I was born May 1923 at Carson City, Michigan. I attended a rural One-room school for 8 years, and High Scholl 4-years at Carson City. I worked on our family farm until age 19, and was drafted into United States Army in January 1943.

I took Infantry Training in the 320th and 137th Infantry Regiment of the 35th Division in California and Alabama from Feb.1943 to Aug.1943. My military skill Number was 745-Rifleman, and my rank was Private First Class (PFC). Training was received in firing the Garand Automatic Rifle, the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), and the bazooka. Training involved,: Marching, scouting, Patrolling, and using Bayoets and Knives in close combat. Assault of enemy position was praticticed many times.

From August 1943 until April 1944 I studied Basic Civil Engineering at Carnegie Institute of Technology at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP). In April 1944 the Invasion of Fortress Europe was imminent. Infantry Men wer needed for combat, so I was transferred to Company I, 377th Infantry Regiment of the 95th Division. Training continued in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.  

In August 1944 the 95th Infantry Division crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Liverpool, England. We trained briefly there and then crossed the Channel on a British Ship to France. In Septembre we landed at Omaha Beach and camped several miles inland in a farmer field. Paris was Liberated and the Allied Offensive was halted due to lack of fuel and supplies.  

In Early October 1944 the 95th Division moved to the Front Lines near the German Border in the vicinity of Nancy, France. Then we entered Combat in a quiet defensive position near Metz.  

In early November General Patton's US 3rd Army resumed its offensive to Liberate the Fortress City of Metz. As a Rifleman in I Company, 377th Regiment, I participated in Patrols to reconnoiter the Enemy Positions outside of Maizière-les-Metz. During one Night Patrol to capture prisoners, our 8 man squad was challenged by the Enemy in front of their defensive position at Brieux Chateau. After a 5-minute fire-fight we managed to escape with no casualties. Our 24-man Force reportedly inflicted several casualties on the Enemy. 

On November 8th, the US 3rd Army ordered a direct Night Assault ti seize Brieux Chateau. Our First Platoon attacked in the dark towards Enemy lines. I got inside the Enemy's Final Protective Wire along with several men. Ennemy artillery, motars, machine gun and rifle fire was intense and I was sverely wounded by shell fragments about 9 P.M. Privates John Abern and Harold Kellog (both new fathers) were killed by this explosion. Earlier my fox-hole buddy, Steve Bodnar, had been wounded, and later had his right leg amputated. 8 Members of our 11 man squad were killed or wounded

Company's initial assault had failed and survivors of both Rifle Platoons were withdrawn. On November 9th a strengthened Assault Force attacked and occupied Brieux Chateau suffering heavy casualties. I crawled and staggered back to Maizières, and our Platton Medic gave me emergency treatment. After Mid-Nite a Medical Stretcher Team evacuated me to battalion Aid Station, and the Battalion Surgeon, Capt. Herbert administered Medical Treatment.  

From Battalion-Aid I was taken by stretcher on a Jeep to an Army Field Hospital near Nancy. My wounds were not considered Lif-Threatening, so I waited 3 days for an Initial Surgical Operation to repair my multiple shrapnel wounds on my left face, chest, left arm and left leg. On November 14th I was flown on a C-47 Hospital Plane to England. After several days another operation to close my wounds was performed at a Base Hospital near Cardiff, Wales. Medical Diagnosis confirmed a disabling Nerve Injury in my left leg, so I could not return to active duty. I returned to the United States on the US Hospital Ship J.W. Mc Andrew in January 1945.

After a Nerve Repair Operation and re-habilitation, I was honorably Discharged from the US Army for disability in April 1946. My recovery was successful in that I could lead an Active Life of work and recreation and am still alive and active at age 80.

I Company 377th Regiment suffered extremely heavy casualties to capture Brieux Chateau. I would estimate that more than over 50 per cent of I Company's 185 Men were killed or wounded based on conversations withs survivors and with inspections of records of replacement personnel required to re-constitute the Company.

From November 1944 until the War's End in May 1945, I Compagny 377th Regiment had a total of 93 Men killed in action and 170 men wounded in action. This figures to a casualty rate of 142 per cent based on the 185-Man rifle Company's total complement. This is not unusual for World War II Rifle Company Casualties Rates. Many Army or Marine Rifle Companies who had longer periods of Combat in European or Pacific Combat Areas would have much higher Casualties Rates ( possibly 500 per cent or more.)