Glenn M. Boeck |
I had been in the Army less than 6 months. Took artillery training on 155mm French guns at Camp Callan CA, which was located where Torrey Pines Golf course is at the time of this writing. Left Angel Island in San Francisco Bay. Only a few of us got off the troop ship at Honolulu. At Schofield Barracks, my orders were to report to the Regimental HQ and HQ Battery, 97th Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft). At the time of the bombing, I was on assignment to a Radio Telegraph School at Ft. Shafter, TH. When the bombing was recognized as the real thing my assignment was to work on KP (Kitchen Police). That day was the first time I was given a rifle and ammunition without signing for them. Some stray rounds landed in the area but none closer than about 150-200 feet. Very soon I was taken off KP and assigned as a radio-telegraph operator in an underground command post. My only real scare came when I finished my shift and came out from underground about midnight, no lights, and rifles firing at anything that moved and couldn't answer to "who goes there?". My tent was gone along with all of my belongings. After searching the area I found someone had moved my belongings into an unfinished concrete barrack that was built enough that when we laid on our cots the rifle fire could go over our bodies. After about a week they sent me back to Ft. Kamehameha to be with my assigned unit. Most of the rest of WWII was spent as an Army aviation cadet, an instructor of aerial navigation, and as a navigator on a B17 crew. Other military experiences in the US and Korea were as an infantry heavy weapons commander, artillery survey officer, intelligence officer, forward observer, fire direction officer, and liaison officer with units of 105 and 155 howitzers, tank units, and Korean military regiments and divisions. Irene and I were married in San Antonio Texas in 1943. Our family consists of 3 girls and 2 boys. Before, between and after the 2 wars, my college education included a BS in education (Majoring in science and mathematics), a Doctor of Optometry and an MA in education. My time on active duty and reserve and National Guard which covered from 1937 to 1979 gave me time to teach for about 26 years and to practice optometry both full and part time. Hobbies include being an amateur radio operator (a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Amateur Radio Net) and working with lapidary, stained glass, and woodworking. At age 81 my new sport is now bowling. Information provided by Cynthea Brown, PHSA Chapter 3, San Diego California |
