| James W. Taylor's WWII Experiences |
| Donor | Original Source | PIMA ID | Donor ID | Category |
| Richard P. Ellinger | James W. Taylor | NA | RPE-44005 | OCR-DA-P |
| morning, we were taken over to a warehouse type of building where we were issued everything that the army considered essential for our existence and survival. I was issued 2 "dog tags". They were brass. had my name, army serial number, blood type and a "p" to designate a Protestant religious affiliation. The tags were to be worn at all times around our neck and there was an interesting notch at one end of the tag, the reason, I would learn later. The chain holding them around my neck was the type used as pull cords for electric lights, fans etc. I was issued a summer and winter uniform, a wool cap, a rain coat, an overcoat, woolen socks, underwear, a safety razor, a soap dish, towels and wash cloths, and a pair of army boots. Normally I wore size 9.5 or 10. I was issued size 12 or 13. The size for our uniform was estimated by a fellow standing on the other side of the counter. We were told that if things didn't fit we could exchange it for the right size at our next assignment. At that time we believed what we were told. We went back to our barracks and dressed in our summer uniform. We were a bunch of ill fitted G.l.'s some were even talking about going to the tailor shop to have the uniform altered to fit. We then wrapped up all of our civilian things, addressed the package so they would be shipped back home at army expense. We were then taken to an area where someone read us the "Articles of Warn. I heard all those things that if you committed one of them it was "punishable by death". I was also issued a copy of the 10 (?) General Orders and told to memorize them. The only one that I vaguely remember went something like "l
will patrol my post in a military manner".
The next day or soon thereafter, we were taken into a large class room, where we would be given a rather comprehensive exam something like the exam to determine admissibility into a college. It was comprehensive, covering diverse subjects like: meaning of words, some math, a little physics, spatial relationships, and a bit about gears and levers. The test was interesting but at the time I didn't realize how important it would be for my future. As well as I remember, the test was timed. I had almost completed four semesters of college at West Texas State and by credit hours, I was almost a junior. With that as credentials, I was rather certain that the assignment section would recognize my potential and assign me to the air corps. That was what I had really wanted---to become a pilot. Obviously, I did not understand at that time how the army thought or did things, later I would learn a lot of things. WW2,3-5 P. 5 |
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