My grandfather, Lieutenant Harold Bohm by Jasmine Meyers (13-years-old)
My grandfather's name is Harold Bohm. He lived Englewood, Colorado. When he was 16-years-old and he spent 2 years in Colorado National Guard. In 1941, he was inducted into the 168 Field Artillary. He was sent to Tullahoma, Tennessee. Camp Forest was the name of his base. They trained him in the XS Army. They were shipped to a base in San Louis Obisbo, California- Fort Ford, then to camp Roberts. His duties were the maintenance of the trucks, tractors and other equipment used to operate the guns. The guns were called 155mm. They would shoot 12-14 miles. They were at Camp Roberts until 1943 and then they were shipped out.On one of the largest ships and headed to an unknown destination which ended in 17 days.
Then they were shipped and arrived in Sydney, Australia. They spent a month waiting for equipment to arrive from the United States. After they received the equipment they were shipped on to another Island north of Australia called Good Enough Island held by the Japanese. They made a landing on the beach and the guns were set up and they started shooting at the jungle held by the Japanese.
My grandfather's duties at that time was in charge of maintenance which werew 14 truck tractors, 4 jeeps, 2 dodges, weapon carriers on this island. They "After we took the island from the Japanese we were moved to Biak Island where we made another landing." remembered Harold. "We set up the guns in position to fire on the Japanese into the jungles on this island. We were blockaded by the Japanese which kept the supply ships from coming in. Any of the ships that attempted to come in were bombed by the Japanese airplanes. were bombed and shelled by Japanese guns.
This is where we saw the first of the Japanese pilots hat would fly their airplanes and crash them into our supply ships. Since they cut off all of our supply ships, we didn't have enough food to last. So we had to live on fish heads and tea. This lasted for about 1 week until our supply ships were able to get to us."
Then the new planes arriver p38 came in. They could fly faster, have more guns, and maneuver faster. Then they captured and secured the island. They moved onto Hollandia, New Guinea and made another landing and a new invasion. We were there for several months and moved into the jungle. They captured air fields that the Japanese had taken. The temperature in the jungle was well over 100 degrees. Your clothes were soaked from sweat, day and night. The way we slept, we laid on the ground, foxholes, or in an empty truck bed. Guns were being fired day and night. The sound would almost raise you up from where you were sleeping. They went from New Guinea to Luzon in the Philippines, on the coast of San Fabian. We made another landing moving towards the capital city, Bagio that was being held by the Japanese. On this landing on the beach where the Japanese shot our ships up, with a 12 inch gun, hidden in the hills with a bamboo house over it. This is why our air-force could not find it. It was later captured. They spent several months in the Philippines moving towards the capital city of Bagio, until it was captured and secured. At that point Japanese General Yama Sheto surrendered. "The war was over for us." They set up a base camp and were later furloughed back to the U.S., San Francisco. "Later I was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and all of the campaign ribbons that was served to the guys. After two years in the jungle, Harold Bohm was discharged from the US Army, October 31, 1945. "The day of my birthday," said Harold.
