Montgomery County IL Archives Military... Gruber, Leland Frank WWII Enlistment ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarch.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarch.org/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Jean Gruber jean_gruber@ev1.net April 13, 2008 Submitted Aug 2003 to Montgomery County ILGenWeb by Jean Gruber daughter of Leland Frank Gruber Leland Frank Gruber Military History (taken from a book written to his daughters in 1953) Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, in late March 1942, Leland Frank “Lee” Gruber received his notice to report for a physical exam at Litchfield’s St. Francis Hospital, which followed with a draft card marked A-1. Shortly afterward he received “Greetings from the President of the United States” . . . . and was ordered to report to Hillsboro, Illinois to be transported to the induction examination at East St. Louis. Following all the induction formalities, at Scott Field on May 22, 1942 he was taken to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri for basic training and classification. He spent 19 days there and came out as a candidate for machinist school. On June 26 he was transferred to Minneapolis where he spent 6 weeks attending the DO-ALL trade school learning to operate a DO-All machine which makes dies and parts in a mobile machine shop. Upon completion of the school, he was sent to Duncan Field in San Antonio, Texas to await assignment. After being there a while, he was in a group of about 50 assigned to Seguine, Texas to help tear down a CCC camp. Two weeks later he returned to San Antonio. He was then transferred to Pendleton, Oregon and assigned to the 331 Services Squadron. After going through re-classification, on October 7, he found himself on the way to Airplane Mechanic School at Ontario, California. He stayed there until January 1, 1943 when he was sent to San Bruno, California. The Tan Foran Race Track had been taken over by the army. Max and Buddy Baer were both there at that time and just a few huts from him. Because of the conditions of the camp, it was soon evacuated (word was that the Baer brothers were responsible by complaining to someone in Washington). He was sent back to San Antonio, where he was assigned to the 48th HG ADG. He was put to work on Airplane Motor overhaul. He stayed here about 7 weeks and then on April 10, 1942 was shipped to Barksdale Field in Shreveport, Louisiana as part of the 498th Service Squadron of the 44th Service Group. It was here he was first assigned work in the Orderly Room as assistant personnel clerk which he held for some time. One day his First Sergeant told him the group commander had decided each organization should have a classification specialist and he had been selected to attend 6 weeks training at the Army Administration school in Brookings, South Dakota. He then returned to Barksdale Field in Shreveport. In February, 1944 he was sent to Lakeland, Florida for 6 weeks of overseas training. At the end of the 6 weeks, he was sent to Hampton Roads, Virginia for 2 weeks to get the oversea equipment and examination. He shipped out on the General Butner on April 22, 1944 (his birthday!), arriving at Bombay, India on May 25. Following five days on a train, he arrived at Andol where he remained for 2 weeks. He then moved on to Sylet, “just a hole in the jungle,” His 498th Service Group was the only part of the 44th Service Group stationed here. Finally, he was moved out, ending up in Dinjan in the upper Assam Valley or Province. It was here that the rest of the 44th joined up. The full group consisted of the 497th Service Squadron, 498th Service Squadron, Headquarter, Quartermaster, Signal Corps, Chemical Warfare Group, and two truck companies of African American troops. He was assigned to take over all the personnel work. On one occasion he traveled to Burma to take some medals and the payroll. He was able to go to town from time to time and purchased many things to send home. When the war began to end, and word came that several of the older men were to leave for home. The Group had a C-46 and the Colonel of the Group said it was a shame all of them had to leave without seeing the Taj Mahal. One morning he loaded everyone into the C-45 and took off for Agra. About an hour out of Agra they were all dozing when the motors began missing and the plane began to loose altitude. It woke everyone up! Shortly thereafter the motors caught again and everyone relaxed. After return to Dinjan from the trip, he was taken by truck to the airport at Chabua. Orders were to fly all the way home. Boarding the plane at Chabua, he arrived at Karachi, and was quartered at the base there. Informed that the flying orders were cancelled, he was informed they would have to wait for the first ship, due in September 24 (it was now September 10). He was transported home on the General McRea, going through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. After 22 days he arrived in New York harbor on October 15. He was sent to Fort Sheridan, Illinois to be processed for discharge. At 5:00 p.m. on October 29, 1945 he received his discharge and final pay and headed home. During his military service he received the American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, 3 Overseas Service Bars, 1 Service Stripe, Good Conduct Medal. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/montgomery/military/ww2/enlistment/gruber.txt Photos: http://usgwarchives.net/il/montgomery/photos/military/ww2/enlistment/leland1.jpg http://usgwarchives.net/il/montgomery/photos/military/ww2/enlistment/leland2.jpg http://usgwarchives.net/il/montgomery/photos/military/ww2/enlistment/leland3.jpg This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ilfiles/ File size: 6 Kb