George A. Willis

ASTP? What did it mean to me? It was my first chance to go where I wanted to go. How did it come about ? Lets start at the beginning.
Drafted into the U. S. Army at Fort Logan, Denver Colorado, on January 25, 1943.
Basic training at Camp George West, Golden, Colorado, began on February 1, 1943.
Nearing end of basic training, was given the opportunity to test for ASTP.
Basic completed and was assigned to 757th Military Police Battalion, Denver, Colorado.
Received notice of acceptance for ASTP. Was transferred to University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming.
Arrived at Iowa City, Iowa, on May 10, 1943.

Along with all the other GIs that had gathered in Laramie, Wyoming, we began our first march(?) down the hill
toward the campus of SUI.
The gym we stayed in that first night.
The pool in the same building - a curse for many of us "flatlanders".
The student-union building and its location on the bank of the Iowa River.
The bridge over the river - be sure to" break step" as we crossed in mass.
Our assigned "home" up the hill above the river.
Was that house a Fraternity or Sorority. I heard both mentioned - and never had either confirmed.. If it was the
latter, extensive remodeling was done on the "john" prior to our arrival.

Now with a place to call "home" for the next nine months, we began classes immediatety. I finally could begin getting the necessary college credit to get me where I wanted to go - the Army Air Corps, as it was called at that time.

Regimentation and discipline.
Complete satisfaction in the courses given.
Quiet nights for study (up to a point, of course).
Casual moments for conversation.
Most of all, the comradery.
The welcome break of the weekend.
Jaunts on the "Galloping Goose" to Cedar Rapids.
Seahawk football games.
Occasional canoe rental for a quiet paddle upriver.
Always keeping in mind the purpose for it all.

As the first phase drew near its end, I requested a transfer to the Air Corps. It was granted and with no second phase to consider, my purpose had been realized. Thank you so very much ASTP.

Transfer to Des Moines, Iowa, for tests relevent to and required for Air Corps acceptance into the program for
Aviation Cadets.
Tests successful and transferred to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. (No, not the prison, just an intermediate stop.)
Arrived Keesler Field, Biloxi, Mississippi, January 28, 1944.
Three weeks later, notice received of an excessive number of cadets.
Last in, first out. Goodbye purpose. Nice try but it didn't work.

At this point, I was about ready to give up. Disappointment was so great. Knowing that "give up" wasn't allowed
in Uncle Sam's army, things now began to occur in typical "army" manner.

March 3, 1944. Shipped to Camp Grant, Rockford, Illinois - a medical facility. Now I'm a medic. WOW!

Tried a new approach. OCS. The first try on my own volition - no go. Second try at the request of my company commander - no go. Try number three at the urging of battalion commander - you can make it. No go. That was enough!

August 20, 1944. Fort Lewis, Washington, as part of the cadre to staff a new camp opening to accomodate replace-
ment troops headed for the South Pacific.
January 18, 1945. Replacement troops needed in Europe. Off to Camp Howze, Gainesville, Texas, for short session
of "Infantry " training. Man, I'm getting dizzy.
Fort Meade, Maryland, on March 20th;

Camp Myles Standish, Taunton, Mass., March 28th; Boston POE on April 3, 1945.

The next seven days was aboard the USS Mount Vernon. After one, short submarine scare off the coast of England,
we landed at Liverpool on April 11th.

Troop train through Bath and Bristol, arriving at South Hampton on April 13th. Boarded HMS Prince Lance for
English Channel crossing.
Arrived Le Havre, France, April 14, 1945. Short walk up the hill to Camp Home Run (17th Infantry Replacement
Depot); 40 & 8 troop train to bivouac area near Nurnberg, Germany (90th Reinforcement Battalion) and finally
by truck to the 71st Infantry Division at Steyr, Austria, May 22, 1945.

The stay in Steyr was only for a short time. The 71st Division was moved to Augsburg, Germany - which was to be
my final stop in Europe. In Augsburg, I was assigned to the 5th Infantry Regiment, 371st Medical Battalion. Once
more I belonged to the Medics. In just over three years , I had been moved through five different branches of the US
Army - Military Police; Engineers; Air Force; Medical Corps; Infantry and back to the Medics. It makes me wonder
what my MOS must have been.

On February 20, 1945, I was informed enough points had been earned and I was to be rotated back to the USA. The
26th of February, I returned to Le Havre where on February 28, I and many other GIs boarded the New Bern Victory
and headed home for discharge. We arrived at Pier 15, Staten Island, March 8, 1946. Returning to Denver, I was dis-
charged on March 15, 1946, after 3 years, 1 month and 22 days of service. I guess I hadn't had enough - I opted for
three more years in the reserve. What a farce. I was never contacted nor called.

After a short job with The Farmers Home Administration (government), I enrolled at the University of Denver. I
graduated from DU with a BSBA in accounting on June 11, 1949. A wholesale distributor of major appliances and
television was my employer for 23 years. Five years with an asthma research institution followed by another five
years with an engineering consulting firm ended my business life. I retired - permanently - in October, 1986.