Photo Gallery One


wpe55506.gif (176261 bytes)Click on image to enlarge Here you see some of our enlisted men enjoying some conversation, etc., with the local residents Click on image to enlarge  This was Charles Ballard who was directly responsible for the enlisted staff in the registrar's office under the registrar, 1st Lt. Herman C. Needles.
Click on image to enlarge  Note this snapshot was taken at the same place as the one before this one.   It shows me, the writer, and one of our nurses, Virginia N. Donahue.  She was a special nurse in orthopedic medicine.  Note the white uniform which was not easy to keep neat and clean under very difficult conditions.  Further, it was difficult to keep on hand replacement garments for the nurses and enlisted men, appropriate sizes, etc.. Click on image to enlarge  This is a picture of our executive Officer, Major Jerry Krueger.  Note the background which shows one section of our hospital, located in a school building which the Army had requisitioned.  We had a canvas covered walkway between two school buildings.
Click on image to enlarge This picture of me was taken in Tlmcen, Algeria, North Africa, on August 16, 1943.  I was very lucky to have obtained the rank of E-4 so early in my career; I got good pay for that time and spent it
for good times.		 Click on image to enlarge  Here you see me in the driver's seat of a weapons carrier while I was in basic training at Camp Rucker, Alabama.
Click on image to enlarge This is Willis Truhlicka who now lives in Harlingen, Texas.  He worked in personnel section at headquarters. He was a wise money saver; when he became a civilian after the war he acquired several farms and to this day is busy managing them..  He and his wife, Shirley, had several children and have been blessed with many grand children. Willis was a solid partner on our staff and had many friends in the unit. We still are in contact with each other to this day. Click on image to enlarge Here you see Cpt Kenneth Robinson who worked with us in the registrar's office.  He had a wonderful sense of humor. 2nd Lt. Herman C. Needles, our registrar and boss, took this picture without Kenny knowing it.  He was a good worker and very dependable.   Notice we were using upright typewriters which is all be had.  We had to do a lot of typing and often times as many as five carbons had to be made.  We had no copy machines except a memo graph machine which required that we type on a blue sheet called a stencil.  If you hit the keys too hard some of the letters would be completely taken out; one had to have just the right touch.
Click on image to enlarge This is Cpl. Steven Hair a great southern boy from  Georgia.  He worked with me in the registrar's office Steve was a very good worker, very dependable, and a good friend of mine. Click on image to enlarge  This is S/Sgt Walter Butler who was our supply sergeant the entire time our unit operated overseas.  He out lasted several supply Officers because he was very well trained and did his job very well.  He was in charge of not only for needs of enlisted men, uniforms, etc., but there was medical supply which needed a great deal of work. We called him "Whimpy"; he and I have secrets which will be known only  to the two of us!!
Click on image to enlarge This was our Master Sergeant Rudolph Tupala.  He was an excellent organizer in charge of our headquarters. He could type better then 70 words per minute.  He was a skier from Ishbeming, Michigan.
Click on image to enlarge This was one of best buddies, Richmond Parmenter.  Above he is stranding on the balcony of his room and below it shows "Deak" at the switch board at our hospital headquarters.  Telephones throughout the hospital were all routed through this board and needed to be attended all hours of the day.  He was an accountant and was in charge of the payroll of our unit. We called him "Deak" I guess for deacon because he had to wear thick glasses to see well to read.  He had a great sense of humor and liked to party a lot.
Click on image to enlarge The above is 1st Lt. Herman C. Needles who enlisted in the U.S. Army when just out of high school at Ephrata, Pa., He received his administrative training at Officers' Candidate School, Carlisle Army Barracks; and received his commission as a 2nd Lt. when only 19 years old; and on this same date he also married his high school sweetheart. Click on image to enlarge Above figure was given to me by a very dear friend and I still treasure it today.  It brings back some of the good times we had under difficult circumstances, the war, you know.
Click on image to enlarge Here is Captain William C. Sommermeyer who was our supply officer.  He did a splendid job under very difficult circumstances in that our supply depot was 100 miles away on treacherous two lane roads which required a 2 1/2 ton truck to make this trip almost every day. Click on image to enlarge Above you see CWO Thomas J. Haggerty how had various administrative assignments which included being assistant registrar and assistant unit adjutant.  He was terrific baseball player and very good friend of mine.  He was fun to have as a boss and had a good sense of humor.

 
Back
Next

Index

© 1999 Willard O. Havemeier. All rights reserved.