I Remember:
Stories of a Combat Infantryman in World War II
by John Shirley
A Merriam Press/Author Cooperative Book
Military Monograph MM109
This book was self-published by the author in 2005. In cooperation with the author, the Merriam Press is offering the last remaining copies for sale to its customers.
From the Author's Introduction
This collection of war stories first appeared in issues of the Watch on the Rhine, the magazine of the Society of the Third Infantry Division. The first story appeared in 1978 and the last one in 1989. They were published in book form in 1993. Many veterans have lived through similar experiences, but have not recorded them, and so appreciate seeing such stories in print.
I have only written stories that are well imprinted in my memory. They are first person stories that have remained with me over the years. Everyone sees a battle from his or her own perspective, and accounts vary. Only ten stories are included in this collection, because these are the only events I remember in detail, even though I was in and out of combat for over one year.
I was drafted into the Army in March of 1943. I took my basic training at Camp Cooke, now Vandenburg Air Force Base, near Lompoc, California. I was promoted to Corporal at the end of infantry basic training, and assigned to the 166th Infantry Regiment at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The Regiment served as infantry school troops for the Artillery Officer Candidate School.
In a few months I was promoted to Sergeant, and in early 1944 was sent overseas as an infantry replacement. I sailed out of Newport News, Virginia, on a Liberty Ship with 500 other infantry replacements. After twenty-two days at sea, we debarked from the ship at Palermo, Sicily.
Trucks took us to Messina, then a ferry across the Straight of Messina, and electric trains to Caserta, Italy. After a week in the 1st Replacement Depot near the Cassino Front, I was sent to Naples, and then to Anzio-Nettuno by LST. I was assigned to I Company, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, on the Anzio-Nettuno Beachhead. I was now an assistant squad leader in a rifle company with a few veterans of the fighting in North Africa, Sicily, southern Italy, as well as three months on the Anzio-Nettuno Beachhead. My platoon had many replacements with various lengths of service in the company.
I did most of my fighting as a Tech. Sgt. serving as a Platoon Sergeant or Acting Platoon Leader, and when I recovered from a wound and returned to my Regiment was given a battlefield commission to 2nd Lieutenant. I was then assigned to L Company, 15th Infantry Regiment.
It was a fine Company, and during the occupation of Austria and Germany served five months as a Platoon Leader, and two months as the Company Commander. I left Europe in early December 1945 and arrived home on Christmas Eve, 1945.
I received a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars with a V device for Valor, a Purple Heart, and a European Theater Operation Medal with six Campaign stars and a bronze Arrowhead for one invasion.
I was very fortunate to have lived through the war, and am pleased I can share some of my experiences with you.
Contents
- Introduction
- Into Battle on a Sled
- On the Road to Rome
- Beachhead
- Patrol
- Fire Three Tracers
- The Rock Quarry
- Road Block
- A Long Night
- Attack-Counterattack
- Prisoners
- The End
- Appendices
- The Colmar Pocket
- The Author
- Third Infantry Division
- The Dogface Soldier
- World War II Army Divisions Casualties
Specifications
- Second Edition
- 96 – 5.375 x 8.25 inch pages
- Paperback – $15.00
- Perfect bound with color cover
- 16 B&W photos
- 2 maps
- 5 appendices
Reviews and Testimonials
"Carefully expounded in his modest way, the stories are replete with suspense, courage, and heroism combined with an appreciation of his good fortune during battle and a sense of wit and perspective".
—Gail Spenser
The Independent
"I have read Ernie Pyle and James Jones and seen all the movies. None of them came close to impressing me with the horror, agony, and intensity of the job of the infantryman as your stories did".
—Art Henry
Former Editor of the Livermore Herald
"Your book is wonderful."
—David Mertes
Former Chancellor of the California Community College System,
and Marine veteran
"The stories are very well written, devoid of pretension or self-promotion, but reflected a sincere and doubtless accurate self image".
—Hugh Scott
Author of Blue and White Devils
Former Third Infantry Division G-2 (Intelligence Officer) WWII
"Your book arrived on Wednesday, so I stayed up half the night to read it, as I couldn't put it down. Very fine writing and you never left anything out, good or bad."
—Charles King
Editor, Watch on the Rhine
and veteran of the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, WWII
"Your book is one of the very best war memories I have ever read, and I have read a lot of them. Your writing style is informative and reveals your personal experiences with one of the very best, if not the best, infantry division in WW II."
—Bob Baldridge,
Author, Victory Road (a Merriam Press book)
and a veteran of the 9th Infantry Division in WWII
"One does not have to know you to be spell-bound by I Remember. Knowing you, having cared for many 3rd Infantry Division wounded, and having trod the same soil in the same war makes it most memorable. All Marne men will relive every step with you as they read your fine book."
—June Wandrey
Author, Bedpan Commando
Army Nurse from North Africa to end of WWII