Jack Heyn

Folks,
This will be a thumb nail sketch of the four years in the Greatest Armed Conflict in the history of mankind, of one insignificant citizen soldier.It's just that I was a very small part of History, and will now share it with who ever.

I graduated from Watertown H.S. in May of 1941. Europe had been engaged in Hitler's war for almost 2 years and it was just a matter of time before we were involved. The Army Air Corp had a program going, where if you enlisted you could choose your school. Aug. 29, 1941, I enlisted at Fort Crook, Nebraska. with the promise to attend the Photography School at Lowry Field in Denver. My first week was spent at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. It consisted of orientation, applitude tests and the General Classification Test. You had to score at least 110 on that to be Officer material - I scored 141, but had no illusions of being an officer.

After a week I was sent to Jefferson Barracks at St. Louis (photo 1) for Basic Training. My basic was a bit of a farce. It rained a good bit of the time, so mine consisted of some close-order drill and lots of lectures out of the rain. No obstacle course, no small arms training, no 25 mile hikes - no nothing that would prepare you to do battle. I did get into town a time or two, and even got to attend my first major league baseball game (photo 2), the Cards and if memory serves me right the Dodgers.

In mid Oct. there were no openings at the School and I was assigned to Hq. Sq., 3rd Bomb. Gp. Savannah Army Air Base (photo 3). Having some typing skills I was assigned to Group Operations as a Clerk Typist, and informed that I was scheduled to attend School in Jan. '42.
Operations was on the Hangar Line and this was all very new and interesting to this Dakota Boy. Even got my first ride in an Airplane, 0-47 - observation plane. Did get into Savannah couple times, but did not find it that exciting. Did visit a yacht basin one day (photo 4), why, I will never know.

In Dec. they started putting out Christmas furloughs. Being a short timer I had to take mine early, and only got 7 days. This was not enough time to get to S.Dak., but I had a Sister working in D.C. and my old boy hood pal, Erv Von Wald had moved there. On the evening of Dec. 6 I arrived at the D.C. bus station (photo 5) and met by my Sis and Erv. I stayed with the Von Walds, and Sun. afternoon Erv and I walked up to the corner drug store for ice cream. They had the radio on and were getting the bulletin that the japs were attacking Pearl Harbor. That nite I received a telegram to report back to base PDQ. Couldn't get a bus out until Mon. nite so Erv gave me a whirlwind tour of our Nations Capitol Mon. We were standing out side the Capitol Bldg. photographing it (photo 6) when FDR was giving his "Day of Infamy" speech.

That nite I boarded the bus and headed back to the base, so much for my first furlough. The next five weeks were rather hectic ones. We started packing up for a move, and the Christmas Holidays were a rather somber time. Jan. 19 we boarded a troop train and headed West. We spent a week in a huge warehouse in Oakland. Could get short passes to get into town, and had some dock details helping to load equipment. About 1:30 AM Jan. 31, '42 we boarded the USS Ancon (photo 7). About 2:30 that afternoon we sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge headed West. Many of us thought the P.I.

Feb. 25, '42 we landed in Brisbane, Aust. Spent about 10 days at Ascot Race Track, unloading equipment and loading it back on RR cars. On Mar. 10 we arrived at Charters Towers in N.E. Q'land, where they were building a new air strip. When we left Savannah they left all our ranking Officers to form a new Group, and our Aircraft to pull sub duty on the East Coast. But they had made no arrangements for us to have any planes. There we sat ready to fight a war with a 1st Lt. Group C.O. and no aircraft.

In Mar. we recieved 42 Pilots from the 27th Bomb. Gp. in the P.I., and 25 A-24 Dive Bombers that never got to the P.I. Col. Davies became our Gr. C.O. and some of the Maj. and Capt. became Sq. C.O.s. Col. Davies got word of 25 B-25 belonging to the Dutch in Melbourne. He took a group of Pilots with him and they came back with the B-25s. Still not sure whether they begged, borrowed or stole them. They were devided between the 13th and 90th Sqs. At any rate we had something to fight with, and pulled our first combat mission Mar. 31, '42. That was the start of 42 months of continuous combat duty for the 3rd Bomb. Gp. aka Attack Gp.

Shortly after arriving at C.T. we had some training sessions; with WW I steel helmets and Enfield rifles (photo 8). This was our first deployment away from Stateside Barracks, the tents were a bit primitive (photo 9).

