MY MILITARY SERVICE PART I

MY MILITARY SERVICE PART I

December 11, 1942 to December 1943

By

Irvin Kenneth McArthur

PRIVATE IRVIN K. MCARTHUR

Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7, 1941 the United States entered World War II. I celebrated my 19^th birthday on January 21, of the following year. At the time I was in my second year at Meridian Junior College in my hometown of Meridian, Mississippi, looking forward to a career in business or accounting.

At that time I was working part-time at the local J. C. Penney store. About this time I tried to get a job at a local accounting firm, and actually worked there for a few days, but was soon told that they could not hire me permanently since I was of draft age. I never was sure that this was the real reason since I had the feeling that I was not fully accepted by others in the office, particularly my supervisor. I continued to work for J. C. Penney until the fall of 1942. After graduation from Meridian Junior College in May of 1942 I became a fulltime employee in charge of the Boys Clothing Department. When I told the manager Mr. Dan Thornton that I wanted to go on to college he gave me his blessing, but said that he had hoped to make a J. C. Penney man out of me. I felt very good about that and have always appreciated the wonderful training and experience I received there.

I don’t remember ever considering any other college than Maryville College in Tennessee since I had five brothers and sisters who had graduated there. My brothers David and Donnell were both living in Maryville at the time and helped me a great deal in getting situated there in the fall of 1942. David was married to Grace Proffitt. My roommate that year was Bill Proffitt, Grace’s cousin.

One of my earliest considerations after settling there was the question of military service. I learned of a Naval Reserve program for students and tried to sign up for that. I was disappointed that I failed the physical on the basis of limited chest expansion. At that point David became very concerned about me and decided that I should join him in a daily jog around the campus. I don’t know whether that helped my chest, but when I contacted the Army Reserve, I passed the physical with flying colors! On December 11, 1942 I was sworn in and accepted as Private in Enlisted Reserve Corps of the Army and was allowed to continue my education at Maryville until the end to of the college year in May of 1943.

ACTIVE DUTY

BUS TICKET STUB TO HATTIESBURG, MS -06/01/1943

On June 1, 1943 I caught a Greyhound bus to Hattiesburg, MS and reported for duty at the Reception Center at Camp Shelby, MS. At the Reception Center all new recruits were treated like numbers, not persons. I don’t remember all that I went through which is just as well. I do remember losing all privacy as I went through physical exams and shots in long lines of nude recruits. In another line we were issued ill-fitted uniforms. I felt completely deflated, but did see a few other recruits from my hometown of Meridian, which helped to boost my spirit. I was temporarily assigned to the 2^nd Company at the Reception Center where I was given all kinds of assignments like KP and work on the grounds. I knew a little about what to expect since my brother Johnny had gone through the same process some months earlier, but the whole process was still quite a shock.

FT. MCLELLAN, ALABAMA

One day a couple of weeks later we were informed that we were to pack and be ready to ship out early the next morning. We were loaded on buses soon after sunrise that day and taken to the railroad depot in Hattiesburg. There we waited until mid afternoon to board a regular passenger train to take us to Anniston, Alabama. That was when I learned the meaning of “hurry up and wait”, a process that was repeated many times through my military career. Upon arriving at Ft. McClellan, near Anniston, I was temporarily assigned to Co. B 9^th Battalion for basic training. On June 19^th I was moved to Co. C, 7^th Battalion and on June 27 I was transferred to Co. A, 7^th Battalion, where I completed my basic training as a rifleman in the U.S. Army Infantry. I was told before I enlisted in the Reserve that I would probably be assigned to the Quarter Master Corp due to my experience at J. C. Penney for several years. Well, that didn’t work out. I decided that they just looked at my long legs and said, ”‘It’s the Infantry for him!”

