Waggett, Frederick, Sr., 1ST SGT

TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT INFLUENCED HIS/HER DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY?
What stands out in my mind is a very quiet Sunday afternoon. I was only seventeen years old sitting in our dining room, working to complete an English paper for school, when we got the word about Pearl Harbor. A group of about fifteen of the neighborhood boys got together and decided that as soon as high school was finished, we would enlist to get back at that attack as our saying was "don't get mad get even"! In 1943, before I had reached my nineteenth birthday, I had volunteered for service and was on my way to Fort Devens, Ayer, MA and the Reception Center.

TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH HE/SHE TOOK IN HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE. WHERE DID THEY GO FOR BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE THEY ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS HIS/HER REASON FOR LEAVING?
Following the IQ tests, I was told by a Sergeant that I was going to be assigned to the 79th Infantry Division, but before I was they recalled me for another IQ test. Apparently, I had done well and I had mentioned that I was fairly fluent in both French and German languages. After additional tests, I was told that I would be assigned to an MP unit which might need or could use this ability. My first posting was to Camp Shanks. I was assigned to an MP Battalion there that was being re-manned. I later went to Fort Custer for extensive Infantry training because if need be we could/would be used as an Infantry Battalion.

IF HE/SHE PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE YOU FEEL WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO HIM/HER AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.
After we got to France, we had a myriad of duties. My unit is mentioned in the quote below that was taken from the "Lone Sentry the Story of the Military Police" Quote:- "Hundreds of miles of roads of what was to be called the "Red Ball Express,"originating in the Contentin Peninsula and stretching to Chartres and Dreux, were neither reconnoitered nor sign-posted. (The road had not been 100% secured. My Note) From the Theater Provost Marshal's office came Lt. Col. Charles E. Day, former traffic expert with the New York State Police; Maj. Forest L. Wyman and Capt. Lawrence O. Schneiber to assist the 707th, 793rd, 783rd and later A and B Companies, 796th Battalion (I was in B/796), in meeting perhaps the greatest single challenge in the history of the Corps of Military Police". End Quote once posted, he had to stand up and take it. His duty didn't allow him to duck into a foxhole. If he became, a casualty, another MP replaced him. End Quote for performing this type of duty we were awarded a Campaign Star for the Battle of Northern France and Normandy. MPs doubled as infantrymen, and then coolly returned to traffic duties more than once during the hurried journey across France. With traditional thoroughness, MPs turned in a job well done, a performance which was to be repeated many times during Von Rundstedt's famous break-through drive in December, 1944. During the crucial hours of the German drive, the Corps of Military Police, with units assigned to every echelon of command, became a prime controlling influence, the pivot on which the holding and regrouping of American troops depended.

FROM THEIR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY PERSONAL MEMORIES, YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, WHICH IMPACTED HIM/HER THE MOST.
As I said, I was used on an as needed basis as an interpreter/interrogator for French and German. In Belgium, we met with a "local" who was to provide some vital data regarding the Germans around the area. He started out speaking Flemish but I did not know how to speak that so I asked of he could speak German which he did. We talked for a while and I was growing tired and my French was better than my German so I side-mouthed the Officer next to me that I was going to try to switch to French. I did and this "local" did the same without missing a beat. After some time (it seemed an eternity) I told the Intel Officer I needed "to take ten" as mind and body were exhausted. Having just reached the age of 20 I thought I was a 4.0 interpreter - that obviously wasn't the case! Smiling ear-to-ear the "local" said to me in accent free perfect English "You know Sergeant for someone so young you are damn good but I'm a little better." He was a Belgian Officer and a Rhodes Scholar who spoke 7 languages! I was so mad I could have shot him on the spot for what he had put me through. It all worked out though, he was a friendly who was testing us to be sure we were Americans, I'll never forget that experience. Also, It may seem bizarre but one other huge memory I have is that when we returned stateside we had to wait while the GARBAGE was unloaded from the ship before we were allowed to disembark. Welcome Home Our Heroes, yah right!!

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS DO YOU BELIEVE HE/SHE WAS MOST PROUD OF FROM HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE?
YOU WERE AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR. CAN YOU PLEASE DESCRIBE HOW THIS WAS EARNED?

