|
World
War II
The real stories
about the sailors, soldiers and marines that everyone in the war movies
called "Tex." Stories that all too often didn't have a happy ending.
Stories of high school classes enlisting en mass - and of heroes returning
one at a time. |
Men and Women
in World War II
|
Higginbotham Brothers
|
|
|
Lt.
Clyde "Sparky" Cosper by John Troesser
B-17 Pilot, 367th Bomber Group, Hometown: Dodd City, Texas
"A B-17 crashed near the town of Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire,
England on November 13, 1943. The only thing that prevented the
plane from landing directly on the town, was the Herculean effort
of the man at the controls....."
|
|
|
George
Olsson Short
(1920-2003)
Chapter Three
Surviving WWII,
and Arriving Home
How his soldier brother became his savior and how he managed to get
home to a post-war Texas life |
|
|
Pearl
Harbor Survivor Texan Vic Lively by Sandy Fiedler
"On December 6, 1941, the day before the Japanese attacked
Pearl Harbor, Victor H. Lively, stationed on the battleship USS
Nevada, went ashore to Honolulu to buy Christmas gifts for his family.
The last thing on anyone's mind was war... "
Till
Death Do Us Part by David Knape
|
Macario
García, Veteran of D-Day by Murray Montgomery
D-DAY
by Archie P. McDonald
Sixty years ago in June the forces of Allied Supreme Commander Dwight
David Eisenhower hit the beaches of Normandy in northwestern France.
|
Nagasaki
Bombardier by Wanda Orton
A
Sailor's Story: Kamikaze Attacks on the U.S.S. Sandoval by Lois
Wauson
"Then all of a sudden one of the planes veers toward us in
a straight line and before we knew what happened, it hit us."
Small
Texas newspaper reports: U.S. declares war on Japan by Murray
Montgomery
President Roosevelt’s message to a joint session of Congress, asking
for a declaration of war against the Empire of Japan
From the front page of The Gonzales Inquirer, December 8,
1941 issue
Panhandle
Sailors,Flatland Cousins Who Went to Sea
The siren call of the sea seems to reach deep inland. Historically,
it’s typical to find large numbers of naval personnel originating
from land-locked regions.
Rev.
Marcus Valenta achieves longest active-duty record in U.S. history
by Murray Montgomery
Of all the chaplains in the U.S. Armed Forces, one has seen longer
continuous combat-theatre duty than any other...
Kid
Mendoza' and the Battle of the Bulge by Murray Montgomery
Medal of Honor recipient Jose Mendoza Lopez.
Lt.
Braly of Brady, A Remembrance
Lt. Braly died on August the second, 1944, less than a month before
the liberation of Paris.
The
Three Wars of Lt. Col. Kerns by Noel Kerns
Raymond Clyde Kerns - Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army - April 26th,
1921 - February 6th, 2008
J.
Frank Dobie and Colonel Jack Jenkins by Mel Brown
Two Texans become friends in War-torn England
The
King's Texan and USS Texas by C. F. Eckhardt
Archie Ludlow was in elementary school when, in 1910 to 1912, the
two newest battleships for the US Navy—the Texas Class, USS Texas
and USS New York—were under construction. Money was tight for building
battleships...
The
Fighting 201st by Maggie Van Ostrand
Mexico organized the 201st Fighter Squadron, a select group of Mexican
pilots. Thirty-five officers and 300 enlisted men were trained in
Mexico, then given additional flight training as P-47 fighter squadron
at Pocatello Army Air Base in Idaho, and were then attached to the
58th Fighter Group in the Philippines where they began combat operations.
They wiped out machine gun nests, dropped 181 tons of bombs and
fired 153,000 rounds of ammunition, acquitting themselves well and
bravely. Seven of their pilots were killed in action.
The
All-Chinese American 555th Air Service Squadron
From "Chinese Heart of Texas" by Mel Brown
Rockport
Ships by Mike Cox
"All but forgotten today, in the early months of World War
II a Rockport shipyard sent two dozen wooden-hulled subchasers down
the ways to face iron-plated German U-Boats in the North Atlantic..."
High
Over Houston, Captain A. J. High: A Positive Altitude by John
Troesser
How
the Texas Rangers Helped Win WWII by C. F. Eckhardt
"To understand what happened, you have to be aware of a man
known as 'The German Zane Grey.' His name was Karl May (pronounce
it 'my'). He was a German writer in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries, and he wrote Westerns..."
I
Remember "The Lucky Stiffs" by W. T. Block
"...Suddenly I recalled the days I spent with the 'lucky stiffs,'
days during which every evil thought nibbled at my conscious, and
days I could never forget. The day before, the 309th Infantry had
jumped across the Roer River, making a lightning advance into the
weakly-defended Rhineland, but several of our 78th Division soldiers
had died during the onslaught..."
