Veteran's History Project - Eugene H. Hume

Eugene H. Hume

PFC

U.S. Marine Corps

1944-1946

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.

Eugene "Gene" Hume was two weeks into his 16th year of life when the warriors of the Japanese Emperor's Air and Navy forces struck Pearl Harbor.

Like just about all Americans, he was more than a little agitated that we had been attacked. He wanted to join then but would have to wait a while.

The U.S. Navy was taking 17 year olds. Gene and two friends went to the nearest recruiting office in Denver to sign up. There was a problem. The Navy had enough recruits and sailors. But, the Marine Corps had taken a serious number of casualties in the Pacific and needed replacements. The recruiter sent them to the nearby USMC office.

Originally, he had his hopes on becoming a pilot, but didn't quite meet the educational requirements. Gene also knew that he didn't want to walk in the mud. He had heard that the Army did plenty of that. Soon enough, Gene and two of his buddies from Lodgepole were enlisted in Omaha, Neb. And, back on the train for a long ride to the Marine Corps Recruitment Depot (MCRD) in San Diego.

The greeting committee, a gnarly Sergeant, welcomed the young men. Things were "'splained" efficiently and forcefully. They were in several lines getting the clothing and equipment they would need for boot camp. In each line, as one moved slightly forward, it was required that the new guy pick up his duffle bag and move it ahead. A trainee close to Gene stuck out his foot and slid his suitcase ahead ... and did get some additional instruction about how that was not to be done.

Soon the new ones – about 40 men – made up a platoon and were marched to their Quonset-type building where they were to live for about six weeks. In training, they learned the techniques of marching, marksmanship, customs and courtesies, physical fitness, all the while becoming a member of "the few and the proud."

Each morning before any other activities, they were required to run a mile on the "grinder." The morning run was in uniforms and boots. One morning, Gene was a little tired and found a secluded place to rest. The sergeant caught him – dang! For the remainder of boot camp, Gene was not to walk anywhere. He was to double-time, or jog, only.

Gene was in good shape for the rigorous training and was already skilled with a rifle. Boot camp wasn't all that difficult for him. When it was over, he got nine days of leave and traveled home to Lodgepole.

On the ninth day, there was a dance in the Sidney area. Gene and his buddies knew they couldn't be late, but there were going to be some nice-looking girls at the dance. They reported in a few hours later than they were supposed to. The price they paid was worth the extra time with the girls, Gene said!

The follow-on training was at Sea School in San Diego. Here, he learned about Navy terms and lots of information about ships etc. The next class was at Oceanside, Calif., for training on anti-aircraft gunnery. Gene was trained to be a gunner and was assigned to operate the 20mm and 40mm anti-aircraft guns located on a ship.

Gene and a few others were headed somewhere, they just weren't sure where that was to be. From a transit company in San Francisco, they boarded a PBY airplane.

During World War II, the PBY was the most successful aircraft of its kind; no other flying boat was produced in greater numbers. Once they boarded, the aircraft was full of men and fuel. With that much weight, it took three tries to burn off enough fuel to get lift to clear the water. This was Gene's first airplane trip.

The PBY took Gene to several points before getting to the destination where the ship he would serve on waited. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Montpelier (CL57). This was a Cleveland Class Light Cruiser, known as the "Monty."

She and her crew fought fiercely and bravely in the Pacific Campaign. She received 13 battle stars. She was the victim of numerous Japanese Kamikaze attacks. The Montpelier was a warship. It was part of Task Force 58 that saw the last Japanese carrier air groups almost completely destroyed, ending any chance of a major Japanese naval victory.

After the battle the Montpelier bombarded targets on Saipan, Tinian and Guam. It was long, narrow, fast and lethal. Its weaponry consisted of 6-inch cannons, 5 inch, 40mm, and 20mm anti-aircraft batteries.

There was a contingent of Marines aboard that handled the firepower. That was Gene's work.

Gene said the Montpelier was often used in Carrier escorts and in operations that provided "cover." Cover would include keeping enemy aircraft away from landings, firing artillery into forward enemy locations and managing over-watch keeping things secure. Gene is soft-spoken about all the things this cruiser did, but it did plenty. Gene's weapons were located in the forward end of the ship. Members of his unit sustained shrapnel injuries.

Gene kept in touch with home by writing letters. The food was not bad. The guys kept busy with watching movies and playing a few card games.

Gene said he got an early education on playing cards and didn't play much after that. His quarters were mid-ship, above the water line. There weren't any chances to get back home once they were in the Pacific. Keeping a personal diary was not authorized.

One evening, a young Marine was cleaning his Model 1911 .45 caliber pistol. The Marine failed to clear the weapon first. There was an accidental discharge of the weapon. A round went off and hit the area above Gene's head. Not too much later, that Marine was sent to another aircraft.

After the signing of the peace treaty with Japan, the Montpelier and other ships remained in the Pacific area of operations. She was stationed at Wakayama, Japan. Gene and his shipmates helped with the allied effort in recovering the prisoners of war, particularly from Bataan and Corrigidor and helped cover the arrival of U.S. troops at Matsuyama.

At one time, they had to navigate a narrow inlet to get to a larger body of water. They used a Japanese ship pilot to get past the mined areas. He said it worked out pretty good. He did get to see many of the P.O.W. survivors. He knew when they were rescued; they were cleaned up and sent off to awaiting hospital ships.

In November 1945, the U.S.S. Montpelier headed to San Diego – its work in the Pacific was over. Gene took advantage of some accumulated liberty time. He rode the train back to Lodgepole so he could be home for a while. In the meantime, the U.S.S. Montpelier went back out to sea. It traveled through the Panama Canal and to New York. While at home, Gene developed problems with his appendix. He spent most of the 30 days leave getting and recovering from surgery.

Gene still had to rejoin his shipmates and fellow Marines. He was still in the service. Traveling to New York on a bus, there were no seats available and he had to stand most of the way.

Gene was discharged at Norfolk, Va. From there, he went to Omaha and on to Western Nebraska. He used some of his G.I. Bill benefits to take flight lessons. He finally got to fly!

He attended several reunions that had been held over the years. He joined the American Legion and the Disabled Veterans. Gene became a farmer/rancher in the Peetz, Colo., area.

Gene earned the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with two bronze stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon and the Sharpshooter badge. Some of his awards and mementos have disappeared. A way will be found to re-supply this fine Marine. Gene is the senior Marine most often seen at the Marine Corps Birthday Ball on Nov. 10 in Sidney.

Good job, PFC Hume! Thank you for your service.