Snook’s Army History (Part 4)
While at Camp Robinson, we learned how to load, shoot, and take apart, clean, and put back together, the rifle, machine gun, and BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle). We also learned to crawl around on your belly. I got one of the worst cases of chigger bites in history! I bought some vaseline and sulphur, and…
Report on Gee and Mildred’s Trip to Little Rock and Camp Robinson
July 2 to 7, 1942 We will take a short break from Snook’s memoir so that I can share another document related to his time in Basic Training. My background notes will precede the original text for a change in this entry, due to the length of the post. In 1942, Gee and Mildred Cain…
Snook’s Army History (Part 3)
The next day did arrive, and I felt like I hadn’t had any sleep at all. I don’t think I really did. We had our formation at 6:00 a.m. and went to the mess hall for breakfast. Then we went to the supply depot to pick up all our army clothes. When we got those,…
Snook’s Army History (Part 2)
Monday, May 11, 1942 was a sad day for me. I said my goodbyes to everyone including Geneva the day before. The draftees were to meet at the old Quality Restaurant which, at that time, was on the corner of Chester and Walnut St. It was located on the northwest corner. We met long before…
Snook’s Army History (Part 1)
After the war was declared against Germany, all the men in the United States had to register for the draft. After we registered we were all given a number and a designation such as 1A, up to 4F. 1A meant you were eligible to be drafted right away, and 4F meant you were rejected. I…
Snook’s Army History (Introduction)
Snook titled his World War II memoir: My Army History of Service in the First Special Service Force and the 474 Infantry Regiment of the United States Army, From May 11, 1942 to October 31, 1945. Frank M. “Snook” Barber composed this memoir entirely on his loud old typewriter, completing it on April 4, 1988.…
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