Basic training was not easy, but I endured it better than many other recruits. One part of the training that we all dreaded was the forced march across Bane Gap. This was a kind of final examination in basic training. An ambulance (better known as a meat wagon) followed us as we marched. Several trainees passed out on the march, but thanks to my long legs and the graciousness of God, I completed the march without passing out. One other test was crawling on our backs under barbed wire with rapid machine gun fire above our heads on the obstacle course. I also remember having to dig a foxhole and jumping into it in time to avoid a tank that went right over us with the treads knocking dirt down on our heads. One day I was pulled out of training on the firing range and told to report to the medical clinic. There a doctor examined and questioned me and sent me back to my training. I never did know why I got this special attention. I wondered if they were considering a psychological or medical discharge for me for some reason, but since I heard no more from that interruption I guess I passed muster! I do remember a day on the firing range when the sergeant told me to grab a case of ammunition and carry it up to the machine guns. Well, I failed that test. I couldn’t lift it and got quite a chewing out by the sergeant who had to move it up by himself! The basic training was finally over and I was ready for assignment to duty.

Then when our assignments were made, I was surprised to be assigned as potential cadre in Co. B, 31^st Battalion right there at Ft. McClellan and given work as a Company Clerk, June 27^th, 1943. I liked my job there doing clerical work, typing, making out morning reports (which had to be perfect with no corrections). One responsibility that I didn’t care for was making up the KP Roster. It is not a way to make friends among the trainees. I did get some relief from pressure as I was able to get weekend passes to go into Anniston where I could visit the USO operated by the Salvation Army and to go to church occasionally. I did make friends with other cadre members, particularly Sgt. Furney E. Gaston, the supply sergeant. He was from Rome, Georgia and took me under his wings because of my Southern drawl. Many of the soldiers were from the North and Furney remarked to me that there weren’t many Rebels there. I piped up and said, “I’m a Rebel.”

IRVIN AND FURNEY GASKILL-FT. MCCLELLAN

Sgt. Gaston was somewhat a schemer. I am not sure how he did it, but he always seemed to be able to get enough gas rationing coupons to drive his big car wherever he wanted to go. One weekend he drove me home to Meridian. I had mentioned to him that I had an old Underwood upright typewriter at home that was not being used and he offered to drive me home to get it. I agreed since I was anxious to get home for any excuse. I was a little uneasy about his meeting Mama and Mil, since I was not sure what they would think of him, but they accepted him in good spirit and welcomed him into our home.

Another weekend he was making a trip to Atlanta and invited me to come along with some other soldiers from our company. Since this would give me a chance to visit my Uncle Sam Stainton and Aunt Cynthia, I went with them. If I had known what they were up to I probably would have declined to go with them. Before we left town (Anniston), they drove by a home and one of the men went around the back of the house and came back with a bottle of illegal liquor. To my knowledge Furney did not drink when he was driving, but I had a feeling that I was invited to go along to be a designated backup driver if needed. Regardless, we had a safe trip to Atlanta and back and I enjoyed seeing my relatives. At the end of the weekend, Furney picked me up and proceeded to round up his other passengers, at least one of whom appeared to have spent the night with a woman of ill repute. It was an uneasy trip for me since I was not used to such conduct.

I have always enjoyed being with relatives, so another weekend I decided to hitch hike to see my Uncle Irvin and Aunt Lily who had a farm near Birmingham. I had little experience hitch hiking, but knew that it was a favorite means of transportation for men in uniform. I was fortunate in being picked up by a Presbyterian Minister, the Rev. Curry Davis of Childersburg, Alabama. He offered to take me to Uncle Irvin’s home after his church service, so I had a special treat.

Another treat that I enjoyed, was a visit from my Mama who rode the bus up to Anniston and spent a night or two in a guest room at Ft. McClellan. We had a good visit at the Enlisted Men’s Club. While we were visiting together there, some MP’s suddenly came in checking for soldiers who were out of uniform. I had a very narrow escape as they looked at me, but said nothing. I was wearing a pair of civilian shoes, which was a no-no, but I am sure that the MP saw that I was with my mother and did not have the heart to embarrass me. I had been taught to come to attention when the National Anthem was played. While visiting with Mama I heard the National Anthem being played and jumped to attention. I think it scared Mama and her response was, “What’s the matter?” Mama always enjoyed taking trips on the bus and I treasured that trip that she made for me.

My one and only promotion (to Corporal) came through on December 15, 1943.

CPL. IRVIN MCARTHUR-DEC. 1943