Page 146 - Anthology

I was born in 1925 in Bell County, Kentucky. I was raised on a farm in Big Creek, Clay County, Kentucky.
At age eighteen I was drafted into the Army. I was happy about it; everyone else was going so I wanted
to go too. There were five boys in the family. I had three brothers who retired from the army. But, one
other brother and I got out as soon as the war was over.

Camp Stoneman Barracks, June 1942 (National Archives)

I was working up in Austin, Indiana, at a food canning factory when I was drafted. I entered on active
duty at Fort Knox, Kentucky, in December 1943. My basic training was at Camp Gordon Johnston,
Carrabelle, Florida. After basic, I was given a short leave then I was sent to Camp Stoneman, California.
I was put aboard a ship and twenty-six days later, we landed in New Guinea; about twenty miles from
Australia. Later on, we were sent to the Philippines to prepare for an invasion of Japan. I was in Manila
on Victory in Europe (VE) Day. We were told there was going to be an invasion of Japan.