World War II

Experiences ofP.F.C. Irvin E. Folkert 36193327Co.F., 32nd Bn., 7th Infantry Div.

Sept. 1, 1942 – Sept. 29, 1945

“Hourglass” InsigniaFor 7th Division

Written byHulda Folkert

1998

Induction and Training

December 7, 1941 was an infamous day-the day that the Japanese bombed Pearl

Harbor. The Japanese Royal Imperial Army already occupied several Pacific Ocean

Islands. And now-the bombing of Pearl Harbor! Was the U.S. mainland to be next? An

ominous feeling came over people on that day as they wondered if war would be

declared. War was declared shortly thereafter, and “boys” were drafted. Eventually,

Irv’s number came up, and at 21 years of age, he was inducted into the army on

September 1, 1942 in Allegan, Michigan. On Septempber 15, he reported to Fort Custer,

Michigan, a camp in the Battle Creek area.

After a couple of days at Fort Custer he was shipped to Fort McClellan, Alabama

for 10 weeks of basic training of close order drill, running through the hills, rifle practice

on the range, and close combat training. After only a few days there, Irv made a wrong

move at a close order drill practice. Irv innocently said, “I thought you said…” The Sgt.

Snapped, “Soldier, you aren’t paid to think!” Discipline was top priority.

From Fort McClellan Irv was sent to Camp Butner, North Carolina. Early

morning exercises there involved push-ups, running in place, etc. After breakfast they

would go to the rifle range or trot in the field. Extensive “long-march” training came a

few weeks later. With a full pack of 30 lbs. plus they would walk 21 miles to Durham or

Raleigh in one day. The next day they would return to Camp Butner. Most of the time

the fields were muddy due to rain or snow, but training never ceased.

In January 1943, after a couple months at Camp Butner, Irv was shipped to Ford

Ord, California. Further training was done in the hills. There also was lots and lots of

rifle practice. Many amphibious landings were practiced at Monterey Bay. Army trucks

took them to the Bay, where the soldiers would board small landing craft which held 25-

30 men. After going a distance out into the ocean, they would return and “hit” the beach

(with no one shooting at them!) Later transport ships, also called ocean liners, took them

to San Diego, where they made practice amphibious landings at Ft. Rosecrans Military

Reservation. Also practice landings at Santa Catalina and Monterey Bay were made

before returning to Fort Ord, California. The Japanese were firmly entrenched on the

Aleutian Islands; the Marshall Islands; the Marianas, the Philippines, Saipan, and the

Okinawa islands. Therefore, amphibious landing practices were so important for the

“island hopping” war that lay ahead.

In that day, all movements of troops were kept secret. Mail from Irv was

censored. Portions of the V-mail letters were cut out, so there was not much left to read.

No telephone and no telegrams were available to send messages home, nor were they

allowed.

The Aleutian Islands Campaign“Battle of Attu”

The 7th Infantry Division left Fort Ord on April 24, 1943. The transport ships

were escorted by a convoy of destroyers and light cruisers. A day or two after they left

San Francisco the transport that Irv was on developed engine trouble. One destroyer was

left with them, while the others went on ahead. It was too dangerous for all to remain

there, as the Japanese might be in the water in submarines. At Dutch Harbor, Alaska, the

7th Division was re-united to get ready for the Attu assault. After a couple of days they

set sail for Attu. A violent 2-3 day storm developed while they were in the Bering Sea.

Almost every soldier was sea-sick, but Irv wasn’t. Most soldiers were in their bunks.

The boat was an old German cargo ship that had been made into a transport ship just for

the war. The ship sounded as if it would crack in half. The bow heaved up and down,

the boat seemed to twist; and tons of water crashed unto the deck. Irv went down to the

galley for breakfast, and found boiled eggs rolling over the mess hall floor. The

turbulence of the sea had tossed most of the eggs out of the pot!

At Massacre Bay on the coast of Attu they went aboard landing boats. The

rendezvoused for about eight hours until the fog lifted somewhat, and then they headed

for the beach. Fortunately there were no Japs where he landed. On they went to a

Japanese outpost some 6 or 7 miles away, and found that the first wave on shore had

taken care of that outpost. Irv, being with the re-enforcement group, soon returned to

Massacre Bay, where they were fed hot chili, too spicy!

The soldiers found Attu to be a cold little island with a wet climate. The terrain

was difficult, not only ice and snow-capped mountains, but mud. Steep inclines, cliffs,

and peaks hampered movement. All the low ground was covered with tundra, which was

half-decayed vegetation. Since four-wheel vehicles would get bogged down in the 1-5

feet deep tundra, caterpillars with cleated tracks were used.

