Drafted 1943

My Grandpa, Norman R. Winters, fought in World War II.  He was born May 28, 1925.  He passed away on February 1, 2000.  He was drafted  into the Army, at age 18, right after high school graduation.  It was the year 1943.   My Grandma, Dad, and I are very proud of him for serving his country. My Grandpa was in the United States Army, 28th Infantry Division.  He carried a United States Army Machine Gun. This 30-caliber M 1 could shoot one bullet at a time, or with a special clip, could shoot ten bullets in a row. 

My Grandpa was under the Five Star General Omar N.  Bradley.  My Grandpa fought at  ‘D' Day.  He was on the 6th or 8th wave that tried to try to reach Omaha Beach.  His unit was the 2nd one to reach the shore (the other 4 or 6 didn't make it). 

After the breakthrough he and the rest of his company had to march to France.  While engaged in battle, in France, he was shot in the ankle.  He finally got fixed up from the doctors, and returned to the war.  He continued to engage in battle at: Normandy, the Middle East, Northern France, and in Germany.  While fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, he was wounded a second time.

Grandpa got shot in his left arm, and almost lost his arm.  The medics that found him gave him a big shot of morphine, and used safety pins to hold the wound together.  The battle field was very chaotic. The medics, that safety pinned his arm together, hid him in the middle of some corn stocks. This was to keep him safe from the German soldiers, until they could get him out safely.  The medics told him to lie still and be quiet, someone would return for him.  Forty or so hours later, Grandpa heard movement outside his corn stalks, he was scared and hurt like heck. He didn't know who was there, were they Allies, or the enemy?  Many thoughts entered his mind.  He was sure relieved to see the American medics, and that they had came back for him. 

While transporting him to the field hospital, the driver had to drive under black-out conditions, this means without lights. The driver of the ambulance lost control, and rolled the vehicle.  My Grandpa and two other causalities were inside, they were not hurt bad.  My Grandpa said he was very glad for the morphine, to alleviate the pain.  He was very grateful to the two medics who found him on the battle field, who took care of him, and saved his life.  After a short stay in the field hospital, he was (as he put it), sent to England to a real hospital.  His recovery took almost three months in the English hospital.  After serving  the United States Army for two years, he was honorably discharged.  My Grandpa received the following commendations for his service:

*Silver Star
*Oak Leaf Cluster
*5 Theater Ribbons
*Good Conduct Ribbon
*2 Bronze Stars
* Purple Heart

I never heard my Grandpa complain about serving his country.  He was proud to be in the Army.  His only regret from the war was disappointment.  Every time his unit went through the big famous cities, he was lying in a field Hospital.  He told stories of all the blown-up small towns he traveled through.  He would like to have seen the big cities.

 My dad and I are very proud of our heritage, and the legacy my Grandpa left for us.  My Grandpa was a great man.  I miss him a lot.