Passman, Wiley, 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. Wiley Passman was born in Washington Parish and grew up in St. Tammany Parish. After graduating from Lyon High School in Covington in 1937, he was in the CCC's for two years, stationed in Kentwood. He worked construction for a while. Interestingly, Wiley was in the National Guard, the 108th Cavalry, while in high school. He went to summer training for two weeks each summer, going to Camp Oglethorpe in Georgia and to Look Out Mountain, Tennessee. He joined the regular Nation- al Guard January 6, 1941 for a year (lasted five years, he said) and entered as a Corporal due to his National Guard experience in high school. Basic training was at Camp Hulen, Texas. He was home on leave when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Reporting back to Camp Hulen, he was assigned to a Merchant Ship on December 13, 1941 as gun crew and promoted to 1st Sgt. The ship traveled to South America and had picked up a load of coffee on this particu- lar trip in Colombia. They were returning to the States and had passed throught the Yucatan pass on June 20, 1942 at 1:30 a.m. when the ship was struck by a torpedo and was sunk in the Gulf of Mexico. Wiley managed to get into a life boat (there were 27 in the boat). He and a sailor were trying to rig a sail to move the boat when someone spotted a German submarine. They were so close they could see a German smoking a cigarette. For some unexplained reason, the sub changed course and they were spared. Twelve hours later they were rescued by a fishing schooner. There was no food aboard, but they welcomed the water and ice. They were taken ashore at Pensacola and then returned to New Orleans. Ty Cobb Lanier was aboard this ship but was not in the same lifeboat with Wiley. He was taken off duty on the Merchant Ship and was sent to Fort Bliss near El Paso, Texas where he was assigned to Head- quarters Battery and assisted the 1st Sgt. He remained at Fort Bliss from October 1942 until February 1943 with this assignment. In January 1943 he was promoted to M/Sgt, then Sgt. Major. On February 21, 1943 he left Fort Bliss for New York Harbor where he went aboard a aship headed for North Africa. He landed in Casablana in March 1943. In North Africa, they were respon- sible for protecting aircraft. Wiley said he was not in the invasion of Italy but went into Naples, Italy from Beserta, North Africa where he remained until the end of the war. He participated in the Rapido River Crossing near Casino, Monistair. There were pontoon bridges across the river. The Germans cross- ed on these. After the fall of Rome on June 4, 1944, his outfit bivouaced on the outskirts. Then moving fast forward artillery, they crossed the Tiber River. They heard of the invasion of Normandy via radio. They were sent to Monte Coteena, Italy at the end of 1944 where the "Ack Ack" Unit was disbanded and he became a part of the 473rd Infantry Regiment. On February 8, 1945, Wiley was commissioned a 2nd Lt. The outfit captured Genoa, then back to Leg Horn to guard prisoners. On June 20, 1945, based on the point system Wiley was rotated to the United States. He returned on a Liberty Ship to Hampton Roads, Virginia, then traveled by troop train to Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Because the War was not over in the Pacific, he was given a 30-day leave then reported to Camp Livingston near Alexandria, Louisiana which was an advanced Infantry Training Center. Following the dropping of the Atom Bombs, Wiley remained at Camp Livingston until October 1945 when he was sent back to Camp Shelby where he received his discharge. Citations and decorations received were the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Silver Star (representing five major cam- paigns), German Occupation Medal, National Defense Medal and Good Conduct Medal. Receiving his discharge, he and his bride (Wiley and Miss Myrtle Willie were married June 30, 1942) lived in Baton Rouge. He worked at Exxon a short time, then moved to Greensburg where they owned and operated a dry cleaning business for about two years. They returned to Baton Rouge and wiley worked for the sheriff. They began a landscaping and nursery business. After they sold this business, Wiley and Myrtle moved to Montpelier Januayr 30, 1976. Wiley works part time for the District Attorney. They have a very comfortable home located near the Tickfaw River and by a lake where their son, his wife and their three grandchildren enjoy visiting. For many years, Wiley and Myrtle has hosted the Community Easter Sunrise Service at their home on the lake. -------- Newspaper clippings: 25 May 1945 Wiley D. Passman was pro- moted to Second Lieutenant on February 9th after serving over- seas two years in Italy in the Fifth army. His wife, the former Myrtle Willie, now resides in Greensburg. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Esco Passman of Folsom. 25 May 1945 Sgt. Willy Passman recently received a promotion ot lieuten- ant. He is the husband of Mrs. Myrtle Willie Passman of Greensburg. Lt. Passman is with the Fifth army in Italy, and has been overseas for three years. * * *