Memorial Day Birthday Boy GWW

Happy Birthday, Dad! I would like to thank you for your service to our country! Here you are as a soldier in the US Army, 18th Ord. HM. Co., in October of 1944 getting ready to leave Champ Shenks, New Jersey and arrive in Plymouth, England on Nov. 11, 1944. George was a T-5 (Technician 5th Class).


Here you are with your truck on Feb. 3, 1944. On the back it says, in your writing, "We took them out on Bivonac. It rained all nite till we had to sleep in the back of my truck." (This is straight from my Dad--spelling, grammer and all!)


This picture is fascinating, and I need some help researching it. Dad is on the front row, third from left where the arrow is pointing and the location is Freidberg, Germany, 1945. The sign behind this company of soldiers on the window behind them says 18th Ord. Hm. Co., 1945. I think this may be Ray Barracks, but maybe one of you war history buffs, could confirm for me.


My sister Mary found this picture of the SS Exchequer. Dad wrote in his autobiography, “The Real George,” that he boarded the Exchequer on Nov 11, 1945." We aren't sure if he left for England on this ship or if he left to Europe to come home on it. We are researching this info.

It's no surprise that George had tons of family support! This picture is with George's parents, Robert, Sarah and George Wilson (from left) and some of the Darger and Williams relatives on the right. Dad was very close with these family members. From his autobiography it says, "Before I left there were all sorts of family doings: dinners, parties and all manner of affairs for the upcoming soldier-hero . . . . "



"Mother was terribly sick at this time. She would go for a day or two then be at death's bed for several days. However, as I sat on that old rocking chair in her bedroom, she assured me that she would still be there when I returned from the war. No matter how long I was gone. She told me that so many times from 1927 or 39 on that I really believed her. She said, "I'll be right here until you all are married and all of you have your own children." This promise did hold true, since my grandmother Wilson is in the wedding pictures when my Mom and Dad were married on June 20, 1947, and my Dad was fortunate to return safely from his military commitment.