. The
men involved were from Companies A. B. and D. of the 167th
Infantry Regiment.
The driver of the truck wits Pfc Lucian Boutin. Other men who
were riding in the truck were Earl A. Rhodes, Charles B. Ford.
Hermon J. Mims, Houston Stricken. H. St. John. Warner R.
Radcliff. Jennie C. Baker, William C. Kingsland, Sonny Burns.
Franklin Evening Star - 14 April 1952
One of the first of the big C-124 Globemasters to arrive
at the
Atterbury Air Force Base Monday morning is shown
above as a two and one-half ton combat wagon was being
unloaded. Two of the vehicles with trailers plus a
number of members of the Dixie Division were on the
plane. The plane has three compartments. Beneath the
vehicles are stored equipment. On the same level with
the trucks, there are seats for troops, and a metal
floor swings down over the trucks providing additional
facilities for carrying personnel.
Col. George A. Haas, commanding officer of the 200th
Infantry Regimental Combat team. is shown above just
after he stepped off a C-124 Globemaster at the
Atterbury Air Force Base. His unit was the first
to arrive Monday morning. "I am happy to be here," the
Colonel commented, despite the cold, rainy weather.
Mass
Airlift Of 9,000 Dixie Division Men, Equipment Begins
Estimate Influx Of 20,000 Persons In Vicinity Of
Atterbury
A
huge, silver and red C-124 Globemaster broke through the
rain swept clouds of the Atterbury Air Base outside of
Columbus Monday morning and settled down on the runway
at 5:09 o'clock marking the opening of the largest
'round-the-clock mass airlift of fully-equipped troops
ever undertaken by the armed forces. When all of the
men of the Dixie Division arrive with their families. it
will mean an influx of an estimated 20,000 persons in
this area. The first plane to land at the Air Base was
loaded with 116 men of Company "A", 200th Regimental
Combat team and one jeep. A Hoosier, Lt. Col. Richard
Etter, of Indianapolis, was at the controls of the first
plane which was 24 minutes behind schedule. The 18th Air
Force plane had left San Angelo, Texas. Air Force Base
at 12:01 a.m. and made the trip without mishap.
As the morning progressed, the airlift got back on
schedule, and the big planes landed at the Atterbury
base at the rate of one every 15 minutes. Members of the
advance party of the 31st division were on hand to
unload the trucks and equipment from the planes.
Taken To Atterbury
The sun-tanned members of the Dixie division who have
been on Exercise Longhorn in Texas since early March,
were loaded into large buses and taken to their new
home,
Camp Atterbury. There they were
given a hot meal, and mess halls at the center were on a
24-hour basis to serve the remainder of the soldiers who
will arrive later. Military Police were at the key
intersections along the route to the Camp to direct
traffic.
The mass airlift will continue throughout the next two
days. Ninety-two planes are slated to reach here today.
and 98 more will land at the Air Base on Tuesday. On the
final day, 85 planes will settle down on the runways.
All of the
planes making the flight will not be the big
Globemasters. C-119's or "Flying Boxcars" will be used
along with a number of C-46's. A few newsmen and
photographers, the advance party of the 31st division,
and Air Base personnel, were on hand Monday morning to
witness the start of the airlift.
Maj. Gen. A. G. Paxton. of Greenville, Miss., commander
of the Dixie division, is not scheduled to reach Hoosier
soil until Tuesday. He was originally slated to be on
one of the first planes of the airlift. His assistant,
Brig. Gen. Eugene Ridings, is directing the airlift for
the Army.
Convoy Leaves Tuesday
Meanwhile a big motor convoy will leave Camp Bowie,
Texas. on Tuesday. The last unit of the convoy is got
slated to leave until. April 19. Approximately 1960
vehicles, transporting nearly 4000 "foot weary" Dixie
Division troops with their equipment will make six
scheduled stops en route to Camp Atterbury.
The motor convoys will halt at Dallas, Tex.; Texarkana,
Tex.; Greenvilla, Miss.; Memphis. Tenn.: Fort Campbell
and Fort Knox, Ky. During the overnight sojourns in the
bivouac cities, the 31st Division men will eat, sleep,
and bivouac in the field.
Controlling the motor movement is Brigadier General
James A. Lake, Greenville, Miss.. who commanded
the 31st Division Artillery units during the Exercise
Long Horn.
Traveling with the first Dixie Division motor convoy
leaving Texas will be the famous 31st military and
concert band. This aggregation has received lavish
praise for its abilities throughout the past 14 months.
