The odyssey of a purple heart vet
Subtitle: the Battle Of Okinawa
By: by James Beverly Willis
Publisher: [James Beverly Willis]
Published: 2014
Place of publication: Indianapolis, Indiana]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 226
ISBN-13: 9781499102451
Copyright date: 2014
Subjects: History; World War, 1939-1945; Campaigns; Regimental histories; Soldiers; Biography; Military campaigns; United States. Army. Infantry, 77th. Company C.; United States
Other titles: Battle Of Okinawa
Description: This is a true, intriguing love story of a young soldier for his Creator, family, and country. As a young boy growing up on the back roads of a farming community in rural Indiana, James and his brothers were taught many skills that came with farming as well as learning to hunt. His dad taught him how to use a rifle well and even how to listen to the woods and nature around him; because of this youthful experience he earned the "Expert Rifleman" badge in the army. He was an outstanding friend, a man of unique character, James was a person who could always be trusted to "have your back!" Although he was an ordinary young man living in an extraordinary time, he never lost the sense of who he was at heart-- and his faith in God. His quiet, unassuming, yet engaging personality propelled him to a different world he never knew, or could have ever imagined. The reader will be amazed and intrigued by the stories told in vivid detail - captured through the eyes of a young soldier while serving with the 77th Infantry Division of the army in the Pacific Theater during World War II. -- back cover.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.
Table of contents: title: Foreword; title: Acknowledgements; title: Chapter 1, Leaving the nest : A fork in the road ; Purdue: People and plans ; Work ethics pay off ; Pearl Harbor Day ; The War develops; title: Chapter 2, Montana Forestry Venture: Chance of a lifetime ; Juggling school and world events; title: Chapter 3, Uncle Sam, My Schoolmaster: Camp Atterbury ; Basic training at Camp Blanding ; An unexpected encounter ; Maggie's drawers! ; Bivouac with blistered buddies ; Furlough and farewell to friends; title: Chapter 4, The Pacific Theater: From Fort Ord to Hawaii ; Fort Ord ; Water, water, everywhere ; Aloha ; A lifetime friend ; The wait before the storm: Saipan ; Trucks and snails and duck landing tales ; Retaking of Guam and Tinian ; Headline news ; Okinawa bound; title: Chapter 5, Okinawa: Prepared, but not ready ; Japanese suicide attacks continued ; Long road to the castle ; Changing out and paring down ; In the trenches ; Caissons keep rolling along ; Dread and deliverance ; The bullet with my name on it ; Nightmare to nightingale ; Homeward bound ; The walls came tumbling down; title: Chapter 6, God Bless America: Recuperation and restoration ; "Never Surrender" surrendered ; Back to base ; A pig and a chicken ; Dreary, desolate destination; title: Chapter 7: The Flower Of Fayetteville: Heels to wheels ; Mine, in time ; Our home in Bloomington, Indiana; title: Chapter 8, Occupation and reconstruction; title: Conclusion; title: A change of heart; title: Sources; title: Author's note.