GeraldLeighton
Staff Sergeant in the Texas National Guard
Interviewed by Steve Larson and Dan Mays 12-2000
Lucca cheap hotelsNarrative by Brandon Dunkerson and Greg Hammet
Gerald Leightonwas born March 16, 1923. He was only eighteen when the war started. He wasliving in Lakeside, Montana when he was drafted. He left Polson March 3, 1943and was sent to Oran, Africa. He was a Staff Sergeant of the F Company, 143rdInfantry, 2ndBattalion, 36th Divisionof the Texas National Guard. He served for thirty-two months was involved incampaigns in Naples and Rome, northern and Southern France and the Netherlands.He was wounded twice and received the combat infantry badge, the silver star, agood conduct medal and the purple heart.
If you could walk, talk andbreathe, the U.S. military had a place for you. I was one of the many drafted,but I was not against going to war. After Pearl Harbor was bombed I was angry.The Japanese had been planning it for years, and they were a threat to us in theUnited States. Once I was in theservice I never thought about giving up my duties. We had a job to do.
ERROR MSGI was drafted into service alongwith twenty-one friends and classmates. We left Polson, Montana on March 4,1943. Our first stop was Fort Douglas, Utah where we were given uniforms andreceived our physical examinations and our immunizations shots. We received ourassignments and were on our way by train to our respective training camps. Fiveof us ended up in Fort McClellan, Alabama. We received thirteen weeks of basicinfantry training.
We were up at 5:45 AM and had an hour to make our bed, shave and getready to stand reveille. At formation theyd announce what our daystraining would be and what uniform and equipment we would need. Then we wouldfall out with for the days training. At the next formation we always had ourrifle, cartridge belt and field pack with raincoat ready to go.
After breakfast we were marched to the parade grounds or another othertraining area. We were marched back to our area for lunch or lunch was served atthe training area. We were trained in rifle marksmanship, machine guns, mortars,bazookas, and hand grenades. We had to learn the ten general orders that asoldier lives and acts by while on duty.
During the war I traveled all over the world. After basic training, Iended up in Africa, but I also traveled through Italy, France, Luxemburg,England, and Lorraine. After basic training we got to come home for ten daysbefore shipping out for Oran, Africa. We shipped out of Camp Shanks, New Jerseyon August 21, 1943. I was in convoy for twelve days. After we landed in Oran wewere taken to an area to prepare for the first replacements after the Salermoinvasion of Italy on September 9, 1943. Fifteen days later we were on the beachin Italy and reinforcing the Thirty-Sixth Division, Texas National Guard. Theyhad lost many men, and they were glad to see us. Being from Montana the Texanswere especially friendly and helpful.
ERROR MSGMy first assignment in the 3rd Squad, 3rd Platoon, F Company,Second Battalion, 36thDivision was as a part of the Browning Automatic Rifleman (BAR) Team. As agunner I had an assistant and an ammunition carrier. We three, the squad leaderand two scouts, made up half the squad. Five rifleman and the assistant squadleader made up the twelve in the 3rd Squad.
My first combat was on Mount Rotunda, north of Naples. I was woundedDecember fifteenth at San Pietro and spent Christmas 1943 in Naples and NewYears on a hospital ship headed to Algers, North Africa.
After I recuperated I was sent back to my outfit in the end of February1944. I was promoted to squad leader and had ten new replacements and anassistant squad leader who had been in combat with a different company.
We pushed off Anzio for Rome andwere in Rome by June 6, 1944, the same day as the Normandy invasion in France.We were short of ammo a few times. When they attacked Normandy, our supply linein Rome was pretty thin.
I was wounded June 22, 1944 north of Rome at Grassetto, Italy and was inthe hospital in Naples when my outfit made the southern France Invasion onAugust 15, 1944. I joined my outfit in France September 25, 1944. I leftMarseilles, France November 2, 1945 for home. I was discharged November 22, 1945. I served five months and twenty-three days in theUnited States and two years, two months and twenty-six days in foreign service.
Its hard to forget anythingabout the war. Killing the enemywas our job. I was wounded two different times. The second time I went from Naples to Africa. Getting shot between theeyes was my worst fear. I wasnt really scared for my life most of the time,but I did loose many friends and relatives during the war. My favorite uncle waskilled during the war. Amid all this we did have some good times, but it washard to be away. I made some good friends, but I missed everyone at home.
When the war was declared over Iwas relieved. I was still alive. War is hell. It is never good, but there were afew positive results. I think it united families and our nation. We gained moneyand knowledge from our experiences in the war. Still, there are better ways tosolve the worlds problems than going to war. Things should be settled throughnegotiation.
Hoteles baratos con descuento NaplesI think young people who havenever experienced war should know what was made possible for us today. The warwas something that we had to do and it was necessary. We had no choice; we hadbeen attacked. I definitely agreedwith the United States decision to drop the bomb. The Japanese were not goingto surrender, even to save their own lives. They were trained to fight to thedeath. The whole country was involved. It was an emergency. Everybody back homebanded together and backed the soldiers. They bought war bonds and financed thewar as well as they could. Everyone was supporting us. When we got home we wereall treated like a heroes.
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