In Aug. '42 they deactivated Hq. as a tactical unit and all the combat crews, mechanics, etc were transferred to the other 4 Sqs. I, too, was transferred to the 13th Sq. Operations Office. The 13th had an E.M. Club (photo 10). We could get passes to visit town in the evenings (photo 11).

Shortly after my arrival Maj. A. Evanoff set S/Sgt. Marvin Culbreth and myself up in the 13th Sq. Photo Shack (photo 12). Very unauthorized and very unorthodox, but I was doing what I had enlisted to do - Photography. We operated out of C.T. until mid Jan. '43. About the last 3 months we would alternate 2 Sqs. at Moresby for 2 weeks, and 2 at C.T. for 2 weeks. In mid Jan. we boarded a tramp steamer and headed for Port Moresy, New Guinea where I would spend the next two years of my youth.

In mid Jan. '43 we boarded a tramp steamer and headed for Port Moresby on the second largest Island in the world, New Guinea. Here we took a little more pride in our living quarters(photo 13). We had been in combat for 10 months, and they had been costly in both men and aircraft. One of the first things we did was build a Memorial to our lost comrades (photo 14). It was also decided that every thing had to be on concrete floors including the Mess Hall (photo 15). For about 2 weeks we called our selves the 13th Cement Mixers.

The first week in March the japs tried to bring a convoy of about 20 ships down from Rabaul to reinforce Lae. When they got in range of our low level B-25s and A-20 the 89th and 90ths Sqs. had a field day (photo 16). The 13th was still flying the high level models, and altho they pulled about 3 missions a day, they didn't have as good a luck as the low level models. After 2 days the convoy was destroyed and about 6,000 jap troops never made it to Lae. This started our 2 year trek back to the P. I.

April 11, '43 was not a good day for the 13th Sq. About 10:30 in the morning we had a Red Alert, it would be our first and biggest day lite raid. Approximately 100 jap bombers came over. One segment broke off and hit 14 Mile Field where the 8 B-25s of the 13th were dispersed. They put 7 of them out of commition, direct hits on Baby Blitz and Fair Dinkum (photo 17) left burning heaps of ruble.

The 13th sat idle for a month or so waiting to be resupplied with the new low level models. This did give us a little time to do a little sight seeing. after all "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". About 40 miles up the coast was a native village that we visited (photo 18). It was one of the neatest ones I saw. But after having an up close look (photo 19) we appreciated out nice clean tents back in camp. Our stay at Moresby was short, and in May once again we loaded up and moved to the North side of the Island to Doba Dura in the Buna Gona area.

In May, '43 we packed up again and went across the Owen Stanley Mts. and settled in at Doba Dura, in the Buna Gona area. Once again our skills at getting stuff to improve our living quarters paid off (photo 20). That summer Marvin and I photographed several different groups (photo 21). Including the Ancon survivors (photo 22). Of the 200 some odd men that came over on the Ancon, only 64 were still with us. A few had flown their 50 missions and returned home. The rest were KIA or MIA, may they RIP.

In Aug. '43 they transferred the Photo Section from the 35th Air Base Group into Hq. Sq. 3rd Bomb. Gp. That's the outfit that processed all our mission film. I immediately asked for a transfer back to Hq. and the Photo Section. I got it, and at last I was doing what I had enlisted to do. I had experience and was put in charge of one of our Mobile Lab crews (photo 23). Having had experience with the Speed Graphic I usually got the assignment to cover special events, like Gen. Kenny visiting the Officers Club (photo 24): and covering USO troupes. This one of myself and 2 5th A.F. Photogs with Una Merkle (photo 25) who was with Gary Cooper's troupe.

In about Sept. the Aussie's landed at Lae, and that was the end of the japs in that area. We flew air support for the landing (photo No. 26). Since we were processing all the mission film we had the opportunity to add mission photos to our collections. We used a lot of Parafrag bombs on air strips (photo 27), they raised havoc with both aircraft and personel.

In Oct. '43 the powers that be decided to neutrilize the big jap naval base at Rabaul. It was out of range of the B-25s but we used auxiliary tanks in half the bomb bay. The first raids we loaded up half a load of Parafrags and hit the airstrips. On Nov. 2, '43 the 3rd Bomb. Gp. and the 38th Gp. with our modified low level B-25s hit Simpson Harbor and had a field day (photos 28 & 29) Check the lower left corner of 28, you can see one of the B-25s down on the deck.

