Parke G. Hoover, in 2005
 
War Memories of Parke G. Hoover:
 
I served with Company "F" 405th Infantry
 
I served in the European Theater - We landed at Cherburg and I think were the first troop ship to land after that port was cleared. I believe it was September 23,1944. On November 23, 1944 we were just outside the German town of Immendorf, near the Siegfried Line of pillboxes, when I was hit in the back of the leg late at night. We had headed back for our second trip to get 10-1 cartons of rations. It was Thanksgiving Day.
 
I saw only one day of action. I remember that the British shone searchlights against the clouds which made it look like a moonlite night. I didn't quite understand that. You could see them, but they could see you. It was getting to be early morning when I was hung on the side of a Sherman tank with British crew. One of them was up through the hatch putting blankets on me when I heard one of his buddies inside the tank call out "Hey, you better get your head down here before you get it blown off".
 
The Germans had started a mortar barrage prior to a counter attack that took place later. I was taken to a British aid station where I had a cup of hot tea. I was reported missing in action, but later my mother received word that I was wounded.
 
My older brother was also in service at this time in the South Pacific. I have 4 brothers (2 are deceased). All 5 of us were in service at one time or another, 2 in Infantry, 2 in Navy and 1 served as a copilot with SAC flying missions over Cuba during the Cuban missile crisis.
 
I was one of the 150,000 in ASTP and when it was disbanded we wound up in Infantry or Artillery. I was sent to Infantry at Camp Swift, Texas.
 
I have a copy of the 102nd Div. History.
 
I was handed a Purple Heart while in the hospital in England. The information was omitted in the history where names are listed and I believe an asterisk indicated a Purple Heart was awarded.
 
---- Parke G. Hoover