Later on, we were pulled back and attached to the 17th Airborne with the duty of Security for the 17th Airborne which was to take part in "Operation Varsity" where they, along with the Brit 6th Airborne(Red Devils), jumped across the Rhine at Wesel. Security was very strict as the Krauts knew of the jump but not any of the particulars. It was our job to assure security and secrecy so that the 17th Airborne could concentrate on preparing for the jump. Any and all locals were kept from the area. What bothered the Airborne Higher-ups was the fact that British General Montgomery did not even mention the 17th's participation for four days after the jump. For this duty we were awarded a Campaign Star for the Rhineland Campaign participation. At various and sundry times that the above duty was being performed, I was asked to go with XYZ from the Intel unit as it would make it easier to have an Interpreter along (I could read, write and speak both French and German). After performing a number of the duty assignments while at "Lucky Forward" 3rd Army HQ. As an interpreter, a Bird Colonel awarded me the CIB. What follows is the reason I posted the Medal Ribbon: All WW2 recipients of the CIB or CMB are authorized the Bronze Star medal (without "V" device) under authority of AR 600-8-22, paragraph 3-13d. (This authorization does NOT include post-WW2 CIB/CMB recipients.)

IF KNOWN, PLEASE LIST ANY INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM HIS/HER TIME IN THE MILITARY WHO STOOD OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEM AND WHY?
I remember that the Lieutenant Colonel we had at our school always emphasized that you should always follow legitimate orders and do everything by the numbers to avoid problems with superiors or troops under your command. I guess that is why I had few problems.

ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM HIS/HER SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MADE THEM LAUGH LATER ON?
I'm sure you know that at times there is a sort of perverse or almost sadistic humor among the troops but it was used at times as a safety valve and here's one such incident. In Normandy, near either Rennes or Laval (senior moment-I forget which), we decided to spend the night in a nearby farm house that was virtually intact. With us was a "so-called" Platoon Sergeant that had reached that rank in the National Guard through political influence back home. Most of the guys requested that they be allowed to be behind him when advancing because he would fire at anything he was so scared. Believe me he wasn't a leader! I tried several times to unload him to no avail. A couple of my "real NCOs" came to me with a proposal they wanted to put in effect but to protect me they asked that I not get any details of said proposal. Knowing these men, I knew it would be much better if I truthfully could say after the fact that I had no knowledge of the "prank". Naturally, since this was a farm, the house had no indoor plumbing so a "slit trench" was dug in a sort of a grove of trees for all to use and it was out of sight and dark here. (Have to properly set the stage)! In the barn we found a Kraut bicycle, weapons and camouflage capes etc. left behind when we moved up and into the farm. The "real NCOs" fashioned a figure in the shadows that from a distance was a work of artful deception that appeared to be a Kraut sniper who did travel on bicycles for obvious reasons and some did travel alone. The bike, rifle, camo jacket etc. were all there. After eating and before bedding down the "real NCOs" suggested a check of the perimeter and the slit trench area with the "Platoon Sergeant" as the leader, but this was after suggestive stories about hearing noises in the barn, across the road in the Hedgerow field etc which scared the living you know what out of our friend. Off they went and in a few moments I heard ungodly screaming about a sniper in the grove so everybody went down ASAP. Not knowing any better, the Platoon Sergeant threw a few grenades and shot the daylights out of the make-believe sniper with a Thompson while the rest of the patrol was rolling on the ground with laughter. From that day on until he managed, and I don't know how, to be transferred back to England accompanied by his nickname "Sniper". The Company Commander was not amused but did admit he was glad he was gone.

IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, WHAT PROFESSION(S) DID HE/SHE FOLLOW AFTER DISCHARGE?
Right now approaching age eighty six and recently having become a widower following 58+ years of married life, I am just taking life one day at a time. As I did in my service time, I try to do things right the first time and then there usually is no FUBAR to worry about.

IF KNOWN, WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS WAS HE OR SHE A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC BENEFITS THEY DERIVED FROM THEIR MEMBERSHIPS?
Lifetime Charter Member National WW II Memorial Washington,DC
Charter Member "The National WW II Museum"
Founding Sponsor National Museum-United States Army

IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU BELIEVE HIS/HER SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY THEY APPROACHED THEIR PERSONAL LIFE, FAMILY LIFE AND CAREER?
Keeping house and personal matters in order by doing "details" by the numbers!

IF THEY WERE HERE TODAY, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU THINK HE OR SHE WOULD GIVE TO THOSE WHO FOLLOWED IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS AND RECENTLY ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE?
If you have "good NCO's," listen up and remember their duty is not only to lead you but to keep you alive for tomorrow and to return home when that time comes.

HOW EFFECTIVE HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM BEEN IN HELPING YOU RECORD YOUR REMEMBERED PERSONS MILITARY SERVICE? DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE?
Living alone with all the "must dos" really doesn't allow me much time for TWS participation. Hopefully this will change, but I wonder as there aren't too many WW II Veterans I know of that are still alive. I feel like a dinosaur with some of the things I have read which demonstrate the Army isn't what it used to be.

Published in TWS "Voices" August 28, 2010^[1]