Carruth, Lloyd, St. Helena Parish, Louisiana File prepared by D.N. Pardue and submitted by Inez Bridges Tate. ************************************************ Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ From "St. Helena Vets Remember World War II: Personal Interviews With World War II Vets", published by St. Helena Historical Association, 1995. Compiled and edited by Inez Bridges Tate and reprinted with permission. Lloyd Carruth, a native of Liverpool, Louisiana, was one of six sons of Marshall and Georgia Yarborough Carruth to serve in World War II. A 1933 graduate of Oakland Agricultural High School, Lloyd decided to volunteer in 1940 when selective service was established and men had to register for the draft. The physical examination he underwent in New Orleans revealed him to be blind in one eye. He was rejected and listed as 4-F. AFter that classification, Lloyd worked at Jackson, Louisi- ana. In early 1943 he was told to report for re-examination, and March 1, 1943, he was back in New Orleans for a new physical. At one time he was seated alone on a bench--all the other St. Helenians were undergoing further tests. A sergeant told Lloyd he had been rejected again, but he just waited for his friends to come back out. Some time later, another sergeant came out, called Lloyd's name, and said, "I have a couple of written tests for you." After grading the tests, an officer came out and re- ported the written tests were "very good." He then declared Lloyd fit "for limited service and light duty." Lloyd went to Ft. Hulon, Texas, on Matagorda Bay for the six weeks for the basic course in infantry training. Douglas McCoy from south of Greensburg was the only other recruit from St. Helena sent there at the same time. At the end of basic training, the men in their group were divided between the mili- tary police and medic corps. Both Lloyd and Douglas were assign- ed to the military police. They were both sent on to Camp Beall near Hubert City and Marysville, California. After Camp Beall, Lloyd did not see Douglas again in the service. In July 1943, Lloyd went to Ft. Lawton, Washington, where he stayed until August 1944, when he was sent to Hawaii where he was stationed until February 1945. The "light duty" for which Lloyd was declared fit turned out to be the invasion of Okinawa. Lloyd was part of the 4098 Railhead Company attached to the 7th Army, a company which was responsible for getting food and ammunition to the front. One of the things about Okinawa that stuck in Lloyd's mind was that away from the front there were no young people, only old men and old women. All the young people had been pressed into service by the Japanese. After the American victory in Okinawa, Lloyd's outfit was readied for the invasion of the Japanese Islands--preparations which were cut short by Japan's surrender in September 1945. Lloyd, remembering that time, still believes that President Tru- man made the right decision in dropping the atomic bombs, events credited with helping make the Japanese surrender without defend- ing their home islands. Lloyd's company was then sent as part of the occupational forces to Korea. In Korea, Lloyd worked Japanese prisoners-of- war, handling clothing supplies for American troops. Although he had a Japanese officer for an interpreter, Lloyd found it convenient to learn to count in Japanese. In that way when the Japanese brought up the bales of clothing, Lloyd could identify a bale and assign it to a supply bin without going through the interpreter for everything. Lloyd also learned that many of the Japanese prisoners understood English and even spoke it although they would not admit the fact. By the time Lloyd was called to serve in 1943, three of his brothers were already on active duty. Edward Carruth joined in 1941. Lloyd recalled that during the war, Edward served in a tank corps under Patton in the Battle of the Bulge. Thomas Carruth entered the army in 1942 and first served with tank de- stroyers in the Pacific. By 1943, doctors discovered that Thomas had an enlarged heart, and he was then assigned as a cook to a headquarters unit. Horace Carruth was an aerial photographer aboard the Saratoga until it was torpedoed. He, then served aboard the Enterprise until he was later assigned shore duty. After Lloyd entered the army, two more brothers were called to duty. Ransom Carruth served in the 29th Infantry in the european Theater of Operations. As the fighting drew down in Europe, Ransom was assigned to Grave's Registration. He had the duty of driving General Patton's body to interment in Luxembourg. Bill Carruth was the sixth brother to serve. He was in an artillery unit in Europe. After VE Day, Bill's group was sent to the States for a short time before going on to the Philippines. It seemed a miracle to the family that with all the action the six saw, they all made it home alive. During his time in the Pacific, Lloyd crossed paths with his brother Thomas on a number of occasions. When Lloyd was station- ed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, Thomas, stationed at Hilo on a neighboring island came over on pass to visit. Later after the invasion of Okinawa was complete even with all the secrecy in place, Thomas showed up from a nearby island for a surprise visit. Thomas had found out Lloyd's location through a colonel who ate in the mess where Thomas cooked. Then when Lloyd landed in Korea, he was camped in an open field with his pup tent and looked up to see Tom coming up a path to visit. In January 1946, Lloyd was sent back to Los Angeles and then on to Camp Fannin, Texas, near Shreveport. February 20, 1946, Lloyd was mustered out and returned home. After the war, Lloyd settled in Baton Rouge where he managed an Exxon Station on Evengeline Street. March 15, 1949, he mar- ried Frances Sanders. The couple had two children, Donald Lloyd and Sharon. Lloyd and Frances are now retired and make their home in Zachary. They enjoy gardening, senior citizen activities, and their membership in East Side Baptist Church. They especi- ally enjoy their three grandchildren. - - - - - Newspaper clipping: 9 Mar 1945 SIX CARRUTH SONS STATIONED OVERSEAS Six sons of Mrs. Georgia Yar- borough Carruth and the late M. L. Carruth of Greensburg are stationed overseas with the Army and Navy in vaious the- atres of the war. Pfc. Thomas E. Carruth and Pvt. Lloyd R. Carruth are now stationed on Oahu island in the Pilippines. Both have spent many months in the Pacific. Cpl. Edward T. Carruth participated in the in- vasion of France on D-Day and has been with the field artillery in the Eurpoean theatre since that time. He is now in Ger- many with the First army. Pvt. Ransom D. Carruth, with the First army infantry, is also sta- tioned in Germany but has not seen his brother, Edward, yet. Horace L. Carruth, PhM3/c, served 22 months in the Pacific before he was wounded in ac- tion. He is now stationed at Oceana, Va. Pvt. Willie E. Car- ruth, with the field artillery, is also stationed overseas. * * * * *