The end of Dec. I got a 15 day leave to Melbourne, but had to go by surface transportation. I would miss the move to Nadzab in Jan. but had a ball in Melbourne. Dancing at the Red Cross Club with Monica Lynch (photo 30). Dancing at Earl's Court (photo 31) with Patty Morris. And spending some time at St. Kilda's Beach (photo 32). When I got back the Group was set up at Nadzab.

When I returned from my 15 glorious days in Melbourne, things had changed. The Group had moved up to Nadzab, about 30 miles up the Markham River Valley from Lae. They also had a new look. As mentioned early on we were shipped over seas sans aircraft. The 8th Sq. had flown A-24s and B-25s, the 13th and 90th B-25s and the 89th had had A-20s. When I got back, after two years, we finally had four Sqs. of A-20s (photo 33).

The 89th Sq. had taken a little different slant on nose art. They took the idea from Damon Runyon and had a Sq. full of "characters" (photo 34)

While based here we had a visit from Gen. Kenny for a decoration formation (Photo 35) In the photo he is visiting with Col. Henebry. We had several of our combat crews receive medal that day for "above and beyond". Capt. Dick Walker received on for his part in the Nov. 2 Simpson Harbor mission (photo 36)

I hadn't shared a tent with my good friend, Tack Tackaberry since my first stint with Hq. Sq. At Nadzab we reconnected and we spent a lot of time playing solataire (photo 37). As mentioned we were up the Markham River Valley from the port of Lae. That was the airstrip that Amelia Earhart took off from in July, 1937 and flew off into oblivion. On one of our sight seeing trips we went down to look the place over. The strip was lined with bombed out jap bombers, and a plane that caught my eye.

When I was five years old one Sat. morning my Dad took me out the the airport at Rapid City. Clyde Ice was a popular barnstormer in those days (1928) and had flown his Ford TriMotor in. It was the first time I had seen any plane close up, and sort of stuck in my memory. Laying beside the Lae runway were the remains of a Ford TriMotor. (photo 38). Just couldn't resist photographing it. Our stay at Nadzab was another short one. In May we packed up, loaded an LST and headed for Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea.

Our stay at Nadzab was another short one. In May we loaded up on LSTs and headed for Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea. We arrived two weeks after the initial landing and ran into a very crowded beach (photo 39). There was about 50 yards of beach that backed up to a swamp area. There was only one road off the beach to where the air strips were. When we got unloaded there was no way we were going to get off that beach that day, so we sat and waited (photo 40), and ended up spending the nite on the beach among 500 lb. bombs. and 90mm artilery shells. The beach had been bombed three times since the landing, fortunately they did not come over that nite.

The next day we got all our equipment off the beach and out to our camp area. On the way we passed Lake Sentanni; once again when seen thru the view finder of a camera, New Guinea did have a lot of natural beauty (photo 41). Later on the Lake provided recreation (photo 42). It also had a sad note, Sgt. 'HutSut' Houston drowned in it.

During our six months stay we had several U.S.O. Troupes visit us. The most noteable being Bob Hope (photo 43). He had singer Francis Langford and dancer Patty Thomas (photo 44). Maybe you think she wasn't a site for a bunch of guys who hadn't seen a white woman in months. Also had Shakespearian Actress Judith Anderon, and girls; and a couple groups of lesser lights.

I think it was about July that they started the Rotation System, where by ground troops were returned to the States. My good friend Tack Tackaberry was lucky and made the first list and we said our fond farewells (photo 45). I would wait another six months before I got on the list. While at this base the WAACs caught up with us, strictly as support troops. But it was a bit of a blow to our pride to have a bunch of women catch up with us. The officers had a big welcome party for them at their club. But they were not off limits to E.M. and one of the Intel guys arranged a date for a K-ration jungle picnic for us (photo 46).

We continued to fly lots of missions and we kept busy in the dark rooms, but had a new target. For 2-1/2 years our targets had been airstrips, shipping and air support for ground troops. During the campaign to drive the japs back across the Owen Stanleys from Moresby we had learned the meaning of "Friendly Fire". The battle took place under a jungle canopy that you couldn't see anything thru. Our pilots would be given a certain sector to bomb at given time. On one or two occasions the ground troops broke thru ahead of schedule, our pilots didn't know it and they got caught in our fire. As old Sherman said "War is Hell". From Hollandia we had a new and different target, the Bolio oil fields (photo 47).