Flying
Tigers by Archie P. McDonald
Claire Lee Chennault
Doris
Miller: Hero by Archie P. McDonald
African American hero of WWII
The
Air Ace by Bob Bowman
Lance C. Wade, Royal Air Force of Britain, World War II
Where
are you Benny Goodenberger? by Perry Peary
In May of 1942, I had an Uncle by the name of Mark Davis. Mark was
in the Merchant Marine and was assigned to serving on oil and gasoline
tankers coming up the east coast from New Jersey to Texas. In May
of 1942, he was on the SS Virginia coming out of New Orleans when
a German submarine, the U-507 torpedoed the ship.
The
Horrors of Bataan by Murray Montgomery
The story of one survivor...
Sixtieth
Anniversary of D-Day by Archie P. McDonald
Texas
War Casualties by John Troesser
Stone markers and chapels quietly reveal where America gets its
soldiers.
Texas
Women in World War II by Cindy Weigand
NURSES, WACS, WAVES, and SPARS, Uniformed Women of "The Greatest
Generation"
Tragedy
Over Weatherford - The 1945 night-time collision of two B-29 Superfortress
Bombers by Bob Hopkins
1st
Lt. Loye James Lauraine, Jr. by Murray Montgomery
"He was young, only 26 years old..... 1st Lt. Loye James Lauraine,
Jr. made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II. He was a hero
and was posthumously awarded this nation's second highest honor,
the Distinguished Service Cross. ....." (1 photo)
Ira
Eaker: From Covered Wagon to Jet-Age Air Power, Four Stars by
Bill Bradfield
"During dark days of World War II when the bitter war
was far from won, it was a Texas tenant farmer's son who took command
of the U.S. Eighth Air Force in England, playing a key role in making
the Normandy invasion possible. ..... "
Two
Pilots, Three Air Forces, One Hometown by John Troesser
Lt. Col. Alvin Mueller & Lieutenant Dick Campbell
From
Cost, Texas to Normandy Beach - A World War II hero. By Murray
Montgomery
Harlon
Block - One of the men who raised the flag on Mount Suribachi
on Iwo Jima.
Cornelia
Clark Fort
Robert
"Bobby" Stephens, WWII P-47 Thunderbolt Pilot, Gilmer, Texas
Navy
Ensign Jack Hill Camp, 1916-1942, Port Arthur, Texas
Three
Young Men in Post-WWII America by Sandy Fiedler
The
Sanchez Brothers from Hunter, Texas
The
Tucker Brothers of Andice: 3 Soldiers, 3 Sailors, an Airman and
a Marine Howard A Tucker, CWO US Navy
The
Three Wars of CWO Howard Tucker, and Measuring
Fallout around Bikini Island Howard A Tucker, CWO US Navy
Aviation
cadets take a break in front of the T & P Depot at Baird in January
of 1943 Photo courtesy David Schoeck, Dana Point, CA
List
of Dead in WWII by Murray Montgomery
Back on June 27, 1946, the War Department released a booklet with
a list of the war dead and those considered missing in action. According
to authorities this was the first consolidated listing of Army dead
and missing in World War II...
IMAGES ONLY:
Somerville
- Soldier & Sailors
Sheriff
Fenton of Coleman County
Hunter
Texas in the 20s and 30s, A Memoir by Pablo Sanchez
|
World War II
Camps •
Prisoners of War
|
|
Camp
Fannin by Archie P. McDonald
World War II infrantry training camp and prisoner of war camp
|
|
|
Camp
Howze
WWII POW Camp and Infantry Training near Gainesville Texas
|
The
McLean Prisoner of War Camp by Delbert Trew
Camp
Maxey - WWII training camp a few miles north of Paris
Liberty
treated POWs well in 1830s and 1940s by Wanda Orton
POWs
in East Texas by Bob Bowman
During World War II, the U.S. government established seven camps
in East Texas to house German prisoners-of-war...
Adventures
of Eddie Fung: Chinatown Kid, Texas Cowboy, Prisoner of War
by Mel Brown
POW
camp stirs memories by Delbert Trew
Since placing a page on the Internet several years ago about the
McLean Prisoner Of War Camp located north of McLean in Gray County
during WWII, seldom a week goes by that we don't receive a request
of more information about the installation.
Lanky
and the POWs by Clay Coppedge
Mildred "Lanky" Lancaster
"Accolades have abounded for her athletic prowess and her contributions
to getting girls and women's sports off the ground locally but music
was her ticket into another world... In a lifetime crammed with
unique life experiences, playing accordion for German POWs ranks
near the top."
Gulf
U-boats by Mike Cox ("Texas Tales" Column)
"By February 1942, Fort Clark had been guarding the Texas border
for nearly 90 years. But the world was changing. Since Germany’s
Sept. 1, 1939 blitzkrieg in Poland, even most die-hard cavalrymen
had begun to understand that men on horses were no match for machine
guns or tanks..."