Five days after going ashore at Massacre Bay, Irv’s group went inland for 3 or 4

miles. As they were advancing in the valley they were pinned down by machine gun fire

from the Japanese hidden in the hill at the fog line. Thousands of Japanese were dug in

the hill. Japanese solders could see them, but they could not see the Japanese. Irv’s

outfit jumped into big holes, which the navy had caused by shell explosions earlier.

Planes could not help as it was too foggy. For a time, the U.S. soldiers shot at each other

accidentally due to the fog. No one was hurt, but that was scary!

During the night they would move to a different position. When that didn’t work,

they would move again under the cover of darkness. As the walked they had to cross

streams of water higher than their boats; and that resulted in cold, wet feet. They fought

in dress uniform, not in army fatigues, and with no overcoats. The army was not

prepared for a battle that lasted for weeks as they had expected only a three day affair.

While dug in a hole, Irv shivered until he couldn’t shiver anymore. Then the cycle would

start all over again. Irv did not get a sleeping bag as there was only one-third enough for

the entire division. Another soldier gave Irv his sleeping bag for a time, so when Irv had

to return it, he was really cold. The ship that had brought the sleeping bags had struck a

rock near shore. The damaged boat took on water, and had soaked two-thirds of the

sleeping bags.

On May 23 Irv was wounded, having been shot in the left leg. The bullet went

through his boot and through the flesh of his shin bone and thus chipping the bone. That

remained a very tender spot for many years later. The wounded soldiers, included Irv,

were put on a skid, which was pulled by a caterpillar tractor. Thus they were taken to a

field hospital. Along the way they stopped at outpost first aid stations, where the patients

were checked to see how they were doing or “not doing.” The field hospital consisted of

six pyramid tents-4 sides, 1 peak. It contained 6 canvas cots with no mattresses and no

sheets. It was heated by a small soft coal stove. Irv’s feet hurt somewhat at that time, but

when he took his boots off in the hospital they really hurt. The restriction of the boots

had lessened the severity of the pain. Then he discovered that his feet were nearly frozen

as the tips of his toes were black and feet were swollen. He took out the two one-inch

foot pads in his boots. For about a week afterwards he couldn’t get his swollen feet into

his boots even without the foot pads. He went to the restroom in stocking feet. Then

back in bed, he would place the blanket carefully over the swollen, painful feet. For

about a month he remained in the hospital. Later it was stated that more casualties were

inflicted by the cold, wet weather than by those inflected by the Japanese.

After drinking sake the Japanese fought the final push of desperation and they

even killed soldiers in pup tents. But the United States force had procured the island.

After Irv was released from the hospital, he was reunited with his outfit. Out of

boredom he and another wounded soldier decided to shave each other’s head with a

razor. The next morning the two came late for reveille and due to their wounds they

couldn’t move fast. The Captain of their company wanted an explanation for their being

late. They explained. The Captain looked at them, smiled, and didn’t say a word. Irv’s

outfit remained on Attu for about 4 months. They continued to train and took turns as

guards for there were still some Japanese in the area.

Hawaiian Islands I

For the next few months, the 7th Infantry Division was stationed up in the

mountains about 30 miles from Honolulu, Oahu. Headquarters were in the Schofield

Barracks. Surrounding the Schofield Barracks were cheap barracks, called the “Hut

City.” These barracks had been put up in a hurry for war-time, and were the lodging

place for the soldiers. The barracks had no windows but just openings of which the

bottom half was covered with celotex. Being up in the mountains, it would be hot during

the day, and cold (40 degrees) at night. For at least 3 months they had just a cold cot with

no mattress, and only one blanket that was too small, and no pillow. Cold for sleeping!

During the day they trained, trained, and trained and made countless amphibious

landings to keep in condition for more island-hopping.

The Marshall Islands Campaign“Kwajalein Battle”

During the night of January 30-31, 1944, the 7th Infantry Division made an

amphibious landing on the Kwajalein Atoll, the principle Japanese base on the Marshall

Islands. Even though this atoll was small, about 3 miles long, and 1 mile wide, the

United States needed it for a military aircraft base. Before the landing the airforce had

dropped 100,000 rounds of shells, a “softening up process.” Artillery bases had also been

set up. In spite of that, the Japanese had survived in the cement bunkers. Needless to

say, the battle was gruesome. Irv was wounded on February 2, the second day of the

invasion. A shell went completely through the left side of his helmet, leaving a 2 inch

diameter hole. A perforated eardrum resulted, leaving him permanently deaf in his left

ear. A small piece of his left earlobe was also taken off. At the same time shrapnel

lodged in his right shoulder on the back side! The shrapnel was removed on the hospital

ship on the way to Oahu. The ship was well lit up. No enemy was allowed to shoot at

them as they traveled through International waters. A high school in downtown Honolulu

had been converted to a hospital, and that is where Irv remained for about 3 weeks.

