February 14, 1945

Mark Pickett from Gunnison Utah served in the United States Army. 

Mark Graduated from the Gunnison Valley High School May 1944, and entered his basic training at Camp Waltern in Texas on February 14, 1945. Mark’s 18th birthday was July 24, 1945, and after his five months in infantry training he left the states for duty in the South Pacific. While he was at the Marshall Islands Japan surrendered. Their orders were changed from the Okinawa to the Leyte in the Philippines. At that time they became occupation forces to clean up all Japanese soldiers left on the island. Mark later volunteered for K.P. duty and finished his tour as a cook with the 34th Medical Depot. 

Mark often thinks about the training they gave him at Camp Waltern, he also got seasick just out of San Francisco and was sick all the way, While on the ship another thing was the poverty on the Leyte. A lot of people with nothing to eat and the devastation of the island after the war.

The war helped Mark appreciate living in a free country and above all he learned to respect the red, white and blue of our flag, and what it stands for – One Nation under God indivisible with Liberty and Justice for all. 

Mark’s message to the young people today is this --- If you are having a hard time not knowing what you want, no better training or schooling is offered to you for free , than some time in the Military, they train you well.