In Oct. MacArthur landed on Leyte Island in the P. I. We had always been the first Bomb Gp. to move up. This time the 38th Bomb. Gp. got the call. It was a blow to our pride, but we dodged a bullet. While waiting to land and unload they got hit by jap bombers and suffered casualties. We would follow them in early Nov., '44.

When we sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge Jan. 31, 1942 a lot of us thought we were headed for the Philipine Islands. We were right - but it took us 34 months to get there. The first week in Nov. '44 once again we loaded up on an LST (photo 48). A few days later we pulled up on a beach (photo 49) on Leyte Island about 20 miles south of Tacloban. We made camp right on the beach, and there we sat for six weeks doing nothing. It was the rainy season on the east side of the archipelico and there were no airstrips for our planes to operate out of.

But the time was not without events of note. The first thing that hit us was a typhoon with 90 mph winds. The next morning there were only 4 tents still standing that had been framed, ours was one of them. Then there was the nite that nobody got any sleep. There was a fighter strip about a mile inland from us. We had a red alert one nite, and never got an all clear. Seems the japs had dropped troops on the airstrip. We had to put perimiter guards around our camp, and I don't think anybody slept that nite. The next morning the Infantry made short work of the japs.

Then there was Thanxgiving Day, and it was the second one I spent in the Hospital with my second bout of Dengue Fever. The first one was in '42 at Charters Towers. Then there was another event of great importance, we received our first issue of BEER. I guess after almost 3 years they figured we had earned a free beer.

With no official business to take care of we did have time to do some sight seeing. Got into Tacloban a time or two. At home in a residential area you would see a home with an auto parked in the street and the house would have shingles. Over here there was an ox cart sitting in the street and the house had a thatched roof (photo 50). One of the first things I photographed was a bombed out church (photo 51) - old Sherman was right "War is Hell". Christmas was nothing to write home about, but we did have canned turkey.

Dec. 28 we, once again, loaded our equipment on an LST and about midnite pulled away from the beach. About 10:30 the next morning we were headed west thru the P.I. Straits towards Mindoro Is. Four of us were playing cards topside when 3 planes came in low over an Island on our right. One flew right over our ship and dove into a Liberty Ship one lane over and one ship back. Ammunition ship, went strait up and mushroomed out - no survivors. We had come face to face with the devine wind, Kamakazis. I got a sunset shot (photo 52), the serenity of the shot belies the gravity of the situation. For the next 48 hours we would be under attack. They sank 8 ships out of our convoy, but the Navy gunners shot 25 of them out of the air. Three of them close enough for me to photograph hitting the water (photo 53).

Mid morning Jan. 31, '44 we made landfall on Mindoro Is. By nitefall we had our equipment out to our camp site and prepared to spend the nite on the ground. I expect that was one of the best New Years Eves a lot of us ever had; just damned happy to be alive. We got our labs set up and ready for work, but the planes hadn't arrived before I left. So the only photos we processed was some of our sight seeing shots (photo 54), a locomotive. Compared to what we were used to seeing back home, one guy made the comment that it could'nt pull a sick whore out of bed. Also got a shot of one of the local Belles, don't ask me here name. (photo 55) Jan. 12, '45 I received my rotation orders, grabbed a C-47 and headed back to Hollandia to await surface transportation.

Jan. 12, '45 I boarded a C-47 and headed for a staging area at Hollandia, N.G. We had a plane load of returnees that had been over there from 2-1/2 to 3 years - precious cargo. After we had been flying for quite a while the pilot announced we'd have to land at Biak Island, he has an engine problem. By all means put this sucker down. After a brief stop we were on our way and arrived Hollandia with no problems. The next two months would be spent waiting and sailing across the wide Pacific.

After checking in at the staging area we were assigned a tent, had to stand roll call every morning and then we were pretty much on our own. One day we went down to our old camp area. Doesn't take the jungle long to claim its own. Could hardly tell there was ever a camp there. One afternoon while sitting in the tent killing time, the Orderly came by and said there was a C-54 about to take off for the States. Said they had room for some passengers, any body interested? In unison we told him "not no, but hell no". Having spent 3 years down there we were not about to gamble on a plane getting us home. The memory of Eddie Richenbacher floating out there for 30 days early in the war was very much on our minds.

