Our Fathers - American Heroes

Sunday - December 7, 2008

67 years ago today Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese under the command of Admiral Nagumo. This event caused many of our loved ones to embark upon an adventure that would affect them for the rest of their life. This was the beginning for the United States to have an active part in WWII. Most of us had fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends who were some how a part of WWII, and we have heard some of their stories. Most of those who were in the service or connected closely to what our country and the world was going through know enough facts to realize how hard it was for our family and friends. Many of the WWII veterans did not talk about what they saw or did.

Both of our fathers - Clyde A. Hardin and Elmer J. Layne - were in the army during WWII. Both were injured and carried with them memories and scars from the war their entire life.

Clyde was a Tech Sergeant in the 10th Armored Division serving in France and Germany from 1944 – 1945. This division served under General George S. Patton’s Third Army and was activated from Fort Benning, GA. Clyde was part of the “Battle of the Bulge” and was surrounded at Bastogne during Christmas 1944. If you’ve ever watched the movie with George C Scott playing General Patton, then you will get an idea as to what Clyde and his unit went through. Clyde came out of the service with wounds to his legs and side. Clyde’s division nickname was “Tiger” with the “Battle of the Bulge” being one of its main battle engagements during WWII.

Clyde in uniform:

Clyde worked for Borden’s delivering milk and ice cream to schools and stores until his retirement. He worked hard to support his family. He kept in contact with many of his army buddies through the years. The “Tigers” had reunions with Clyde trying to attend the ones close to home. The last one he attended was in 1987 in Cincinnati, OH.

Clyde in the field:

A more quiet moment with Clyde overlooking the Alps:

I remember Bertha Marrs, Bill’s mother, talking about going to Virginia during the War. She was still in high school, but would go down with her father and mother while he did work in the “Navy Yards.” Many of the American people who were not eligible to fight in the war found other ways to do their part to help.

Bertha Marrs - high school picture:

Mom also talked about her and some of my aunts going to Ypsilanti, Michigan and working as a “Rosie the Riveter.” She worked on B 24’s. She said they never saw a finished plane because of high security. They would catch the train ion Logan and head north to MI! Imagine – my mother was a real “Rosie the Riveter!”

Rosie the Riveter - Mom! She knew how to wrap her hair even before she went to MI!

Dad was a Corporal assigned to the “D” Battery of the 195th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapon Battalion. He was inducted on September 30, 1942 and was discharged on February 7, 1946. He reported to Fort Eustis, VA for basic training and then went on to Camp Haan, CA for training on half-tracks equipped with anti-aircraft guns in the Mohave Desert.

Dad and a little buddy at Camp Haan.

A proud soldier in camp - Dad:
Dad began his voyage across the Atlantic on New Year’s Day 1944. His unit was attached to the 2nd Armored Division for the long planned invasion of Europe. June 6 was marked as D-Day, and it was the day Dad and his unit was initially scheduled to hit the beach. History tells us of the atrocities that occurred that day. Dad was almost had an active part of that day’s event. We, as his family, had no idea of that until the 50th anniversary of D-Day. He told us his ship had been schedule to be on that first wave to land, but for reasons unknown to me, his ship was not where it was suppose to be causing them not to land until June 12 – six days after D-Day and a part of the 10th wave to land on the beach! He said the worst of the fighting was over and he and his unit pushed onward into France’s interior, then they went on to Belgium, Holland, and finally Germany.

Dad and a couple of his buddies in the trenches - Dad's in the middle:

It was as the unit was pushing towards the Roer River around Freialdenhoven, Germany that Dad’s time overseas was about to come to an end. It was a Sunday and the date was November 26, 1944. The half-track he was on hit a landmine wounding him with shrapnel and requiring minimal medical attention. He went back to his unit, boarded another half-track, and was wounded again that same day. This time his wounds were more severe; he lost part of his left foot, had shrapnel lodged in his right arm and right heel, and had a broken left arm and leg. Needless to say, he was about to begin a long trip home. His road to recovery had him in the hospital in England for three months and ended with him being in Walter Reed Hospital for a year where he was fitted with an artificial left leg and a special shoe for his right foot. (I was able to give accurate details not from memory but from an article written about Dad receiving his medals after being hit 57 years earlier.)

Dad never let his wounds stop him from doing what he wanted or needed to do to support his family.

Dad is the one on the right! They are on the grounds of Walter Reed Hospital.

Dad also was able to attend some of the reunions for his group who had the nickname of “Hell on Wheels.” Dink and Rhonda took him and Mom to several of these reunions. They went to Hershey, PA, and Gatlinburg, TN. One of his army buddies and his wife came to Mom and Dad’s 50th anniversary which was held at the house. He corresponded and called several of them through the years.

Dad is the "best looking" one in the picture! :) (2nd from the right)

Clyde and Dad were not the only ones to be in the service. Mom had a brother and brother-in-law who served. Dad had a sister (Aunt Oma) who had seven sons in the service at the same time. They all weren’t serving during WWII, but the years that followed saw the US involved in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Even the years following those wars caused concern as to whether we would become involved in another world war! David’s other grandfather was also in WWII. He was in the Navy and lives in Huntington today. Bill's father had a nephew, Ray, who was in the service at the same time he was. They actually made a connection while overseas.

Clyde and Ray in Europe:
Through the years we have had many family members, friends, and former students who have served their country to help preserve our freedoms. To all of them we say thank you!!!

Sadly, as the years have come and gone, so have the soldiers of WWII. To Bill and myself, our fathers are two of America’s true heroes. We miss them and love them very much!

Bill's father - Clyde A. Hardin:

My father - Elmer J. Layne: