December 7, 1943 - July 17, 1944

For my report on World War II, I interviewed my Great-grandpa, Clement Jorgensen, of  Centerfield, Utah. He is now 90 years old and served in the army as a truck driver when he was 33 years old. His date of service was from December 7, 1943 to July 17, 1944. 

He did not have to be inducted for the service because he had a wife and three children, but  he joined the army because he felt it was his duty to serve his country.  After joining he was sent to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, for basic training in field artillery.  After basic training he returned home and then was sent to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. Grandpa could remember having to walk with their heavy packs.  One trip that he could remember they walked for 25 miles. Another time he could remember was when he was on maneuvers out in the desert and he was supposed to be on guard and he laid down and went to sleep. The commanding officer found him asleep when he was supposed to be on guard. He said that he wasn't a very good guardsman. For the seven months and ten days that he was on duty he was paid $78.45, which is a little over $10.00 a month 

He was honorably discharged on the 17th of July in 1944. At this time he returned home to his wife and three children 

My grandma, ArLou Edwards, can remember when her dad, Clement Jorgensen, returned home with all his army gear. Grandma and her siblings and some friends got out his gas mask and played war games with all of his equipment. 

On the 4th of July following World War II, in Gunnison you could buy a $25 War Bond (savings bond) and receive a ride in an army Jeep from the Gunnison Valley Bank up to the Gunnison Park. At that time only the army owned Jeeps.