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Received this the other day from my good friend.. Thought you guys might like it..
A day of Infamy that should dominate our History books till the end of time. Unfortunately it is getting less and less space in the School History Books of today. For those of us that were there, it is etched in our memories till the end of time
I had enlisted in the Army Air Corp Aug. 29, ’41 and after Basic Training was assigned to the 3rd Bomb. Gp., Savannah Army Air Base, with orders to attend the Photography Sch. at Lowery Field in Jan. ’42. In early Dec. they started arranging for Christmas furloughs. Being a short timer I had to go early and only got 7 days. That was not enough time to get to S.Dak.; I had a Sister working in D.C. and an old boyhood pal now living there. So the morning of Dec. 6 I boarded a bus headed for D.C., and arrived there about six that evening (photo). I was met by my Sister and Erv Von Wald, the boyhood pal, and I would stay with Erv’s family.
We were enjoying Sunday dinner at Erv’s, and he and I walked up to the corner drug store to get ice cream. They had the radio on and were getting the reports of Pearl Harbor being attacked by Japanese aircraft. The war in Europe had been raging for over two years, and we figured it was just a matter of time before we got involved. I don’t think there were many that thought our involvement would come from the other side of the world. That nite I received a telegram to report back to base PDQ.
I couldn’t get a bus out until Monday nite, so Erv took a day off from School and gave me a whirlwind tour of our Nations Capitol, with my camera. We were standing outside the Capitol Bldg. when FDR was declaring war on the Japanese empire with his “Day of Infamy” speech (photo). He then proceeded to show me other points of interest, the Wash. Monument one of the first (photo). We made it to the top, where I shot a couple from up there (photo). The Natl. Catholic Cathedral had been under construction for several years, but never got off the ground – but the lower level was open to the public (photo). After an enjoyable day, but one filled with wonders about the future, I boarded a bus back to Savannah.
For about two weeks things were in limbo, then we started packing for a move. Nobody knew where we might be going, but we did pack. I did get to Mass on Christmas and New Years, but it was pretty somber times, not much joy or happiness involved. Jan. 19 we boarded a troop train and headed West. Had a slight delay in Denver and there was a public phone near by, so I called the folks and let them know we were on our way – but we didn’t know where to. It might be a while before they heard from me again. A few days later we pulled into Oakland, Calif. Where we were billeted in a huge warehouse, big enough for all five Sqs. There were work details where we helped get out equipment from the train to the USS Ancon. About 1;00 AM Jan. 31 we boarded the Ancon (photo). About 2;30 that afternoon we pulled away from the dock, and were on our way.
I was 18 years old when we pulled out under the Golden Gate Bridge. After stops in Charters Towers, Aust., Papua New Guinea, Hollandia Dutch New Guninea, Leyte Is. P.I. and Mindoro Is. P.I. – 3 years 1 month and 8 days later – thanx to a Merciful God and an ever vigilant Guardian Angel - I pulled back under that Golden Gate Bridge, Mar. 8, 1945. We were put on a troop train headed East, I was headed to Fort Snelling in Minneapolis where I would be turned loose on a 21 day furlough. About 6;00 the evening of Mar. 12 we pulled into the Station at Omaha. My car was pulled aside, the Officer in charge said we would be there until midnite, at which time we would hitch on to a train to Minneapolis. We were free to roam around the Station, but be back in this car at Midnite. I got hold of him, told him this was my 22nd birthday I’ve got a Mother and 2 Sister living here I haven’t seen for 3-1/2 years. Would it be ok to call them and have dinner with them. He said “ you’ve got no pass, behave yourself, and be back on this car at midnite. BEST DAMN BIRTHDAY PARTY I EVER HAD.
Needless to say the plans for Photography School were shot out of the water Dec. 7, 1941. But I was fortunate to get on-the-job training while overseas. I went over a buck-a__ Pvt., came back a S/Sgt. After the furlough and reassignment to Page Field, Ft. Meyers, Fla. I was offered an Instructors Job at the School. Having met my future Bride, Jonnie, and with plans to attend Pht. Sch. in NYC when I got out, I told them “thanx but no thanx, I just want out”.
16.2 million young men served in the Military in the war to save the freedoms we enjoy today. The Good Lord has seen fit to take the vast majority of them to His home in Heaven. May each and every one of them – especially my fellow “Grim Reapers” - REST IN PEACE.