General Paxton has arranged for it to play an hour
concert for the citizens of the six bivouac cities on
the 1,235-mile route to Camp Atterbury.
Franklin Evening Star - 16 April 1952 Over Five Million
Passenger Miles Completed by Airlift Without Mishap
Mass airlift of 9,000 men of the Dixie Division and
their equipment was entering the final stages Wednesday
afternoon at the
Atterbury Air Force Base near Columbus. Air
Base officials estimated that more than 5,000,000
passenger mile, had been completed by today with no
mishaps reported thus far. The air movement of the 31st
Division is scheduled to be completed tomorrow morning.
Six thousand
members of the division had reached Camp Atterbury south
of here by this morning, anal 3,000 more are enroute by
air. Early this morning the equipment carried by the big
planes had passed the 1,000 ton mark.
Wednesday noon it was reported that the planes had
completed a total of 205 flights from the San Angelo
(Texas) Air Base. Clear skies were reported all of the
way over the route today, which put the huge airlift
back on schedule after being delayed by rain and fog.
Planes Fly Over County
Johnson county residents continued to hear the planes
roar overhead as they were enroute to the Atterbury Air
Force Base. Planes were landing at the base at the gate
of one every 15 minutes.
Among the officials who visited the base Wednesday
afternoon was Maj. Gen. Paul W. Kendall, commanding
officer of Camp Atterbury and the Sixth Corps. Gen.
Lacey V. Murrow, the 18th Air Force officer in charge of
the airlift, is scheduled to leave tomorrow. Maj. Gen.
Alexander G. Paxton arrived at the base yesterday
afternoon in the private plane of General Murrow.
(General Murrow is the brother of News Commentator,
Edward R. Murrow)
Meanwhile a big convoy bringing some of the men and
equipment of the 31st division is enroute north. The
first elements of the convoy are slated to arrive at
Camp Atterbury on Saturday, April 19. There are 1,960
vehicles in the convoy and 4,000 troops.
The 31st which is composed of the former Mississippi and
Alabama National Guard units, is taking over the area
previously used by the 28th Division, now in Germany.
Franklin Evening Star - 17 April 1952 Mass Airlift Is
Scheduled To End At 1 P. M. Today First Elements Of Convoy Will Reach Camp Monday
With the arrival of the last planes scheduled for 7
o'clock tonight at the
Atterbury Air Force Base, the curtain will be
rung down on the largest 'round-the-clock mass airlift
to be conducted in the history of the armed forces.
Seven planes are due in this evening including five
C-124 Globemasters which were diverted yesterday to
carry food to the homeless thousands in the
Missouri-Mississippi valley flood area. If the big
planes had been kept on the airlift, it probably could
have met the goal set for the end of the big show at
noon today. Two C-119 "Flying Boxcars" are also
slated to come in tonight. They are being held on a
standby basis in Texas to carry supervisory personnel
and miscellaneous equipment. The Globemasters will bring
in the last elements of the 200th Regimental Combat
Team.
Complete 261 Flights
At 1 p.m. Thursday, a total of 261 flights had been
completed from the San Angelo (Texas) Air Force Base.
Lt. Shea Air Force public relations officer at the base,
stated that 8,563 members of the 31st division had
reached there, and that the planes had carried a total
of 1,639 tons of equipment.
Despite the
fact that 9,466,600 passenger miles had Been completed
early this afternoon, no mishaps have occurred during
the giant airlift. Meanwhile public relations officers
of the Dixie division reported Thursday afternoon that
the firs: motor convoy will reach
Camp Atterbury on Monday. No reports of
accidents have been received to date. The last elements
of the convoy will leave Texas on Saturday
Franklin Evening Star - 02 May 1952 31st Division G.I.'s Agree A-Bomb
Blast at Yucca Flat Was A Big Thing
One hundred and fifty members of the 31st Infantry Division
arrived at Camp Atterbury
this week from Yucca Flat, Nevada, where they participated in
the recent Atom test.
The men, all members of Company B of the Dixie Division's 31st
Infantry Regiment,
took part in the atomic explosion along with some 2,000 other
Army and Air Force
personnel.
"The earth shook-and felt like it was going to fall apart;"
was the comment of Sgt.
Lawrence McDonald on the A-Bomb blast.
Beautiful Sight
"But," he added, "it was one of the most beautiful things I've
ever seen and I'll
never forget it." Lt. Lewis Leverett, the unit's Commanding
Officer, said that
all of his men were happy to have taken part in the test. We
feel it was a privilege
to have been there. Not many people can say they were four
miles from the heart
of an A-Bomb blast." he said.
