Lt. Col. GEORGE C. WARNER - B Co.
"First was that of Omaha Beach on D-Day, and the LSTs getting our Tank Destroyers through the barricades while being shot at from the cliff side by enemy machine guns and their 88 mm guns."
sorry, no photo available
Medals and Special Honors I received while in the Army:
- Bronze Star with one cluster
- EAME Campaign with 5 Service Stars
- American Defense Service Medal
- Croix de Guerre
1. Some funny things I remember about the war:
The original unit had both volunteers and draftees. Pending the time that industry could gear up to produce guns, military trucks, tanks and tank destroyers, we trained with make believes. We were serious about training to hurt the enemy and at the same time protect ourselves.
2. My memories of the way we lived in Europe:
Our first overseas time was in the southwest part of England. By that time we had the first tank destroyers and LSTs to carry them. We did assault landing training on most days right up to D-Day. The English appreciated our presence which reduced the threat of invasion by the well prepared enemy.
3. My most vivid memories from World War II:
First was that of Omaha Beach on D-Day, and the LSTs getting our Tank Destroyers through the barricades while being shot at from the cliff side by enemy machine guns and their 88 mm guns. We were mid-afternoon getting ashore and it was through the night and into the early morning by the time the survivors got on top.
Another was that of the Battle of the Bulge. We were new to that area even though we had maps of reasonable accuracy. The enemy was the aggressor being familiar with the area and having the element of surprise. We were accompanying our infantry units, who were doing a lot of walking in deep, wet snow. It was the normal to have cold and wet feet and a weary attitude. The good part was that the great amounts of wool sox were coming from the states. It came to evening chow time that a clean, dry pair of sox were required to be put on before supper chow, whatever it was. Among other endeavors, I was issuing clean sox each evening.
4. My memories about the conditions of the countries I was in during the war:
The enemy had taken over the countries with the objectives of winning at all costs. Take every kind of material, plus putting locals to work for their cause. Cold countries with shattered housing and little fuel for heating.
5. Something from the war that is difficult to talk about, that I'd like future Americans to know---
There are no winners in any war. There are those who lost and spend the remainder of their lives trying to recover emotionally and physically.
The so-called winners have lost friends and family members. They now realize that they are not replaceable. Additionally, they spend the remainder of their time trying to pay for the huge debts that came about.
6. In spite of the hardships of war, I am proud to have served my country in World War II because:
At the time that World War II was inevitable, I was at the proper age and physical condition to heed the call. The kind of patriotic thinking among our generation was that we should sign up and do our part.
7. My message to my lifelong Buddies in the 818th:
Do your part in your community to the young ones coming on. Tell them to be learning that present day technology has produced weapons of such destructive potential that widespread use would be such that the world would never recover to be the same again.
No longer are we able to travel out of town. However, tell that my 5 1/2 years in uniform were better spent representing the Tank Destroyer purpose than they could have been any other way.
Respects and regards George Warner
