 Pvt
George F. Schairer
probably taken while home on leave, perhaps prior to jump
school.
(courtesy Arthur Rottier) |
 Pvt
George F. Schairer
poses with what may have been his father.
(courtesy Arthur Rottier) |
 William
F. Schmidt
1945 graduate of Lima, OH high school served in 508th in 1946 |
 Lt.
Smith
was the only caption provided by Bill Giegold. It is uncertain which of the
8 officers with that name ad rank it may have been. |
 Pvt
Raymond H. Smith (left) and unidentified friend apparently celebrate
jump school graduation |
Recently Landed Overseas
Spurgeon Joins Paratroops
Writes He Was Shocked
at Destitution Seen in France While Enroute
LeRoy Spurgeon, who has recently landed overseas, writes home from
Marburg, Germany, that he has joined the paratroops and after attending
"jump school" at Frankfurt, expects to be assigned to the 508th
paratroops there.
Aside from the fact that he wanted to "see just how much I can
take," Spurgeon had other reasons for wanting to be a member of the
508th.
"This 508th is known as the snappiest outfit in the ETO," he wrote.
"They are an honor guard to Gen McNarney, commander of the occupational
troops and wear white gloves and white pistol slings the year round."
There's a boost in pay, too, that he thought was all right.
Spurgeon had been shocked by the starvation |
seen in France in passing through that
country on his way to Germany.
"Back in the states with plenty to eat and warm clothes and a good
home, the words 'starvation' and 'nakedness' had little meaning," he
said. "But you can't argue with reality stark and cold, staring
you in the face. The French are really destitute."
He told of seeing children clothed in rags, GI shoes and layers of
dirt, standing with cans, collecting the food the men were about to
throw in the garbage cans as they came out of their mess hall, and "even
digging into the slimy can itself for bits of bread and meat."
Spurgeon spoke highly of the Red Cross, the only place he had to
write, he said.
At Marburg it was set up in an old hotel and was the only place
outside the mess hall where food could be had. Candy, etc., at the
PX was rationed.
The son of Mr. and Mrs.. E. L. Spurgeon, 920 9th S.E., he entered
the Army last September. |
 Junior
LeRoy Spurgeon
Mason City High School,
Mason City, IA (1945)[Note: whether
Spurgeon successfully completed jump school is unknown] |
