Remembering one of the original Jeepers on Memorial Day

[BVGeezer]

I spent lots of time as a kid with my great uncle, Lawrence Roe Melton. One of my favorite memories was bouncing around his rural Texas property in a WWII surplus Jeep in the early 1950s. The OD paint was showing through red paint probably applied with a paint brush. We would go out to check on the cows driving through the black gumbo creek bottoms. At night, we would go rabbit hunting. One time he ran over a skunk that managed to stink us up pretty good. I remember driving down country roads with the windshield down bouncing over the washboards.

Although I was too young to really understand, he told me some stories about WWI. One included him capturing a bunch of Germans. I also remember my father saying that my uncle was a decorated hero. Those memories had faded to the back of my mind until a few months when I ran across a photograph uncle Lawrence had given my parents. He is dressed in his DAV National Commander uniform, I could see two rows of medals. I instantly noticed the Silver Star followed by a Purple Heart.

Lawrence and my parents are long gone, but I decided to do some research. Below you can read a copy of his Silver Star citation. Seems there was a little more to the story than I remembered. I am proud to carry the middle name of this American hero.

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[ExpeditionBuilds]

Thanks Jack for sharing a piece of your family history...this helps me keep the meaning of this day firmly in my mind. As you mentioned, reading his must make you so proud!


-Steven

 

[DubaiMarauder]

From a GWOT veteran, rest in peace Sergeant, we will take it from here. Thank you for your outstanding example of service to our nation.

 

[dragoneggs]

These stories must be shared and reshared with our kids and their kids. As a country, we are losing what it means to be an American.

 

[roaniecowpony]

My wife's late father was a Korean war vet. He was born in Hawaii, second generation Japanese and served in combat. I recall him being enamored with the M1 Garrand. He and his company were made up of Japanese heritage soldiers. They were issued M1 Carbines. He said they lacked the range to be effective and as soon as they came across a fallen GI with a Garrand, they took it. He and I frequented Lil John's auctions mostly for antique arms. He deeply loved his family, and had a great attachment to his grandchildren. A great American in my book.

 

[EEProf]

This post made me think of the Dodge M37 (that's as old as I am) that is sitting on a trailer at Covil and Market St. in Wilmington. I always give it a salute as it's on the way to the Y.

I've often wondered what the old sarge has seen.

 

[USNvet]

I spent lots of time as a kid with my great uncle, Lawrence Roe Melton. One of my favorite memories was bouncing around his rural Texas property in a WWII surplus Jeep in the early 1950s. The OD paint was showing through red paint probably applied with a paint brush. We would go out to check on the cows driving through the black gumbo creek bottoms. At night, we would go rabbit hunting. One time he ran over a skunk that managed to stink us up pretty good. I remember driving down country roads with the windshield down bouncing over the washboards.

Although I was too young to really understand, he told me some stories about WWI. One included him capturing a bunch of Germans. I also remember my father saying that my uncle was a decorated hero. Those memories had faded to the back of my mind until a few months when I ran across a photograph uncle Lawrence had given my parents. He is dressed in his DAV National Commander uniform, I could see two rows of medals. I instantly noticed the Silver Star followed by a Purple Heart.

Lawrence and my parents are long gone, but I decided to do some research. Below you can read a copy of his Silver Star citation. Seems there was a little more to the story than I remembered. I am proud to carry the middle name of this American hero.

Great story, and thanks for sharing! Who knows, my grandfather on my mother's side, as a bombardier during WWI, may have given your uncle a little air cover a time or two. I'm not aware of his medals, but he did bring home a case of shell shock (PTSD as we'd call it these days). I never got to meet him, as he and my mother had some sort of falling out she never talked about other than it had something to do with drinking, and he lived on the opposite end of the country to boot.

