Tilden Herbert JAMES (VETERAN WWII)

US Army
World War II
May 9, 1915 - February 26, 1995

From "My Country Called" by Arnold Wright: "I went into the Army in August 1942, and took my basic training at Camp Roberts, California. This place has got to be the hottest place in the world! From there, I was sent to Camp Rucker, Alabama, then to Fort Dix, New Jersey, for shipment for overseas. Attached to the 320th Cannon Co, we landed in Liverpool, England, on May 10, 1944. In June, 1944, we were shipped to France a few days after the invasion. We went through France into Belgium. The Germans had pulled a counter attack and had broken through our lines. During the Battle of the Bulge, my job was hauling ammo to our 6 guns. We had to keep the trucks rolling, day and night, to keep the guns supplied. We called our route 'The Death Valley Grimsy Forest.' I recall, one time, as we were going through a town, we drew rifle fire on the trucks. After we made it through the town, I had to stop and fix all the flats caused by the bullets. At that time I really didn't mind because I was still alive! I was pulled off the lines in April 1945, and was sent back to the Rhine River for three months. When I received orders to go to Camp Lucky Strike, France, I knew I was on my way back home. After discharge at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, on November 1, 1945, I worked for Reynolds Metals Co, and I retired in 1977."

Contributed on 11/6/08 by pvhwdh
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Record #: 94871

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