James is Assigned The USS General G. O. Squier
Boards the USS General G. O. Squier (AP-130). The ship had just been converted into a troop transport ship in Portland and was commissioned on October 2nd, making James a plankholder of the USS [...]
James goes to boot camp at Farragut Naval Training Station
He completes his training at the Naval Training Station in Farragut, Idaho
James Wesley Gray enlists in the United States Navy
James Wesley Gray enlists in the United States Navy. He is listed as 6’3″ 190 pounds. His papers indicate he played football at South High School. He forgoes his senior year in high [...]
James Wesley Gray’s WWII Story
Ernest Heads Home
After two weeks in Paris, Ernest finally catches a flight back to the United States, ending his WWII journey.
Ernest Gets Two Weeks In Paris
Ernest is notified he is going home, but because of the long backlog of soldiers trying to catch flights home, he gets to first spend two weeks in Paris.
The 39th Moves to Darmstadt, Germany
Ernest and the 39th move their headquarters to Darmstadt, Germany. Ernest will spend Christmas in 1945 here, and sends a Christmas card home to his family from here.
Ernest Gets a Week Furlough and Heads to the French Riviera
Ernest is Transferred to the 39th Field Artillery Battalion
Ernest is transferred from the 883rd and 70th Infantry Division into the 39th Field Artillery Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division. He joins the 39th’s Service Battery in Idstein, Germany.
Ernest is Promoted to Sergeant as a Technician Fourth Grade
On September 23rd, Ernest is promoted to a Sergeant as a Technician Fourth Grade (TEC4) and is put in charge of the cooks in the Mess Hall.