 

[2nd 392]

Even the non heroes came back wanting Jeeps. Dad’s group got together at his garage every Tuesday night and did projects on them. MB through 5 - 2 Jeepsters , a Wagon, and a GPW- good men— later my MD.
regrettably mother’s brother was in a soldier’s home having suffered head and brain injuries crewing a bomber, died young, I have a vague recollection of visiting him- talking to the fish on his plate
@roaniecowpony - one buddy he called “Buddahead” , it wasn’t explained to this youngster.
Ford on the dash plaque was explained after I asked.
Edit- I remember going to look at one of these, too bad no deal was made

 

[USNvet]

Even the non heroes came back wanting Jeeps. Dad’s group got together at his garage every Tuesday night and did projects on them. MB through 5 - 2 Jeepsters , a Wagon, and a GPW- good men— later my MD.
regrettably mother’s brother was in a soldier’s home having suffered head and brain injuries crewing a bomber, died young, I have a vague recollection of visiting him- talking to the fish on his plate
@roaniecowpony - one buddy he called “Buddahead” , it wasn’t explained to this youngster.
Ford on the dash plaque was explained after I asked.
Edit- I remember going to look at one of these, too bad no deal was made

I'm glad to see a lot of military reenactment groups around the country saving all sorts of these vehicles. That Ford Amphib would be handy for still water fishing!!!

Back in the 80's to 90's there was a Vietnam War era military reenactor's group based in Oregon that included the old ship I served aboard as one of their vehicles. They billed it as the largest vehicle in the state, which at 384' in length, she would be hard to surpass. Now if you want to feel old, just learn that a young reenactor is reenacting you as a crewman aboard the ship!

At present, the ship is just rusting away as a derelict on the Columbia River about halfway between Portland and Astoria, not far from the Lewis and Clark Bridge. As the most highly decorated ship of the Vietnam War, she was to become a museum ship in Astoria, but the funding and parking space could not be secured.
https://www.google.com/maps/@46.1215916,-123.0153571,560m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu

 

[2nd 392]

I'm glad to see a lot of military reenactment groups around the country saving all sorts of these vehicles. That Ford Amphib would be handy for still water fishing!!!

Back in the 80's to 90's there was a Vietnam War era military reenactor's group based in Oregon that included the old ship I served aboard as one of their vehicles. They billed it as the largest vehicle in the state, which at 384' in length, she would be hard to surpass. Now if you want to feel old, just learn that a young reenactor is reenacting you as a crewman aboard the ship!

At present, the ship is just rusting away as a derelict on the Columbia River about halfway between Portland and Astoria, not far from the Lewis and Clark Bridge. As the most highly decorated ship of the Vietnam War, she was to become a museum ship in Astoria, but the funding and parking space could not be secured.
https://www.google.com/maps/@46.1215916,-123.0153571,560m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu

Dad was one of the original crew of the USS Bennington. 1944-1970, I suspect that’s respectable longevity for a WW2 carrier. Regrettably in the last move a box of pics including his from the war, the tour of 45 log, his “plank” certificate, and a special group he was in commendation has disappeared. He never talked about the war other than driving the Captain’s Gig he considered an honor. And
son, you’ve never known fear until men are committing suicide just to try to kill you.

 

[BVGeezer]

I'm the OP on this thread. I want to thank all of you for your comments. I have one last story to share about uncle Lawrence. He told me this along with the story about capturing the Germans.

Uncle Lawrence told my sister and me that he had to take shelter in a crater. It was dark and the shells where landing all around him. There were two other soldiers in the crater with him. He went to sleep from fatigue I suppose. He dreamed that his brother Leo who had died shortly before the war was walking on the rim of the crater saying, "Lawrence, keep your head down" over and over. When he awoke it was still dark. He didn't know how long had passed. After awakening, he saw that the two other soldiers in the crater were dead from shots in the head.

I hadn't shared that story because it was too close. I do remember seeing tears in his eyes. I was just too young to really understand. Now I do. Thanks for letting me share this story to those who will understand.

 

[2nd 392]

I'm the OP on this thread. I want to thank all of you for your comments. I have one last story to share about uncle Lawrence. He told me this along with the story about capturing the Germans.

Uncle Lawrence told my sister and me that he had to take shelter in a crater. It was dark and the shells where landing all around him. There were two other soldiers in the crater with him. He went to sleep from fatigue I suppose. He dreamed that his brother Leo who had died shortly before the war was walking on the rim of the crater saying, "Lawrence, keep your head down" over and over. When he awoke it was still dark. He didn't know how long had passed. After awakening, he saw that the two other soldiers in the crater were dead from shots in the head.

I hadn't shared that story because it was too close. I do remember seeing tears in his eyes. I was just too young to really understand. Now I do. Thanks for letting me share this story to those who will understand.

