Posted on 07/11/2013 3:33:00 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Drafted at age 17 to serve in World War II and conscripted again years later to fight in the Korean Conflict, A.T. has always considered himself very fortunate. Now 88 years old, the Army veteran is hero to Gator, a rescued shelter dog, with whom he shares life’s many blessings.
WWII veteran pressed into service once more in Korea
Prior to his first tour of service in 1942, A.T. married. He and his wife, Wanda, have since enjoyed “71 wonderful years together.” The newlyweds' time together was cut short by WWII when A.T., an Arkansas native, was assigned to the 8th Army and shipped out to Japan.
During 28 months of brutal combat during WWII, A.T. considered himself fortunate that his unit succeeded “bringing back people alive.” He followed his tour with a stint in the Reserves where he was told he would remain stateside to train new troops. That all changed when his country needed him once more, and A.T. found himself back on the front lines during the Korean Conflict. During those years he served in the 7th Division Company B 32nd Regiment and saw action on multiple fronts. Reflecting on this period of his service, the Army veteran notes that they “fought more Chinese troops than Korean.”
Finally in 1953, the Army let A.T. separate from service – for good. The decorated veteran was honorably discharged and ready to resume life with his wartime bride.
Empty nest emptier after death of beloved dog
During their many years together, A.T. and Wanda traveled extensively while working for companies such as Wonder Bread and Hostess Cupcakes before launching their own office equipment and supply business. The couple settled in Knoxville, a community they have called home for 21 years, to be close to close to their beloved granddaughter
(Excerpt) Read more at military.com ...
Ping.
One of my aunts is buried in Georgia and two or three stones from her stone is a guy who was a vet of WW II,Korea *and* Vietnam.Amazing...just like this guy.The “Greatest Generation” for sure.
My dad was also WWII Korea and Vietnam.
Like I said....*amazing*.
Thanks, what a nice article.
How old was he when he started in WWII, which theater was he in, and what was he serving in Vietnam? Always interesting to hear about.
He joined the Marines just in time to visit Okinawa and be introduced to the Japanese by having one Kamikaze onto the top of the #3 turret of the USS Maryland. He was manning an anti-aircraft gun at the base of said turret at the time.
He never really talked about Korea.
Spent one tour of duty at Da Nang supervising aircraft maintenance. Someone wasn’t very fond of his, uh, roommate, so his tent got fragged once. Not totally peeved, they used a smoke grenade, instead of the more traditional fragmentation model. He had pink underwear for over a month...
Yeah, I used to tease him about being a slow learner...
I am this man’s age, 88, and I was a 17 year-old senior in high school when Pearl Harbor was bombed. It was a Sunday. When I returned to school the next day, about 10 of the senior boys had enlisted. One of them was only 16 and he joined the Navy until they caught him and discharged him. As soon as he turned 18 he joined the Army.
My brother-in-law was in the Army, in the China-Burma-India theater, and then went back in for the Korean war. He’s 92 now and in good health. Another friend completed 25 missions over Germany with the 8th Air Force. The Air Force assured them that they would not have to fly any more missions. When the Korean war started they called him up, but the ones who had 25 missions refused to go, and the Army backed down.
Fangs! This makes me think there is a dog out there for me, as well. S/he just has to find me. ;o]
My uncle joined the Navy at 17 and had to have his mother sign for him. He got out of boot camp just in time to be stationed at Pearl Harbor to be present for the bombing. He grew from a 17 year old kid to a man overnight.
My dad was WWII and flew the burma hump.
Mondo, my dad flew the burma hump.
C-47/DC-3?
“Lab-Golden-Australian mix”
LOL!
Who ‘guesses’ the dogs?
Boxer/Bully/*maybe* Golden.
The different colored eyes are a common Aussie trait, but otherwise I do not see any Aussie-ness.
I wish I could tell you; but I really don’t know. All I know is he flew several times. These men just didn’t talk about the war.
No, that they didn’t.
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