USS A.E. ANDERSON

Feb. 19 we got the call, loaded us on trucks and headed for the dock area. Waiting for us was the USS General A.E. Anderson troop ship. After we were all loaded another convoy of trucks pulled up and started unloading more troops. Some were missing limbs, some had to be carried on on gurneys and all were malnourished. It was the "Ghost Soldiers", 500 POWs that had been rescued from the infamous Cabanatuan POW camp. Thanx to their being on board we had the best chow we had ever had on any kind of surface transportation.

It took 18 days to make the trip back to Frisco, and we were alone, no convoy. Three years, one month and eight days after leaving I sailed back under that Golden Gate Bridge. When we sailed under that bridge we were met by all the fire boats in the harbor, spewing water high in the air. Every ship in the harbor were blowing their whistles. We all knew the welcome was for the POWs on board, but we all soaked a little of it up. We pulled up to a dock where there were family members of the POWs to greet them. After they unloaded we pulled over to Angel Island where the rest of us unloaded. At this point we turned in every thing we had with us, and were issued all new clothing. Any diaries or photo albums were confiscated with the promise they would be returned after the war. Thank heaven my collection was waiting for me at the folks. I've talked to some that never get their things back.

The next morning we were loaded on a troop train and headed East. About 6:PM Mar. 12 we pulled into Omaha, Nebr. Our car was sidetracked and the officer in charge said we'd be leaving at midnite for Fort Snelling, Minneapolis. I told him it was my birthday and I had a mother and two sisters living in Omaha. Would it be all right to call them and go have a birthday dinner with them. He said you don't have a pass, so stay out of trouble and be back here at midnite. It was probably the best birthday dinner I ever had, hadn't seen them for 3-1/2 years. Three days later from Snelling I was turned loose on my 21 day delay in route.

On Mar. 15, '45 I was turned loose, about noon, from Fort Snelling with orders in my pocket to report to a Redistribution Center in Santa Anna, Calif. 21 days later. My first stop was St. Mary's Hospital where my Aunt, Sister St. Elizabeth, was Asst. Mother Superior. I stopped at the desk and asked if she was in. The lady asked who was calling, I told her I was her Nephew just returned from New Guinea. Things went into high gear, I was given the big welcome and nothing would do but I had to have lunch with them. Sister asked me what my plans were, told her I was going to have dinner with a hometown girl who was working for Betty Crocker, but I had to get a hotel room. Would be leaving town in the morning. No hotel room, I would have the guest room at the Hospital. That nite I did have dinner with Mary Anita Fredricks, whom I had kept a correspondence with while overseas. Strictly a plutonic relationship.

The next morning I caught a bus for Thief River Falls to spend a couple days with Jean Richards, a pen pal courtesy Barb Von Wald.
Spent a couple days with her and family, who were good scandinavian Lutherns. Her mother was worried we might get serious. No problem, I had Annie on my mind. Caught a bus out and rode on out of her life. Back to Minneapolis where I caught the "Galloping Goose" to Watertown.

Reconnected with family, Mom & Dad (photo 56), Sis & family (photo 57) and Shirley with new husband (photo 58). I got lucky one of my 3 good H.S. buddies, Bill MaGee, was home on leave from the Navy. His Dad was a Dr. so we had plenty of gas to get around. The four of us all served in the war, Bill in the Navy, Pete McKay Army Medics and Jean Kroeger Pilot in the Air Force. We all survived the war: cancer took Jean in his 50s, stroke took Bill in his 70s and cancer got Pete in his 70s. I'll be 87 next month and one has a tendency to wonder "why me?". But that's the Good Lord's territory, not mine.

After a week Mom and I got on a bus and headed for Omaha. I had been busting my buttons to get there. My H.S. flame, Annie, had moved there and was attending the U. of Nebr. I had carried a torch for her for 3-1/2 years and was anxious to reconnect. Spent an afternoon with her and family (photo 59). Made a date to take her dancing the next nite at Peony Park and was looking forward to spending a nite dancing with my dream girl. One date, and the torch was extinguished. I had left a 16 year old Jr. in H.S., came back to a 20 year old Jr. in college. Just wasn't the same girl. Took her home that nite and walked on out of her life

After a week I caught a train and headed for Santa Anna, Calif. They said we would be there 2 weeks, maybe more. The first first few days we had orientation sessions, also had to fill out a questionaer giving a list of 3 bases we would like to be assigned to. I listed one in Mich., N. Dak. and Mont. all up against the Canadian border. After that we could come and go as we pleased. They had a 24/7 Mess Hall where you could order anything you wanted, including T-bone steaks - this was the Army??? I got into the famous Hollywood Canteen, and a USO club where I met Jeanette Johnston and spent a lot of time with her and family. The second weekend I was there I checked the shipping list Sun. nite, and there I was. Would be shipping out the next morning for Page Field, Ft. Meyers, Fla. -- so much for the Canadian border.