Hawaiian Islands II

By February 14, the main force of the 7th Division had returned to the Honolulu

area. Kwajalein had been secured. Then began more and more amphibious training.

While stationed here, Irv needed to have a tooth filled. He went to the army

dentist, who said “We don’t fill teeth, we only pull teeth.” Infantry men were considered

to be “cannon fodder”-their teeth not worth saving. Irv made an appointment with a

dentist in downtown Honolulu. On the day of the appointment, every soldier was

required to go bivouac. No time was left for a new appointment, so the army dentist

pulled the tooth.

The Philippine Islands Campaign“Leyte Battle”

Leyte, an island 40 miles wide and 115 miles long, was needed as an air base.

The island was prepared for infantry landing by the 7th Fleet Navy, who bombed and

shelled the coastline for 6 days. Aircraft coming from aircraft carriers also dropped

bombs. On October 20, 1944, the first wave of amphibious landing craft, each carrying

approximately 30 men, landed on Leyte. Irv was one of the first American soldiers on

the shore. They did not go very far the first day for they were being shot at. By

afternoon, the beach was taken. It took several days for the soldiers, who were now on

the west side of the island, to go over an elevation to get to the east side. Along the way

they had to cross a 3-4 foot wide creek, wade through swamps, and walk through tall,

above their heads, tough cogon grass. The grass also hampered visibility. During this

time the Japanese navy engaged our naval forces in the Leyte Gulf. The Japanese did not

succeed in winning. If they had, the results would have been tragic for the infantry men

on shore.

One night there was a terrible thunderstorm. Rain poured down on their pup tents

in which there were 2 soldiers per pup tent. Eventually, the rain came through the tent,

and the soldiers became soaked by morning. Being in the woods, it was a wonder that no

soldier was struck by the severe lightning. A creek 100 feet away became huge during

the night. No fighting that night! A civilian hut on stilts was their lodging place the next

night, as the civilians had moved out of the area due to the war.

As they advanced slowly forward, there were countless Japanese encounters along

the way. Casualties kept mounting. Probably the first day of the invasion had the largest

percentage of casualties. Of Irv’s squad of 12 men, only 3 remained, and Irv was one of

the three!

A few days after the severe thunder storm, Irv had a temperature of 104 degrees,

the result of dysentery. Irv and three others, who had the same illness, were put in a jeep

to be taken to a field hospital to recuperate. Upon crossing a creek, which had no

bridges, the jeep got stuck. The sick soldiers had to push the jeep out. For one week Irv

was in the field hospital, an old bombed out building, which had been a large Catholic

school. After that he returned to the front lines.

At that time there was a lull in the battle, a waiting period for re-enforcements.

Being around Thanksgiving Day, the army had sent them frozen raw turkey. The fire

needed to cook the turkey would be seen by the enemy, so back to eating “C” or “K”

rations, which were small packs containing canned and dry high-energy food used in

foxholes during battle.

A few days later they advanced one-half mile, and there was no contact with the

Japanese. They slept in foxholes so they would be protected from shells overhead.

While sleeping in a “holding pattern” and waiting for more replacement personnel, the

Lt. received orders to take the hill up ahead. The Lt. replied, “I will not send my men up

that hill. I can find a better way to commit suicide.” The Acting Company Commander

replied, “But orders are from headquarters.” The Lt. answered, “Tell them what I told

you.” The Lt. knew that his small group of only a couple dozen men could not take the

hill. He was not court-martialed for disobeying orders. During this time scouts were sent

on ahead to discover where the enemy was, and that was not a pleasant task! When Irv

was a part of the scouting group, they could hear the Japanese whistle signals to fellow

soldiers. The whistles seemed to come from the Japanese up in the trees, but the dense

forest protected them from being seen. Thankfully, no one was shot that day.

While still in the front lines, Irv’s “rotation furlough” orders came through. To

get a furlough required that the soldier had been wounded twice, and that another soldier

had come as a replacement. After Irv left his unit, the soldiers did take the hill and found

around 400 dead Japanese (Irv was told that by another soldier). After winning the Leyte

Battle, the 7th Infantry Division went on to Okinawa and fought and won that battle. That

was a horrendous battle! Usually this battle is credited to the marines. This was not true,

as it was the infantry men, and not the marines.

Summary of 3 Battles

1. Attu – Most of the soldiers that trained with Irv survived.2. Kwajalein – About one-half of the 36 soldiers platoon, of which Irv was a part of,

were killed.3. Leyte – During the first couple hours of the initial invasion, casualties were

heavy. The squad of 12 in which Irv was in, only 3 survived, and Irv was 1 of the 3!

