Crisp County GaArchives Military Records.....SIMMONS, PVT L.H. 1944
WWII - Rosters U.S. ARMY 24TH INF DIVSION
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
WYLIE SHEPPARD JR http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00030.html#0007303 August 9, 2011, 1:30 pm

HOLDING PASS ON LEYTE
WITH THE 24TH INFANTRY DIVISION IN THE PHILIPPINES
 THE DANGER AND HRDSHIP ENDURED BY A LONE COMPANY ON A NINE DAY MISSION DEEP INTO
THE JAPANESE MOUNTAIN STRONGHOLDS OF LEYETE ISLAND OS AN EXPERIENCE THAT PRIVATE
L.H. SIMMONS,308 10TH ST SOUTH, CORDELE,GA.,WILL NEVER FORGET.
 IT WAS WHEN THIS CRACK VICTORY DIVISION WAS SWEEPING THROUGH THE LEYTE VALLEY THAT
COMPANY A OF THE FAMOUS OLD 19TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ROCK OF CHICKAMAUGA CLIMBED INTO
THE HILS DIRECTLY TOWARD THE JAP BASE AT ORMOC TO PROTECT THE 24'S FLANK.
 WITH PHILIPPINO GUERILAS AS GUIDES THE GALLANT COMPANY PROBED FAR INTO THE HIGH
PASSES DAY FTER DAY THROUGH CHILING MISTS AND OVER ALMOST IMPASSIBLE TRAILS,
SUPPLIED BY ONLY WHAT THEY COULD HAND CARRY INTO THE RUGGED TERRAIN.
 SEVEN TIMES THEY RAN INTO PITCHED BATTLES WITH THE JAPANNESE. THEY STRUCK BOOBY
TRAPS OF LACED VINES,SNARLS OF LAND MINES. THEY SLEPT IN SODDEN MUDDY FOXHOLES WITH
ONLY PANCHOS FOR COVER.
 DURING ONE SHARP FIGHT FOR A RIDGE TOP JUST BEFORE DARK THE COMPANY CAUGHT IN A
TORRENTIAL RAIL WHICH MADE FURTHER ATTACK IMPOSSIBLE. SIMMONS AND HIS BUDDIES
WITHDREW DOWN A DEEP GORGE AND SET UP A DEFENSE PERIMETER ON A NOSE WITHIN IT. IT
WAS LUCKY DID IT FOR ONLY MINUTES THE GORGE CARRIED A ROARING MOUNTAIN FLOOD THAT
WASHED THE BODIES OF THE JAPS THEY HAD JUST KILLED PAST THEM INTO THE VALLEY.
 THREE OF THE NINE DAYS THE COMPANY HAD NO FOOD EXCEPT POTATOES AND TORO ROOTS
PROVIDED BY FRIENDLY NATIVES. MANY OTHER
 TIMES THE MEN WERE ON HALF RATIONS.
 AT THE END OF THE PERIOD MORE THAN HALF OF THE COMPANY HAD BEEN WOUNDED OR BECOME
SICK FROM PHYSICAL STRAIN AND EXPOSURE TO MOUNTAIN COLD.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/crisp/military/ww2/rosters/simmons1514mt.txt

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