re: Relatives that served in World War 2

My dad was an oilfield pumper in Lasalle parish. His occupation exempted him from serving in the military. His job was considered vidal to the war cause. Lots of people didn't know this. Us oilfield trash was important at that time in history.

My ex wife’s (something great uncle can’t remember) was on the Arizona during Pearl Harbor. I met him and only knew he was in the navy. Bedridden he never talked to anyone about it. The day I met him I saw his medals on the wall and said “wow! Thank you.” He leaned over repeating what service I was in at the time I said yes sir. He talked for 2 hours! Only person he ever talked to about his time.

Daddy served in the navy, but never saw combat. Had one uncle killed on the Juneau when it was sunk in the Solomons. Another Uncle was in the navy and served on a liberty ship in the PTO. A third uncle enlisted in the army in November of 1940 and was attached to the British 8th army in Africa when Pearl Harbor was attacked and later transferred back to U.S. Army forces. He served 5 years of infantry combat from North Africa, through Italy, and on to Germany. He never got a scratch through all that combat, he told me. He wouldn't talk much about what he saw, but when he returned home, he didn't go into town for 20 years. Said he had seen too many towns bombed to oblivion and destroyed and didn't want to see any more towns. He went back to the family farm and took up fox, coon, and deer hunting with dogs for those 20 years.