 |
GENE WRIGHT |
 |
Gene Wright, 207 Parkside, Desloge, served in the 71st
Division and 3rd Military Government Regiment with the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a 1st Sergeant in Europe.
"On Nov. 15, 1944, an 'Elite' group from St.
Francois County journeyed to Jefferson Barracks for induction. Most of us were 1944 high school graduates and just
became 18 years old," Wright recalls.
"Some of this group that I can remember were Les
Ira, John Cole, Bill Compton, and Joe Winch from Desloge; Myron Nuddleman from Bonne
Terre, Bob Grisham from Elvins, Les Huber, Bill Watts and Cletus Mills from Esther; Bill
Carpenter, Sterling Tucker, Lonnie Strickland and Gene Wright from Flat River. We were all Army bound except for Les Huber, Bill
Watts and Bob Grisham, who went into the Navy.
"In a few days we were in Camp Fannin, Texas for
basic training and also for Thanksgiving Dinner. Now
the secret is known why the European War only lasted 11 more months with this group in
uniform and most of us in Europe is understandable."