Freedom comes with a big price!

Irv’s Decorations and Citations

Sharp-shooter MedalCombat Infantryman Badge

Philippine CampaignMarshall Island CampaignAleutian Island Campaign

Oak Leaf Cluster Philippine Liberation Ribbon3 Bronze Service StarsGood Conduct RibbonAsiatic Pacific Ribbon

2 Purple Hearts (twice wounded)

Rotation Furlough

Irv was sent back to the initial landing where there was lots of activity due to new

army replacements, new docks, etc. After waiting there for a few days, he boarded a ship

for Hollandia, New Guinea on December 12, 1944. At Hollandia, he met a Sgt. And a

couple other soldiers, who had been wounded on the first day of the Leyte invasion, and

they were being shipped back to Leyte. A week later, Irv boarded a transport that had

come from the United States. They had had on board 400 Australian airmen who had

fought in Europe and who were going home to Brisbane, Australia. Irv was one of the

40-50 rotation furlough men who set sail to the United States from the Brisbane port. In

all there were 5,500 passengers! Eighteen days later they sailed under the Golden Gate

Bridge, a welcome sight! On Feb. 1, 1945 they disembarked on Angel Island in San

Francisco Bay. Soon thereafter he was on the train, and homeward bound!

While I was teaching school a telegram came saying that he was back in the

states. Questions arose. Why had he been sent home? Was he badly wounded? But

when he arrived at the Holland Depot on February 21, all fears were quelled. He had

come home just in time to attend the wedding reception of his cousin Alvin and Joan

(Slenk) Folkert, where he was warmly greeted by relatives. One week later we were

married. We had become engaged several months before his military service. His

rotation furlough called R&R (Rest and Recreation) lasted 3 weeks. He remained at

home for 1 week. The following 2 weeks I was able to go along to Miami Beach,

Florida, where we were lodged in the beautiful Grossinger Hotel. We were treated

royally with good food, daily excursions by boat or bus, and deluxe accommodations.

Dearborn Veterans’ Hospital and Discharge

After the furlough Irv reported to Fort Sheridan, Illinois, for his next assignment. The

next six months he enjoyed taking x-rays at the Dearborn Veterans’ Hospital in Dearborn,

Michigan. But he never knew if he would have to return to the front lines. On August

15, 1945, V-J (Victory over Japan) Day came, and on September 29, he was discharged

from military service. The inward wounds caused by never to be told war experiences

came out in dreams and nightmares for many, many years afterwards. A cousin of mine

quoted a Dutch saying, which interpreted says, “It (war) doesn’t stay in the clothing.”

Reunions

Irv’s Company F. had a reunion on August 2-3, 1986, and another on July 15-16,

1989 at the Good Seasons Restaurant in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and we attended both.

Seven combat veterans were present at the first reunion, and nine at the second reunion.

Quite a few of them showed visible signs of combat wounds. No one that Irv had spent a

lot of time with in training was there, as most of them had not survived the war. But, in

spite of that, one could sense a special bond between the combat veterans,a bond that no

one else would be able to understand. Those gatherings became part of the healing

process.

August 6, 199550th Anniversary of Hiroshima Bombing

On August 6, 1945 the United States dropped the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima,

and 2 or 3 days later dropped a nuclear bomb on Nagasaki. Now, 50 years later,

historians and theologians were re-writing history, portraying the United States as the evil

aggressor. The media depicted the United States as the “bad guys”, and the Japanese as

the “good guys.” Pastors from the pulpit condemned the bombing. Pictures of the

devastation caused by the bombing were shown again and again on the television in order

to show how insensitive the United States was. The Japanese atrocities, such as the Pearl

Harbor bombing, being cruel to the Chinese, the Bataan Death March, etc. were

forgotten.

Diplomacy was not possible against an enemy that consisted of religious fanatics.

Their army was the Royal Imperial Army, and their god was the Emperor Hirohito. The

Kamikaze pilots were often suicidal for it was an honor for them to give their life for

their god. Japanese soldiers often committed “hari-hari” (suicide) to please their god.

They were indoctrinated in not to surrender.

Previous to the nuclear bombing, many other bombs, mostly incendiary bombs,

were dropped on Japan. We recall that on one occasion, 500 U.S. B-29 planes dropped

bombs on Tokyo. More people were killed with that than with the Hiroshima bombing.

But not until the nuclear bomb was dropped did the Japanese surrender. That was a

sad/glad day - sad that it had to come to this point; but glad that the war was over.

The following 3 letters to the editor and Cal Thomas’s 2 editorials were written in

1995 at the time of the 50th anniversary of the bombing that ended the war.