bill_arnett PFC WILLIAM J. ARNETT (Just call me First Class) - Hdq Co. & A Co.

"My very personal memory, was my private war-within-a-war with Capt. Roy Martin. In the end, I was bloodied, but unbowed. Then, there was a visit to New York with a couple of buddies. We tried to latch on to three lady Marines, a lost war, as they were strictly Semper Fideles, and what they were faithful to we never found out."

 

1. Some funny things I remember about the war:

After serving in the Army for almost five years, two years overseas, the Army issued orders that anyone serving overseas for a year must be made at least a Private First Class. I qualified, and received my rating. Frank Looney, who had lost his PFC, almost immediately accused me of bring a "dog-robber" (an officer's flunky) and "hanging around the Orderly Room" to get my rank. Actually, I may have been the most promoted man in Europe, or elsewhere. My record was Pvt. to PFC, to Pvt. to PFC to T/5, back to Pvt. to PFC to T/5 to T/4, back to Pvt. to PFC to T/5 to Sgt., back to Pvt. and the last hurrah--PFC. This series may be the result of my being nearer to the cartoon Beetle Bailey than the World War I hero, Sgt. York.

 

2. My memories of the way we lived in Europe:

There were "warmed-food" meals served between the K-rations and C-rations that could be, and were, doctored up when the helper was available. All could be covered by the question of which was worse? --K-rations the winner. We did have the dinner drink that was correct for that particular meal-maybe cognac, maybe wine, and may God forgive me, sometimes, Calvados. If it smelled of alcohol, it was drunk. The sleeping came wherever and whenever it could be found. It was always, or almost always, by a tired dirty guy in a dirty place, a blasted house, an air-conditioned foxhole, in or on a vehicle, when available, (if the vehicle was a TD during the Bulge--snow was preferred under the TD to the steel floor of the TD).

 

3. My most vivid memories from World War II:

My very personal memory, was my private war-within-a-war with Capt. Roy Martin. In the end, I was bloodied, but unbowed. Then, there was a visit to New York with a couple of buddies. We tried to latch on to three lady Marines, a lost war, as they were strictly Semper Fideles, and what they were faithful to we never found out.

 

Also, memories of many trips, allegedly to check on ammunition, that started by walking through the company area, with an official looking paper rolled up in my hand. On to the Motor Pool, check out a driver and truck and head for the nearest Service Club or pub for a little R & R.

 

4. My memories about the conditions of the countries I was in during the war:

The destruction and devastation. The misery seen and felt, the beaten, lost hope expression of those caught in the destroying situation over which they had no control.

 

5. Something from the war that is difficult to talk about, but I'd like future Americans to know:

War cannot be put in words or pictures. It must be felt, the fear, the weariness, the smells, the homesickness, the sounds, the hope to survive. To get an inkling read Ernie Pyle and Bill Mauldin.

 

6. In spite of the hardships of war, I'm proud to have served my country in World War II because:

I am proud to have fulfilled, at least partially, my obligation to my country for all that it has given and still gives me. It was the hard way, but I survived and helped get rid of one of the World's greatest Curses-the Nazis.

 

7. My message to my lifelong Buddies in the 818th:

I am thankful to have been a companion of so many great men, living and dead, in good times and bad-a time when we were larger than ever before or ever after.

BILL ARNETT 


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