Bombsite
by Mike Cox
The story of the Manhattan Project and its product, the atomic bombs
against Japan on August 6 and 9, 1945, has been well told. But buried
in all the official documents is another story, far less known.
Nazis
in East Texas by Bob Bowman
"The POW camps, along with 65 army airfields, 35 army posts,
nine naval installations and some 136 auxiliary army airfields,
will be a part of a Texas tribute to the 750,000 Texans who served
in uniform during the war. Of that number, 22,500 lost their lives
while in service."
Nazis
in the Pineywoods, German Prisoner-of-War in East Texas by Archie
P. McDonald, from "All Things Historical" column
The
Reluctant Warrior, Former German POW Finds Peace in Texas by Heino
R. Erichsen Reviewed by John Troesser
Camp
Bowie, Brownwood, Texas
Camp
Hood, Killeen, Texas
Country
Campus, Texas - Walker County WWII German POW camp
Fort
D. A. Russell in Marfa, Texas
First
Officers Training Camp, Leon Springs
Pampa
Army Air Field
Pyote,
Texas - Home of the WWII Bomber Base
Princeton,
Texas - Home of a WWII POW Camp
|
|
1943
Secret Storm by Wanda Orton
In the summer of ’43, German U-boats prowled the Gulf of Mexico,
too close for comfort for Texas coastlanders...
|
Bombing
of Desdemona by Clay Coppedge
The
Makers by Mike Cox
R.C. and L.C. Maker, brothers who helped win the war without ever
firing a turret gun, dropping a bomb or evading anti-aircraft fire.
Rationing
during WWII - How sweet it wasn't by Wanda Orton 7-20-12
Growing up in World War II wasn't all bad. There were some good
days...
The
Power We Longed For by Robert G. Cowser
"...Once the United States entered World War II, we knew there
was no hope of getting electricity until the Axis forces were defeated.
Waiting for electrical power was one of our sacrifices for the war
effort..."
World
War II Musings by Robert G. Cowser
By 1942, almost all of the young men in the United States were in
uniform. Most of these men were in hastily expanded training camps,
three of which were located near Saltillo, the town nearest our
farm...
Preserving
garden seed important by Delbert Trew
The U.S. Department of Agriculture started the first relief (welfare)
program on May 16, 1939, in Rochester, N.Y... The original program
ended in 1943 after serving about 20 million people. The surplus
was needed for the World War II effort.
Problems
for farmers multiplied during war by Delbert Trew
Pearl
Harbor attack teaches a valuable lesson by Murray Montgomery
("Lone Star Dairy")
Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008, marked the 67th anniversary of the sneak attack
on Pearl Harbor ...
Stage
Coach by Mike Cox ("Texas Tales" Column)
What with gas rationing and other shortages due to the war effort,
coming up with reliable public transportation presented a considerable
challenge. People who lived in Lake Jackson...
Rationing
reminds of sacrifices for war effort by Delbert Trew
While shopping the mega-malls of today, reading the reams of media
ad materials and watching hours on hours of screened commercials,
it's hard to believe that at one time in the past, most the these
products were rationed...
'Greatest
Generation' kept America together by Delbert Trew
"With all due respect to the WWII veterans and those who died
in the war, the efforts of those remaining on the home front should
never be forgotten."
Gulf
U-boats by Mike Cox ("Texas Tales" Column)
"By February 1942, Fort Clark had been guarding the Texas border
for nearly 90 years. But the world was changing. Since Germany’s
Sept. 1, 1939 blitzkrieg in Poland, even most die-hard cavalrymen
had begun to understand that men on horses were no match for machine
guns or tanks..."
A
Midnight Gasoline Credit Card by N. Ray Maxie
"... Gasoline was a rationed item during World War ll, along
with other things like coal oil, tires, sugar, flour, and corn meal,
to name a few... if you did as some people did, you would steal
it from the oil leases...."
Sign
Painters of WWII Vintage photo courtesy James A. Wilson Jr
World
War II Home Front by Archie P. McDonald
WACs
by Archie P. McDonald
Women's Army Corps
The
Home Front: anecdotal stories, sample letters and photos
Singing
Bedsprings and German Spies in Beeville
Sabine
Pass
An
Unsolved Mystery from The World War II Years by Robert G. Cowser
While walking across our pasture near Saltillo one rainy afternoon
in 1944, my father noticed a steel bar standing askew in the damp
soil...
