Heroes: the Army
"...George and I and 2 engineers ended up in the 4 cornors of the boat. The Engineers heard us coming -- yelling for help. They threw us a line and pulled us to shore. I was on the end of the line, and when we let the boat go I went under water. George was up on the front end and when he saw me go under, he let go and let the current take him to where he pulled me up above the water..."
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Bob Campbell Letter - dated 10 May 1988:
From Bob Campbell, Indianapolis, Ind.
I havn't kept in touch with anyone from Co. F, except Horace DeSousa who lives in Fairlawn, N. J., and was transfered from the 405th I & R to our Company and later back to I & R. And I talk with Gene Becker who went into Co. H after our basic training at Camp Swift. Gene and I were buddies at Ball State when the call came out to get those single guys out of ASTP and into the infantry. I was discharged from Co. F on March 21st, 1946 in Maryland. What do I remember about Jim Wyatt came from Panama and was our BAR man. In our first action, he along with Michaels,s our first scout and our squad leader, Sequerious were all killed in our first committment to combat. Wyatt told me on the boat, going over that he was not going to be coming back. Sequerous and I shared pup tents and he had a "gut" feeling that he wouldn't make it either. I remember lining up to get our Thanksgiving meal. The rumor what ever was good and the turkey and bread were really delicious but nothing like you read about in the Stars and Stripes De Sousa and I used to heckle the other guys in our company and the platoon when they playedd pinochle. After about 3 - 4 weeks we were challanged to play and we were UNBEATABLE. It always helps to lay down all that meld. Several times I have told my wife about my snoring while I was in service. One night our squad was a part of a river patrol between E and G Company, I believe. We slept in one of the pill boxes and one of the other company members threatened to shoot me (so I was told) because he claimed the Germans would hear my snoring and know we were in the pill box.
One person I will never forget is George Orlowski. During the Roer River crossing our boat overturned and we lost Hurst, our BAR man. The shell fire was so bad we had to go back and wait and he deflated his life belt. At any rate, George and I and 2 engineers ended up in the 4 cornors of the boat. The Engineers heard us coming -- yelling for help. They threw us a line and pulled us to shore. I was on the end of the line, and when we let the boat go I went under water. George was up on the front end and when he saw me go under, he let go and let the current take him to where he pulled me up above the water. We got ashore, he got in one jeep and I into another. I went to the Battalion aid station, got dry clothes and a new rifle and was back with our platoon that afternoon. George went back to the general hospital and returned 3 days later, to take a terrible ribbing. I wrote him up for the Silver Star -- but the Company quota went to our Captain, Capt. Evenson, I believe. George and I got the Bronze Star tho.
----- Bob Campbell
Interested in some background
information?
Check out the related links below...
United States Army, 102nd Infantry Division
History of the 102nd Infantry Division
Attack on Linnich, Flossdorf, Rurdorf - 29 Nov -- 4 Dec 1944
Gardelegen:
April 13, 1945:
Massacre
at the Isenschnibbe Barn
American Battle Monuments Commission: WWII Honor Roll
National World War II Memorial
Information and photographs were generously provided to World War II Stories -- In Their Own Words by Mr. Edward L. Souder of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The subjects of these essays are all members of Co. F., 405th Regiment.Our sincerest THANKS for allowing us to share their stories!
Original Story submitted on 19 September
2002.
Story added to website on 26 September
2002.
