Drafted March 3, 1941

Germany was invading England and bombing Russia.  London was bombed.  England was the most willing ally to help the United States in taking on Germany.  In the United States, a one year long draft was held.  The draft was organized alphabetically.  Dean had a cousin with the last name Amtoft, who was about 16 or 17 years old who was drafted.  Dean joined the Manti National Guard on February 17, 1941, Two weeks later, word came that all National Guard members were drafted into the regular Army.  Dean was drafted into the regular Army on March 3, 1941, and assigned to the artillery unit.  Dean was sent to San Louis Obispo, California for 13 weeks of basic training. 

Dean was shipped to Hawaii for amphibious training.  On the way to the Hawaiian Islands, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.  They had no escorts. The Japanese had sunk an Aircraft Carrier and blocked the main entrance. He stayed in Hawaii until that specialized training was completed.  They were dispersed under black-out situation.  They had to travel at night with no lights at all.  Further North, the Philippine Islands, New Britain, New Guinea and other small islands were loaded with Japanese.  Dean was stationed on New Guinea for 6 months.  Three armies congregated in the Philippines. General McArthur  was the big man. 

The Japanese were resistant to surrender but finally did in Manilla. At Panary Island they took the Japanese.    Then Dean went to Negros Island, which was a secured island.  He was there for three years.  Lots of things were going on during this time with the Japanese, but on August 14th, Dean was the first one called to come home.  He had enough points.  He left Tacklahoba in the Philippines the 23rd of September and was discharged the 24th of September.

One night  Dean was with a friend from Portland.  His friend was a telephone and radio operator.  They were on Negros Island.  They were in infantry.  Artillery was 5 miles away. The Japanese had come and attacked infantry.  They killed the captain and wounded the 1st Lt.  They also cut the telephone lines.  The only commander, Paul Banks, the 2nd Lt., had a few men go down to fix the line.  It was a thick, dark jungle.  Dean and others went to fix it.  They grabbed the line and followed it to the place where it  was broken.  Dean's friend repaired the line and commanded everyone back, but they didn't know which way.  They went to the closest infantry or artillery place.  When they got to a big creek they heard gunfire.  Dean said that, "The good lord was on our side that night."  Dean and the others didn't dare go out so they stayed under a bridge for 30 to 45 minutes. They went to the nearest infantry, but they didn't know any codes or passwords.  They hollered, "U.S. Army.  We would like to come in." 

The people inside thought they were Japanese that could speak English.  Dean knew a guy, who had helped make a road.  The people inside knew the guy.  They told them to lay their guns down.  They laid them down and went in.  Later they went down the road to 116 Infantry and spent the night.  The Japanese tried to get in that night.  The people put Dean and the others in fox holes.  They could hear grenades very near, but they were not bothered.