Monday morning, the last week in April, I boarded a train for a cross country trip to Ft. Meyers, Fla. They couldn't have sent me any further south and kept in me the country. I was headed for Page Field, a P-51 training base. Must have really been a slow moving train. Mid afternoon the last Sun. of April we pulled into Ft. Meyers. Took a cab to the bus station where I would catch a bus out to the base. While waiting, this perky little brunette walked in and sat down across the room. She had on a pink, candy stripe cotton dress and looked so neat and clean - like the girl next door was supposed to look. Thought to myself, there is a girl I'd like to know. She got on the Page Field bus but was too far ahead for me to get close to.

Got out to the base and checked in to the Orderly Room of Sq. T. Showed my way to a cot in the barracks and advised that I would be working in the Photo Section. Next morning I made myself known there and welcomed. There principal duties was processing movie film taken in training dog-fight missions. I had never worked with movie film, so had some learning to do. The base was manned by "USO Commandos". These guys had been there up to two years, never served overseas. They were just starting to get some returnees in. Carol Hebble had just got back from 2-1/2 years in Karachi, India. He and I hit it off pretty good. We also found we pretty much were on our own, could come and go pretty much as we pleased.

Once again my Speed Graphic experience paid off. When ever there was any PR shot to be taken, I got the assignment. All the instructors were combat Veterans and one day we had a decoration formation for "above and beyond" medals (photo 60). One day we got a group of 5 returnees together for a group shot (photo 61). Between the 5 of us we had 13 years overseas duty. Frequently after work the guys at the Section would head for the P.X. for a cold one (photo 62) - make that several cold ones.

About 2 weeks after I got there I was in town for a movie. Got to the bus station just in time to catch the last bus to the base. There she was again, in line about 5 guys ahead of me. This time I got the seat next to her. She wasn't too anxious to strike up a conversation with a strange G.I., but I got out of her that she was a CAA Radio Operator (photo 63) headed out to the base for the graveyard shift. Her name was Evelyn Johnson - called Jonnie from the Johnson bit - from Kansas. Talked her into walking her across the field to the Radio Shack. Before leaving I talked her into a date for a movie. That started 4 months of whirlwind courtship. When ever she had time off I was usually able to be with her (photo 64). We spent a lot of time together dancing, picnicing, movies and swimming (photo 65 my personal PinUp Girl). In July she had a weekend off and I got a weekend pass and we spent the weekend in Miami - in separate hotel rooms. Sunday nite on the way back to Ft. Meyers on the Tamiami Trail I asked her to marry me - she accepted.

They had started a system where by if you had 60 points you could be discharged. Hebble and I both had 115 points but our MOS No. was frozen. Weren't letting any Photo Labtechs out. Don't know why there always seemed to be a shortage of us guys. One day in July the 1/Sgt called us up to the Orderly Room. There were openings for two instructors at the School at Lowrey, it would be an increase in grade. Were we interested. I looked at Hebble, he looked at me and in unison we said "hell no, we want out".

Aug. 6, 1945 they dropped the A-bomb on Hiroshima. Aug. 9 they dropped another one on Nagasaki. Aug. 15 they sued for peace and just 2 weeks short of 6 years the greatest armed conflict in the history of mankind came to a halt. We had a V.J. Victory parade in down town Ft. Meyers. Rather than march in the parade - I photographed it (photos 66 & 67). When I was sworn in at Ft. Crook back in '41 I was asked if I had any objections to combat. Told them no, but my weapon of choice would be a camera.

On Sept. 5, '45 I was handed a Certificate of Appreciation signed by Hap Arnold, an Honorable Discharge and sent on my way. Didn't take them long to get rid of you once they were thru with you. And so ended four years of my youth donated to my country. As the old saying goes "I wouldn't take a million dollars for the experience, I wouldn't do it again for ten million". Altho I really think all 16.2 million of us that served, would do it again.

Jack

WW II Ancient One.