Don Talbot spent his first years with parents, Walter and Helen, in their home on the southside of Chicago. Upon completing 7th grade at Madison Grade School, Walter and Helen, with Don and his siblings, Barb, Wally and Bobby, moved to their new home in Harvey, Illinois.
Coming from a multi-generation family of coal miners, Fred was born in Hazard, Kentucky, to Columbus and Lois Jean Cagle. Watching his father going to work in the mines during his younger years, Fred attended school and assisted his mother with chores around the house.
Prior to being drafted, Charles “Sam” Merritt, had a fairly routine upbringing. Being the third born of six children of Charles and Mary Merritt, Sam grew up in New Haven, Illinois.
Artie Hill, Jr. grew up on the southside of Chicago. His father, Artie, Sr. was a Pullman porter and his mother Rena, was a cook. When Artie graduated grammar school, his mother, Rena, had grown tired of Chicago and went to Los Angeles to fulfill her dream of expanding her culinary skills to become a chef.
Describing his younger days in grammar and high school, Barry was known as a “cantankerous kid.” Looking for “structure” in his life, he decided to enlist in the U.S. Army and he specifically had set his sights on being a paratrooper.
Rodney acquired his first trumpet for $2. He didn't want to just make noise with it. He wanted to play “music”.
Leon H. Wilson was born and raised in the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago. Leon, wanting more adventure than what he was experiencing on the South Side of Chicago, made the decision to join the U.S. Navy at the age of seventeen years old.
Malone Wilson was born in Thomaston, Alabama and was principally raised by his mother, Ernestine during his younger years. Now approaching the century mark with his 100th birthday this November, Malone was the oldest of his seven siblings.
When Jane Moyers graduated from Madonna High School, she was already determined to pursue a career in nursing.
While in high school, Ray joined the JROTC following the military background of his father, who served in the Army during World War II.
Upon graduation from Fenger High School in 1966, Bill was obligated to start seeking employment, but employers were hesitant to hire young men of draft age since they could be drafted at any time following hiring.
At the beginning of World War II, Anthony “Tony” Vinezeano was 13-years-old. By the time he was 17, he could wait no more to join the fight, changing his birth certificate to gain admittance.
Esther Gleaton convinced her parents to let her join the Army so she could see the world, ending up with an extended tour of Vietnam.
Barbara Lloyd was born into a family with a history of serving our country. Impressed with her brother, Ken’s, travels in the Navy, Barbara became “crazy about the Navy” which planted the seed of her serving in the military.
U.S. Army World War II Steger, IL [...]
Josephine Bogdanich has lived in the Chicagoland area all of her life, except for her tour of duty with the U.S. Army during World War II. She fondly recalls her time in the U.S. Army.
Master of Repair and Rescue
The Amazing Shrinking World As Viewed By a 24-Year Veteran
At first, along with his BAR fire team, Michael worked as a stretcher bearer. This was his first experience caring for anyone who was wounded. Michael recalled carrying many seriously wounded soldiers down the mountainous terrain while live fire battles were continuing. He and others would carry the stretchers to the awaiting helicopters where they were met by medical teams.