Men and Women, POW Camps, Memorials, Relics, Home Front. (original) (raw)
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.
Texas and World War II
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
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.
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.
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.
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..."
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
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.
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 IIwhen 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 theNormandy invasion possible. ..... "
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:
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."
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.
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.
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...."
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...
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
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
Higginbotham Brothers
