Veteran's History Project

At age twenty one, the Selective Service System, also known as the “Draft” caught up with Bill Cross of Camden, Arkansas. Sooner or later, the system usually won out.

Bill went off to Little Rock, AR for his induction physical and testing. Immediately after successfully completing first steps, Bill headed for Camp Bowie, TX. This was his new home for a few weeks.

There were no memorable problems as Bill got his introduction to military life and the military. He did his share of night watches, KP, marching, rifle shooting and Drill. He and his platoon marched across the parade ground for a graduation ceremony then he was sent on to Camp Hood, Texas.

Camp Hood is now the sprawling stronghold known as Fort Hood, TX. It is the home of the Army’s Third Corps, the Fourth Infantry Division, and the First Cavalry Division, plus many sub-ordinate units.

While at Camp Hood, Bill received training in vehicle mechanics both in engine work and mobility. In that he already knew something about keeping things running, it wasn’t too difficult for him. In time, another platoon march across the parade field took place and another time to move on!

Bill’s next holding pattern took place after he was sent to Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Here, he and others did the SLJs that holdovers do, plus they played their share of baseball. These men were replacements for the war effort in Europe.

Orders came for Bill and others. The directive sent them to Florida. Now, Bill was assigned to a unit. He was no longer a “hey, you”. He got the chance to apply his skills in getting vehicles ready to ship out for work in Europe.

While in Florida, the unit was preparing for a high level of inspection. Of course, the flow of intimidating information flowed down the pipe and the people about to be inspected were paranoid. The Officer in charge of the motor pool did his own pre-inspection. He inventoried the vehicles that were on hand and compared that to the number they were supposed to have.

All matched up fairly closely, but there was an extra jeep. Before the inspectors arrived, the men were directed to find a place to bury the jeep. They did what they were ordered to do. The unit passed the inspection.

This action had a lasting impact on Bill. Why in the world, would they bury a good vehicle just to satisfy an inspector? There were lots of options, but to bury it?

Soon, part of the Division moved out of Florida to Camp Grant, New York. The move for a unit this size is quite an undertaking. Not only were there lots of men, but there had to be cooks, clerks, drivers, artillerymen and guns, etc. For entertainment, a boxing match was held in the area for the men. Joe Lewis was one of the boxers!

The unit was provided a ship to carry them across the Atlantic Ocean. Bill said it was a converted cattle ship. Assuming the Navy or Merchant Marines washed it out… they were underway.

Bill slept on a hammock, stacked six-high (times hundreds )in the hull of the ship. There would be about 3,000 men on this ship. The voyage would take about a week to cross the Ocean. The ship landed in the usual port in England and soon moved on to western France.

As the unit made its way east, it made encampment near the Rhine River. Bill was very busy at this point. There were quite a few vehicles that needed repaired. The vehicles returning from the front were in serious need of TLC.

While the men were here, Bill and others went off the area to find an animal that could provide them fresh meat. They found and killed a deer! The critter was brought back to the cantonment area where it was butchered and served right away!

Once the War was over in Germany, another set of orders came to the unit. They were to board another ship and sail for the Philippine Islands. This would be in the July time frame of 1945. The ship they were on would have to go from England to and through the Panama Canal and out onto the Pacific Ocean.

The ship landed at a port near Manila in the Philippines. The mission of this unit was to become a part of the Army of Occupation in Japan… overseeing the people and the resettlement activities. BUT, it was after August 15th, 1945 (VJ Day).

The war in the Pacific had ended.

The next movement was to sail back to California where he would await discharge. In only two days, Bill was sent to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. This entailed a very long train ride but one filled with happy men who had survived and were going home.

Once home, Bill met all the expectations of re-unions. He found work at the local Post Office and worked there for more than thirty years.

He joined a Navy Reserve unit in Little Rock, AR. Here he learned TV repair - a skill that he used for years and years.

Tech Sergeant Bill Cross, your Country called on your best! Thank you for your service!!