Volunteered for the Paratroopers 5 April 43, my 18th birthday. Jumped into Normandy, took off night of 5 June 44, landed 6 June 1:14 AM near Ravenoville. Wounded twice in ordered bayonet attack June 13,44 Carantan. Jumped into Zon Holland Sept 17, 44. Fought 72 continuous days behind Kraut lines, not wounded. Hardest fighting there at Opheusden against armored and constant attacks. Thirty eight of us left in 'A' company when relieved from Holland.

Fought in and around Bastogne, Belg., 30 continuous days, Our first attack was into Noville, five miles north of Bastogne 19 Dec. 44. Four and one half hours later we had 58 men left in 'A'Co. Our Field hospital, surgeons, Dr's. and medics captured that same night along with all wounded. No wounded left the Bastogne area from that time until after the 4th Armored breached the perimeter 27 Dec. 44. I was wounded once by rifle fire in the Boise Jacques. I removed the bullet and bandaged the wound myself and stayed on the line in the attack for additional 22 days.

Fought in Alsace, Operation, 'Nord Wind.' I Led a 4 man night patrol across the Moder River. Fought through the Ruhr Valley, plus night attack across the Rhine River into Himmelgiest. Helped liberate four concentration camps including Landsburg, Germany, where Hitler was imprisoned before he took power and where he wrote his book, 'Mein Kampf.' Only 11 original men left in 'A' Co. when we reached Berchtesgaden, Germany.

Returned home and discharged 1 January 1946 at age 20. I could not vote, buy a car on contract or buy a beer. I wasn't old enough!