After rereading my book, "A History of the 67th Armored Infantry Battalion," I realized a lot of my personal experiences were naturally not included therein. Thinking these experiences might make the book more interesting and personal to my progeny, I concluded I would write a history of my involvement in World War II from the time I entered the serice until my discharge. This addition is a result of my musings and recollections.
I left for the service on Thanksgiving Day, 1943, after celebrating the day with all the relatives on my mother's side of the family. Dinner was at our home in Eagle River, Wisconsin, and we all traveled to the train depot where I boarded the traing to Fort Sheridan in Illinois, which was the induction center.
At Fort Sheridan we were outfitted with clothing, dog tags, etc., and assigned to the various services. I wore glasses so was told I would have to go into the army. One did not qualify for the Marines, etc. if you wore glasses. We had weekend passes and I went by train (elevated) to visit my aunt and uncle, Agnes and Dick Suffern. I almost got off at the wrong place, but managed to find them. I can't imagine now how I was brave enough or dumb enough to travel into Chicago and find Aunt Agnes. On my return I got off at the depot at Fort Sheridan in the dark and found my tent in 'tent city'. I don't know now how I managed that either.
Early the following week a bunch of us were moved to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for fourteen weeks of basic training. Fort Knox was a training camp to train soldiers for assignment to armored divisions. At Fort Knox I remember getting called out to reveille while it was still dark. The bugle sounded, roll call was taken, and we did calisthenies. We then returned to the barracks awaiting chow call, and then had breakfast. We all had KP (kitchen police) according to duty roster assignments. On KP we set tables, served tables, coffee, etc., cleaned tables, and scrubbed floors after meals. Meals were served by the cooks who fed the men as they formed a line and
