State Side Monday Aug.2, 1943 I left my fiancée Charlotte (Micky) Matthews and sister Virginia Terry at the Michigan Central RR. I had the upper birth and Wednesday Aug. 4th Arrived at Miami, Beach at mid-night. We were given bedding and sent to Netherlands Hotel, on the beach. The Air Force had taken over all the hotels for army personal. The Next 4 months I spent time in the hospital for hemorrhoid, then K.P., guard duty, inspections,movies,shots,P.T. on beach,marching.. Since I had been in the hospital My original class had shipped out. Dec. 2,1943 I went to the Air Inspectors Office and told them of my problem. They said I would be shipped out in 24 hours. Dec 3 I was on my way to Gettysburg College,Pa. I was in a room in “Old Dorm” dormitory with 2 other cadets Dick McKinley and Norm Bullard.We had the normal life of classes eating and sleeping. There was about 900 Cadets in “Old Dorm and Mcknight Hall”.It was a enjoyable part of army life.My fiancée,sisters,mother & dad,and brother at different times came from Detroit to see me. May 10,1944 we finished college and was given week furlough. I called Micky and asked if she wanted to get married. She said yes and on May 15,1944 we were married. May 20 I was back to Gettysburg College and we were shipped out to Maxwell Field,Alabama for Pre-flight. After pre-flight we went to Avon Park,Florida where we srarted flying the open cock-pit Bi wing PT-17 Stearman Then to Lakeland Florida with same type of plane. Then to Cockran Field at Macon,Georgia flying the AT-6 Texan. January 1945 I was given check flight by a Captan and one by a Major. ( I had my pilots license before joining the Air Corp.) The Major said I did OK but they had too many pilots and I was put in the army infantry. I went to Gainesville.Texas for infantry training. Finished training and went to New Jersey and then by train to Pittsburg,California and shipped out June 1, 1945 for the Philippine Island.
Hello Art, Thank you very much for this! Very good to hear first hand experiences. Read a few familiar names as well. Good stuff on marrying your girl that quick! WOW! guess those days things went a lot quicker. Took me months to get everything organised myself last year! Can I ask a question? When you were sent to Army Infantry, did you lose any rank? I have read about ASTP (?) program were college guys were trained for officers but were sent to war as ordinary grunts as they needed soldiers, not officers... What rank did you have when you finished flight school and what rank when you shipped out as infantryman???
Hello sir and thank you for more of your story. It is very interesting to read and it helps me learn what really happened at times in the military.