Jack Heyn
WW II Ancient One
A day of Infamy that should dominate our History books till the end of time. Unfortunately it is getting less and less space in the School History Books of today. For those of us that were there, it is etched in our memories till the end of time
I had enlisted in the Army Air Corp Aug. 29, ’41 and after Basic Training was assigned to the 3rd Bomb. Gp., Savannah Army Air Base, with orders to attend the Photography Sch. at Lowery Field in Jan. ’42. In early Dec. they started arranging for Christmas furloughs. Being a short timer I had to go early and only got 7 days. That was not enough time to get to S.Dak.; I had a Sister working in D.C. and an old boyhood pal now living there. So the morning of Dec. 6 I boarded a bus headed for D.C., and arrived there about six that evening (photo). I was met by my Sister and Erv Von Wald, the boyhood pal, and I would stay with Erv’s family.
We were enjoying Sunday dinner at Erv’s, and he and I walked up to the corner drug store to get ice cream. They had the radio on and were getting the reports of Pearl Harbor being attacked by Japanese aircraft. The war in Europe had been raging for over two years, and we figured it was just a matter of time before we got involved. I don’t think there were many that thought our involvement would come from the other side of the world. That nite I received a telegram to report back to base PDQ.
I couldn’t get a bus out until Monday nite, so Erv took a day off from School and gave me a whirlwind tour of our Nations Capitol, with my camera. We were standing outside the Capitol Bldg. when FDR was declaring war on the Japanese empire with his “Day of Infamy” speech (photo). He then proceeded to show me other points of interest, the Wash. Monument one of the first (photo). We made it to the top, where I shot a couple from up there (photo). The Natl. Catholic Cathedral had been under construction for several years, but never got off the ground – but the lower level was open to the public (photo). After an enjoyable day, but one filled with wonders about the future, I boarded a bus back to Savannah.
For about two weeks things were in limbo, then we started packing for a move. Nobody knew where we might be going, but we did pack. I did get to Mass on Christmas and New Years, but it was pretty somber times, not much joy or happiness involved. Jan. 19 we boarded a troop train and headed West. Had a slight delay in Denver and there was a public phone near by, so I called the folks and let them know we were on our way – but we didn’t know where to. It might be a while before they heard from me again. A few days later we pulled into Oakland, Calif. Where we were billeted in a huge warehouse, big enough for all five Sqs. There were work details where we helped get out equipment from the train to the USS Ancon. About 1;00 AM Jan. 31 we boarded the Ancon (photo). About 2;30 that afternoon we pulled away from the dock, and were on our way.
I was 18 years old when we pulled out under the Golden Gate Bridge. After stops in Charters Towers, Aust., Papua New Guinea, Hollandia Dutch New Guninea, Leyte Is. P.I. and Mindoro Is. P.I. – 3 years 1 month and 8 days later – thanx to a Merciful God and an ever vigilant Guardian Angel - I pulled back under that Golden Gate Bridge, Mar. 8, 1945. We were put on a troop train headed East, I was headed to Fort Snelling in Minneapolis where I would be turned loose on a 21 day furlough. About 6;00 the evening of Mar. 12 we pulled into the Station at Omaha. My car was pulled aside, the Officer in charge said we would be there until midnite, at which time we would hitch on to a train to Minneapolis. We were free to roam around the Station, but be back in this car at Midnite. I got hold of him, told him this was my 22nd birthday I’ve got a Mother and 2 Sister living here I haven’t seen for 3-1/2 years. Would it be ok to call them and have dinner with them. He said “ you’ve got no pass, behave yourself, and be back on this car at midnite. BEST DAMN BIRTHDAY PARTY I EVER HAD.
Needless to say the plans for Photography School were shot out of the water Dec. 7, 1941. But I was fortunate to get on-the-job training while overseas. I went over a buck-a__ Pvt., came back a S/Sgt. After the furlough and reassignment to Page Field, Ft. Meyers, Fla. I was offered an Instructors Job at the School. Having met my future Bride, Jonnie, and with plans to attend Pht. Sch. in NYC when I got out, I told them “thanx but no thanx, I just want out”.
16.2 million young men served in the Military in the war to save the freedoms we enjoy today. The Good Lord has seen fit to take the vast majority of them to His home in Heaven. May each and every one of them – especially my fellow “Grim Reapers” - REST IN PEACE.
Jack Heyn
WW II Ancient One
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