Sharkey, Wilford, 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.

     Wilford Sharkey was born and grew up on a farm in the
Hillsdale Community.  After graduating from Woodland High School
in 1943, he worked two or three months at a shipyard in Algiers.

     Wilford was drafted into the Army in September 1943.
Leaving Greensburg on the White Eagle Bus, he transferred to a 
Greyhound Bus and was transported to Camp Beauregard, near
Alexandria, Louisiana, an induction center.

     Basic training was at Fort Roberts, California.  Following
a two-week furlough spent at home, he returned to California
where he shipped out for overseas duty.  He went first to Angel
Island then to Hawaii.

     He was stationed at Scofield Barracks in Hawaii.  Robert
Vernon, a friend from home, was also stationed there.  He re-
calls, with a chuckle, how Robert entertained everyone in the
barracks with his imitation of Huey Long.  He stood on a foot
locker and 'talked Louisiana politics'.  Wilford said Robert did
a very creditable imitation of the Kingfish.

     He also saw "Spot" Tillery and Roy Daniels while he was
overseas.

     From Hawaii, he was sent to Okanawa as part of a mop-up
operation there.  Wilford remembers the famed General "Vinegar
Joe" Stillwell was in command here.  He was a 'soldier's general',
showing concern for the men who served under his command.  He
was informal, Wilford remembers, and only wanted to get the job
done.  He was very knowledgeable of the area which was a definite
advantage in planning and leading.

     Wilford was on Okinawa when the War ended and later was
still there when the typhoon hit - the one remembered for its
force and damage it did to the island.  He recalls it was very
hot there and they were given permission to make shorts of their
fatigues by cutting the pants legs off.  Here on Korea they were
part of the newly formed 10th Army.  Some of the men were sent
to Japan and others to Korea, both to serve as occupational
troops.  Wilford was in the group sent to Korea.  Shortly after
they landed, it started snowing and they were wearing shorts!
Clothes were sent in from the Philippines.

     Each soldier was permitted to ship a Japanese rifle and
sword home as souvenirs of the War.  Wilford still has those.

     Having finally gained enough points to rotate home, he
returned in February 1946 and received his discharge at Camp
Tyler, Texas.  He laughed and said before leaving overseas, he
had seen his friend Robert Vernon who would not be leaving for
at least another week.  He asked the Colonel if his return could
be delayed so the two could travel home together.  He was given
an emphatic "no" and was told such a request could delay him for
six months.  To this Wilford said, "Never mind.  I will see him
in Amite."

     Returning to St. Helena, Wilford operated a dairy a while,
worked for the Post Office for 23 years and did other other (sic).

     Wilford and Miss Nell McDaniel were married on April 6,
1947.  They are the parents of three children, two living, and
raised a foster son.  They have eight grandchildren.

     Both Wilford and Nell are now retired and are raising two
granddaughters whose parents are deceased.  They live in a
stately home located near the Tickfaw River on land that has
been in Nell's family for many years.  They grow a vegetable
garden and have some cows and horses (the granddaughters have
goats).  They are kept busy with all the grandchildren, a source
of real pleasure to them.

------

Newspaper clippings:

10 Dec. 1943

  Pvt. Wilford K. Sharkey, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Sharkey,
has arrived at the infantry re-
placement training center in Camp
Roberts, California.

21 Apr. 1944
  Pvt. Wilford K. Sharkey,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Shar-
key of the Woodland community,
has recently completed his basic
training in heavy weapons of the
Infantry, at Camp Roberts, Calif.,
and has been transferred to Fort
Ord, Calif.

5 May 1944
  Pvt. Wilford K. Sharkey now has
an overseas address, according to 
notice received by his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Eugene Sharkey of Wood-
land community.

* * *