Veteran's History Project - Thomas H. Evans

Thomas H. Evans

Technician 4th Grade

U.S. Army

World War II

Editor's Note: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project.

Thomas H. "Tom" Evans was in his senior year of high school in a small town in north central Missouri. When he arrived home from class in the spring of 1943, he found a postcard addressed to him. It was from the local Selective Service Office and it began with the word "Greetings ..."

In the days when young men were drafted into the military, word traveled fast about this introductory announcement. The post card told him that he was eligible to be drafted and that he would need to take a physical exam on a specified date. He passed the physical exam with flying colors. He returned home to help with the crops and finish school.

Upon graduating from high school, it was time to serve the country. He, and two other boys from that area, traveled by bus to Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Here they would begin their careers in the U.S. Army. At Fort Leavenworth, they received extra-fine haircuts, some medical work (shots) and were issued clothing while they waited for enough others to fill a troop train. In a short time, the men and their new gear climbed aboard a train headed west. It was his first such ride. Tom was happy to say that while on the troop train, he was never ordered to pull "duty." Duty consisted of helping the cooks peel potatoes or being a fire guard, etc. He said there were lots of stories being told on the trip. The closer they got to their destination, the bigger the stories got.

Tom began basic training at Camp Roberts, Calif. This post is situated about midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Here, the young men were formed up into groups and in those groups they were to stay for the next 11 weeks. In the barracks where he was assigned, there were 40 or 50 men.

Tom had few, if any, difficulties in basic training. Tom achieved expert status shooting the rifle. He admitted that he didn't quite accomplish so much with the .45 caliber pistol. Later as he staged for combat, he was issued a "grease gun." (This is a .45 configured as a machine gun.) There was one visitor who came to see the men. It was Joe Lewis, the heavyweight boxing champion of the world. He still remembers that vividly.

During the entire time of his training, there were mainly caucasian and hispanic trainees. During training he was taught many tasks. In addition to the marksmanship, marching and fitness work, customs and courtesies, there were reminders of the importance of paying attention to detail. For example, when soldiers were instructed how to pack their equipment and clothing in anticipation of combat, there was only one way and it had to be done right – completely right. Those who marched with their packs and reached a destination with all their things in tact were good to go. The ones who couldn't manage the task found themselves missing important things. Tom said that the sloppy ones were the ones to avoid, as their inattention would get others killed. (This is a key point in soldiering.)

During basic training, he was paid about $19 per month. He sent most of it back to his parents. Tom graduated from the training. He and others were loaded onto a troop train and sent to Denver and then on to Camp Breckenridge, Ky., a smaller base in the northern part of the state. It was useful in training as well as a German P.O.W. camp during and after the war.

Information from the front lines of the war was that there was a shortage of men to fill the ranks of the artillery, and Tom was assigned to this branch. He learned the basics in a short time. He became a forward observer, and was promoted to the next higher rank. Since he had been issued a sewing kit, he could sew on his stripes himself. In a few weeks, he and other new soldiers had some knowledge of their tasks and were sent to Camp Shanks, N.Y., and finally to a pier where they boarded troop ships headed across the Atlantic.

The troop ships were converted British luxury liners. They were fairly fast and could carry a lot of men. And, they claimed to be able to outrun the German U-boats. Tom was on the RMS Aquitania. This vessel was used in WWI and WWII. The trip from the pier to Wales took only five days, he said. Soon, they were moved closer to the English Channel. Upon arrival, the men formed up in their assigned units and headed for their assembly areas. Tom was in Battery A, 898th Field Artillery Battalion, 75th Infantry Division.

Tom and his group boarded an LST (Landing Ship, Tanks) and were sent across the channel to the northern beaches of France. As the ship closed in on the beaches, the front doors of the vessel opened up like barn doors. The men and equipment disembarked. Tom was among the groups of men wading ashore. His rifle was protected by Cosmoline, a rust preventer. The ship carried the units' artillery pieces and the ammunition for them as well.

On land and re-grouped, Tom and his unit headed inland and for the "fight." His job as forward observer was to make his way – or sneak – ahead of the lines of battle and find a good position to radio back to his units where and what type of rounds to lay on the enemy. He had to have land and radio commo capability. He needed to be able to see where friendly forces were. His knowledge of orientation and map-reading were superb.

Tom was in combat at the Battle of the Bulge. In late December 1944, German forces pushed hard out of their western border. To help stop this encroachment, the 75th Division was quickly sent to the area of the Ourthe River and set up defensive positions. Soon, they advanced to the Aisne River, and entered Grandmenil, by Jan. 5, 1945. The 75th Division relieved the 82nd Airborne Division along the Salm River, three days later and strengthened its defensive positions until Jan. 17 when it attacked, taking Vielsalm and other towns in the area. The artillery units were serious players in this fight. Their big guns could outperform those of the enemy. It took only two men to set up a cannon and make it ready to fire. Tom's role in these fights was very important.

During the Battle of the Bulge, Tom was exposed to the significant and long-lasting sub-zero temperatures and snow. He said his feet were severely frostbitten, but he kept on doing his job. He used church steeples, high hills and tall buildings. The men ate "C" rations and some hot food was delivered as often as possible.

Tom said that in one of the battles, a lieutenant was shot and badly torn up. Tom and another soldier took ahold of the man's clothing and dragged him downhill through the snow to a jeep that was parked on the barely passable road. They placed the man's body on the hood of the Jeep and tried to fasten him there. They found a driver who immediately headed off to an aid station. Tom thought the man lived, but didn't know for sure.

Tom said he didn't have a lot of pictures. It didn't seem right to him that people should be taking pictures while just feet away, men were getting shot at. As the battles raged, the Germans were pushed back. Many more American fighters lost their lives. The artillery was to continue blasting away. He watched the trucks of the "Red Ball Express" moving men, ammunition and beans around the theaters of war. He was impressed by their speed.

Tom was in Germany on May 8, 1945 when the war was declared over. Units were re-assembled and rosters announced in attempts to locate all the personnel. The 75th was sent to a "tent city" area. Here, areas of tents were named after American cigarette brands ... Lucky Strike, Chesterfield, Pall Mall, etc. Tom was in charge of commo in the Lucky Strike area. Tom was also assigned to units opening gates of P.O.W. and internment camps.

He did get time to travel for a few days before returning to the U.S. When they left Europe, the men were aboard the USS Sea Tiger. The ship left port and was on the Atlantic when the engines quit. For more than two weeks, the engineers worked to get it running. The men played cards, dreamed of their new lives and were frustrated. Finally, the ship was back underway and made it to New York. As the men were accounted for, some got a day off to see the sights. Tom ate at restaurant that served him a big T-bone steak. He was in a restaurant that employed several German people. He thought "here we are, we're fighting you one day, and the next, you're serving us food."

Toward the end, Tom was discharged from the Army in Cincinatti. He had some back-pay coming. He had the freedom to move about the country. Eventually, he went back to La Plata, Mo., and helped his family. Using the G.I. Bill, he went to and graduated from college, majoring in agronomy.

For his service, he earned the Bronze Star, European Campaign Ribbon, American Theater Award, Good Conduct Ribbon and the Victory Medal.

Tech-Four Tom Evans, good job. Thank you for your service!