The Dixie Division men, along with ground troops from four
other Infantry, Armored
and Airborne divisions. were in trenches about four miles from
where the bomb exploded
on Tuesday, April 22.
After the flash. the troops raced out of the trenches and were
enveloped in the
boiling dust. Later. after radiological teams indicated the
area was safe, the troops
advanced directly across "ground zero" Members of Company B
went through the explosion
with out suffering a casualty. The Army announced after the
test that there had
been no casualties among the men who were participating.
First Time
It marked the first time troop: have been employed in a
tactical situation involving
an actual atomic explosion. The bomb itself was believed to
have been the second
largest A-Bomb tested. Members of Company B were flown to
Nevada directly from
Exercise Long Horn. They made the trip from Nevada to Camp
Atterbury by rail. Lt.
Charles E. Whetstine, Company B's executive officer, could not
get excited about
the maneuver. "It was just another big thing," the combat
veteran of both World
War II and the Korean conflict. It WAS a big thing other
members of the unit said.
US Atomic Veterans
Harold E.
Nelson
Well my story is
pretty much the same as many stories about those test you
have read. I was less than a mile from ground zero, the shot
was detonated a mile in the air. We had no protective
clothing or film badges.
After the shot we
walked through ground zero, there were sheep, goats, and a
lot of old military stuff there at different locations at
ground zero. Most of the military stuff was completely
destroyed. Surprisingly some of the goats and sheep were
still alive but there backs were fried good and done.
I would like to
hear from some of the guys who were with Co B 167th Inf. We
were attached to an element of the 82nd Airborne. All of
this took place on April 22nd at around 9:00 a.m. in 1952.
The 167th Inf. was
on maneuvers in Texas early in the winter of 1952. It was
called "Operation Longhorn". I was in Co A, 167th Regiment
at that time, then I was transferred to Co B, 167th and was
airlifted to Nellis Air force base in Nevada. From there we
were sent to Camp Mercury to take part in "Operation Tumbler
Snapper". After that we rejoined the division at Camp
Atterbury.
From Nevada to
Atterbury we traveled by train.
H. E. Nelson
06/20/2001
He was getting old and paunchy, And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, Telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought in, And the deeds that he had
done,
In his exploits with his buddies; They were heroes, every one.
And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors, His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly, For they knew where of he
spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer, For ol' Bob has passed
away,
And the world's a little poorer, For a Soldier died today.
He won't be mourned by many, Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary, Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family, Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing, 'Tho a Soldier died
today.
When politicians leave this earth, Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing, And proclaim that they
were great.
Papers tell of their life stories From the time that they were
young
But the passing of a Soldier, Goes unnoticed, and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution, To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise, And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow, Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country, And offers up his life?
The politician's stipend, And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate, To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Soldier, Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal. And perhaps a pension, small.
It's so easy to forget them, For it is so many times
That our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys, Went to battle, but we
know,
It is not the politicians, With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom, That our country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger, With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out, With his ever waffling
stand?
Or would you want a Soldier--, His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier, Who would fight until the end.
He was just a common Soldier, And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us, We may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles, That the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor, While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage. At the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simply headline. In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."
The History Crier
is published independently by the Indiana Military
Org.anization and is in no way connected with the
Department of the Army, the Indiana National Guard, or any other
military or civilian organization. Unless otherwise noted, all
content has been previously published during WW2 and the Korean
War.
Editor—James D. West, Veteran, Sgt, Co. B 138th Armor, Co. C
151st Mechanized Infantry, INARNG and MSgt, 71st Special
Operations Squadron, USAFRes.
Email:JimWest@IndianaMilitary.org
Visit the web site dedicated
to south-central Indiana Military history and join the new
Discussion—Message board. Ask a question—Answer a question. All
are invited. www.IndianaMilitary.org
See Where Heroes Were Made…
Visit and Support the museums dedicated to preserving the memories
of those men and women who made today’s freedoms possible.
Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum—located on the site of the
former Atterbury AAF and Bakalar AFB, North of Columbus, Indiana.
Camp Atterbury Museum—located in Camp Atterbury, West of
Edinburgh, Indiana. Open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 4 pm.
Freeman AAF Museum—located on the site of the former Freeman
Army Air Field, West of Seymour, Indiana. Just South of State Road 50.
Open Monday thru Friday, 8 to 4 pm. Inquire at the Airport
Director’s office for admittance.