I was watching one of the old Pacific Naval Battle movies when Dad came in and sat down. The old movie of course depicted us sinking the Japanese fleets ships sustaining little damage.. visibility upset he jumped up and shouted Bullshit- that’s not how it happened we got our ass kicked too ! leaving the room……
Mother — there were 200 of his shipmates killed in that battle.

 

[58Willys]

Thanks for posting these stories.Eternally grateful to those who sacrificed so much.

 

[USNvet]

Dad was one of the original crew of the USS Bennington. 1944-1970, I suspect that’s respectable longevity for a WW2 carrier. Regrettably in the last move a box of pics including his from the war, the tour of 45 log, his “plank” certificate, and a special group he was in commendation has disappeared. He never talked about the war other than driving the Captain’s Gig he considered an honor. And
son, you’ve never known fear until men are committing suicide just to try to kill you.

That is a pretty good run for a typical navy ship. Our four WWII battleships, now all serving as museum ships, can still be brought back to life to serve again if needed, but their hulls are a little extra thick to fend off rust for many years.

My lowly LST and her 7 squadron sister ships all spent about 20 years each on active duty, but the original WWII versions were expected to last for a very short duration, like one trip across the channel in taking troops and gear to Normandy, but one from that era is still afloat. LST 325 can be toured in Indiana, and maybe even ridden up and down the Mississippi:
https://www.lstmemorial.org/

I can certainly relate to the feelings those suicide attackers put your dad's mind through. My ship had to relieve our sister ship, USS Westchester County, a few days after she was mined while sitting on the Mekong River in late 1968. They (North Vietnamese frogmen) had tried to get us a few months earlier, but someone spotted lights under the ship and a concussion grenade or two ended the problem. But you'd better believe it wasn't easy trying to fall asleep after the Westchester mining incident, with or without the regular dropping of grenades every 15 minutes or so.
https://www.historynet.com/uss-westchester-county-attacked-during-the-vietnam-war/

My dad also served in WWII, but he was across the smaller lake in England. As a member of the 8th Army Air Force, he was a mechanic and kept B-24s flying over Germany!

No doubt, you've searched high and low for info on USS Bennington, but here is a site you may have missed. This is the so-called "official" government record of the ship as found in the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS), but errors and omissions are to be expected:
http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/carriers/cv20.htm

I think the log book pages for many ships can now be found online!

 

[2nd 392]

That is a pretty good run for a typical navy ship. Our four WWII battleships, now all serving as museum ships, can still be brought back to life to serve again if needed, but their hulls are a little extra thick to fend off rust for many years.

My lowly LST and her 7 squadron sister ships all spent about 20 years each on active duty, but the original WWII versions were expected to last for a very short duration, like one trip across the channel in taking troops and gear to Normandy, but one from that era is still afloat. LST 325 can be toured in Indiana, and maybe even ridden up and down the Mississippi:
https://www.lstmemorial.org/

I can certainly relate to the feelings those suicide attackers put your dad's mind through. My ship had to relieve our sister ship, USS Westchester County, a few days after she was mined while sitting on the Mekong River in late 1968. They (North Vietnamese frogmen) had tried to get us a few months earlier, but someone spotted lights under the ship and a concussion grenade or two ended the problem. But you'd better believe it wasn't easy trying to fall asleep after the Westchester mining incident, with or without the regular dropping of grenades every 15 minutes or so.
https://www.historynet.com/uss-westchester-county-attacked-during-the-vietnam-war/

My dad also served in WWII, but he was across the smaller lake in England. As a member of the 8th Army Air Force, he was a mechanic and kept B-24s flying over Germany!

No doubt, you've searched high and low for info on USS Bennington, but here is a site you may have missed. This is the so-called "official" government record of the ship as found in the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS), but errors and omissions are to be expected:
http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/carriers/cv20.htm

I think the log book pages for many ships can now be found online!

Thanks- I’ll check it out. I have read it was upgraded for jets, and carried a large number of Marine helicopters before being retired.
I outlasted the radial engine aircraft I worked on. When the C-124’s were sent to the boneyard in 74 I was assigned to Jet fighters- Uhh, no resemblance, knew nothing. Doesn’t the motor pool or ground equipment use ICE ? Oh yeah, we were “aircraft mechanics” , never mind.

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