1943
Freedom envelope
|
WWII Installations
• Relics •
Memorials & Cemeteries
|
|
|
Avenger
Field
AKA Sweetwater Army Airfield
Training facility for the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs)
Photos courtesy Mike Price
|
 |
The
Iwo Jima Memorial Statue
near the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen
Photo
courtesy Barclay
Gibson, June 2014 |
World War II
Forum
Subject:
PFC Cruz Gamboa FOD Jan 18, 1945
I adopted the grave of PFC Cruz Gamboa at the Ardennes American
Cemetery here in Belgium. I also build a tribute to Cruz. See http://users.skynet.be/2ltmalrait_gilbert/gamboastoryE.htm,
now is my question:
Cruz was from Barstow,
TX, and I hope to find maybe new information on this man. Have
you any tip where to search? Thanks in advance. - Philippe Vanderdonckt,
vanderdonckt.ph@skynet.be
April 14, 2012
WW II Japanese balloon bombs in Desdemona, Texas ›
Subject:
Merlin Mitchell from Putnam, Texas
I am a WWII Veteran and served with a man from Putnam,
Texas. He was a very special person to me and would like to
find out, if possible, his last known whereabouts. His name is/
was Merlin P. Mitchell and her was a fighter pilot - flying Spitfires
with the 307th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group. He was shot
down and taken prisoner by the Germans. I had heard that he had
attended one of our reunions. Unfortunately it was one that I didn't
attend and I haven't been able to hear any more about him. If anyone
in Putnam (or anywhere else) has any information on Merlin Mitchell,
I would greatly appreciate it. - Bill Dickerson, billdickerson1@cox.net,
Owasso, Oklahoma, November 04, 2006
Subject:
Jesse Dean Mills
I'm hoping someone can offer some information about a family connection
that we have with Lovelady,
Texas, specifically Jesse Dean Mills who was born approx 1917.
Please see the attached photo. Jesse lived in Lovelady up until
about 1941 or 1942, at which time he enlisted, or was called up,
for service in the US Army. Jesse was a Motor Mechanic by trade
and worked for his sister Ola May's husband. Jesse served in the
Medical Corps as a medic and was posted to the Pacific theatre where
he spent some time in Melbourne and at the US Army Hospital in Brisbane
Australia until approximately November 1944. The CO of the unit
was a Major Coulson. Even though this is such a long time ago we
would be very pleased to hear from anyone that can pass on any information.
Regards and Thanks, Tony Mills, Wynne Melbourne, Australia, July
30, 2006
Port
Lavaca, Texas
During World War II my mother was a volunteer air plane watcher.
She worked out of a tower overlooking Lavaca Bay. Most everyone
I mention this to think I am crazy. I was about eight years old
then and I remember the tower and the chart on the wall. If a plane
flew over you had to find it on the chart and call it in. She was
given a pin for service that is a small set of wings that has US
Army Air Force Observer around the edge and in the center is AWS.
Have you [or any of your readers] ever heard of this volunteer service
or know where I can find out about it? - Doris Hinds, February 25,
2006
My grandfather,
James (Bud) I. Page was also on the USS
NEVADA, and was also a gunner. He has passed now, but I would
like to know if Mr
Livley knew him. - Suzie Breedlove Georgia, July 11, 2002
I thought you
might be interested in an old guy from Denton, for your world war
II pages. He is still alive, and practicing law in Denton. He was
a fighter pilot in the Jolly Rogers, a highly decorated squadron.
His name is Hal Jackson, .lt.j.g. ret. He was highly decorated during
the war, along with the rest of his squadron. His law firm is Jackson/Hagen
llc. in Denton. ... I was in his office and was overwhelmed by all
of his war decorations and memorabilia from his squadron. Also,
you have a great web site, I will be back to it often. Thanks -
Pierce Gawne, Denton, Texas, June 25, 2002
My kids are
writing a report on WWII; they have to have 3 sources. ... I used
your website for "Merrion Higginbotham - Fighter Pilot - WWII" on
the texasescapes website. They seem to be very interested. There's
some really good stuff that you provided. Thanks! - Vivian, 10th
grade school teacher in Elkhart High School, March 14, 2002
I was doing
little surfing and looked for images of Princes Risborough
(actually to find out if I could track down one of my sites www.cprra.co.uk)
and came across the story of Lt
Clyde "Sparky" Cosper. Fascinating. Thanks for the memories.
Eric Samuel Web Master Chinnor and Princes Risborough railway
Thanks for
your reply. I had another browse around your site. It brought back
more memories for me. I have been fortunate enough to have visited
your great state of Texas many times over the years, mostly on business,
but now retirement beckons I hope to return and spend some time
just looking around. Best Regards. Eric
My grandfather
was in the war and he got shot down and was in the sea untill Germans
rescued him and took him to the prisner of war camp untill he was
better. He helped plan the Great Escape with his friends
but never got to escape because he was not well enough. I was wondering
if you could help me find any information on this. His name was
Robert Haddock and he was a pilot in both World
War I and World War II. Many regards - Claire Langton, December,
2001
|
|
|
HOME
