Robert Putnam
Robert Putnam poses with other members of his platoon during one of many World War II reunions he attended.
Robert Putnam was a Carey resident and had just turned 20 when he was drafted to serve his country in March 1943. After completing 13 weeks of infantry replacement training at Camp Robinson in Arkansas, he spent several more weeks in Texas. “I was supposed to go to Algiers on a Liberty ship, which was really a cargo ship,” he said. Instead, the ship docked in Casablanca, and its infantry cargo marched into Iran and crossed into Naples. “We took a train ride through North Africa. There was nothing going on in Casablanca, and Naples had just been taken,” Putnam recalled. Then the 3rd Division pulled back for replacements, underwent amphibious training and went into Anzio. “They moved us, and by that time the German’s air commander thought we didn’t have enough troops,” Putnam said. “The German commander thought we would pull back, but we didn’t. We had enough troops in northern Italy. The Rangers were surprised, and captured two battalions with quite a few casualties.
» Full StoryCarl Smith
Working with his uncle just wasn’t cutting it, back in January 1941, for Carl Smith.
So he decided to sign up for the U.S. Army, prepared to serve for the one year that was required of him.
Al Fingerhuth
Drafted at the age of 18, Tiffin resident Al Fingerhuth remembers signing up for selective service the day of his birthday, and shortly thereafter, in the afternoon mail, having his papers come through. He was to report to Fort Sheridan, Ill.
» Full StoryDale Radcliff
From a cook feeding engineering crews in Greenland, to working as a radar operator on B-52’s bombing missions in Europe: For Dale Radcliff, times were tough, money was scarce and serving his country seemed like the logical thing to do for a...
» Full StoryIntroduction
Hollywood has been serving up some very unrealistic heroes in the last several years. Major motion pictures focusing on superheroes have become a pop culture phenomenon.
» Full StoryMorris Wonder
FORT SENECA — The occupation of Japan following the surrender after World War II required the work of service members such as young Morris Wonder to transport troops and supplies.
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