Tech Sergeant JACK O. HENRY - C Co.
"Battle of the Bulge is my most vivid memory of World War II. It was the largest land battle, and it involved more than a million people including some 600,000 Germans, 500,000 Americans, and 55,000 British. It was very costly in terms of both men and equipment. The cold weather was hard on the soldiers and made the delivery of supplies very difficult. We had to survive the best we could until the weather finally cleared up."
seated in photo
Medals and Special Honors I received while in the Army:
- Honorable Discharge
- Good Conduct Medal
- European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Medal with 5 Campaign Stars
- Silver Battle Star
1. Some funny things I remember about the war:
One morning about daylight, two soldiers in the Fifth Infantry were in front of our tank when a rooster let out a big crow. One soldier looked at the other and said. "Did you hear what I just heard?" The other soldier replied, "Yeah, we'd better check him out." So... we had chicken our next meal!!!
2. My memories of the way we lived in Europe:
While in Europe, we traveled in a GI truck which was a GMC 6X6 truck that would carry 20 or 25 men. From time to time, we would get three day passes, and a group of us would travel to London and Paris to look around.
During combat, we slept in the tank. It was crowded with 5 men: a driver, a radio operator, 2 gunners, and the sergeant. One person was always on guard while the others slept.
Every soldier was issued Army clothes. We wore them until we returned to camp where we would trade our dirty clothes for clean ones. Sometimes it was 3 or 4 weeks before we were able to return to camp. Our helmets were used for bathing, shaving, and heating water. At night time, it was the only "pillow" that we had. In addition to our uniform, we were issued Browning automatic rifles, Carbine rifles, and hand grenades. (Sometimes we used the hand grenades for fishing. It was a sure way to stop the fish.)
Most of our meals were from the "5-in-1 rations box". Each box had enough food for 5 men. Breakfast was usually canned bacon and eggs, boxed cereal with powdered milk, and coffee. Lunch might be something like corn beef hash and crackers/bread. Dinner was usually English stew...it was terrible! Soldiers often traded it for cigarettes. Water was available on the tanks to mix with your cereal, to drink, or to make coffee with. Everyone had their own "mess kit" containing a knife, fork, spoon, cup, and plate.
3. My most vivid memories from World War II:
Battle of the Bulge is my most vivid memory of World War II. It was the largest land battle, and it involved more than a million people including some 600,000 Germans, 500,000 Americans, and 55,000 British. It was very costly in terms of both men and equipment. The cold weather was hard on the soldiers and made the delivery of supplies very difficult. We had to survive the best we could until the weather finally cleared up.
4. My memories about the conditions of the countries I was in during the war:
All the countries that I saw during the war were in bad shape. All of the cities, bridges, homes, and building were wrecked and took years to repair. The only places that weren't destroyed were the churches.
Many American soldiers were held as prisoners inside old buildings and inside wired fences. They were being starved to death, and they were often thrown into furnaces with tall smokestacks. The smell coming from these furnaces is something I will never forget.
Dead soldiers were found throughout the cities. American trucks were driven through each one to pick up our men. They were buried in Germany in rows of trenches dug by a bulldozer. One "dog tag" was left on the soldier when he was buried and one was kept for the army records.
5. Something from the war that is difficult to talk about, but I'd like future Americans to know:
Many lives were lost during World War II, and families were affected throughout the world. Somewhere near Metz, Germany just across the Moselle River an American soldier was laying a telephone line when a mortar shell hit him and blew him all to pieces. The memory of his death and physical condition is still very vivid to me today. Many other men lost their lives or were physically disabled in much the same way. I couldn't help but think about their families and the hurt that they would face.
I hope that my children and grandchildren recognize the sacrifices that were made by the soldiers of World War II. They fought to secure the freedom that our nation now enjoys.
6. In spite of the hardships of war, I'm proud to have served my country in World War II because:
By serving my country during the war, I was able to help in securing our freedom from foreign powers. It was worth the difficult times that we endured just to know that we were helping to make this world a better place in which to live.
7. My message to my lifelong buddies in the 818th:
Thanks for your friendship during those difficult days. It was an honor to serve our country alongside each one of you. I often get out my list of the names of the men in C Company as well as some of the other companies. I look at the names and I remember the men as they were then...young, good-looking, and brave. I hope that your lives have been blessed with success, wonderful families, and much happiness through the years.
