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| TWS Ribbon Bar |
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| Photo In Uniform |
Service Details |
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Current Service Status
USA Veteran
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Current/Last Rank
Private First Class
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Current/Last Service Branch
Field Artillery
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Current/Last Primary MOS
601-Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Crewman
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Current/Last MOS Group
Air Defense Artillery
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Primary Unit
1943-1945, 400th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion
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Previously Held MOS
527-Antiaircraft Range Section NCO
845-Gun Crewman Heavy Artillery
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Service Years
1943 - 1945
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1949, American Legion, Post 381 (Member) (Los Angeles, California)
- Chap. Page
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1992, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 2929 (Member) (Redlands, California)
- Chap. Page
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1992, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Post 7347, Yucaipa Valley Post (National President) (Yucaipa, California)
- Chap. Page
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2001, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Chapter 12 (Member) (San Bernardino, California)
- Chap. Page
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2003, WWII Memorial National Registry
- Assoc. Page
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What are you doing now:
Traveling, visiting with friends, going to veteran groups gathering.
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Reflections on PFC Fernald's
US Army Service
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PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY.
I was drafted Jan.-22-1943, in Los Angeles, California.
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WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
I took the civil service tests for the Los Angeles Police Dept, and the Fire Department. The Police Deptartment called me first. I was in the first class on the civil service list.
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IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
Sicily, Italy, Corsica, France, and Germany.
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FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Several memories come to mind.
We made a beach landing in Sicily and we shot some planes down by accident.
I was wounded in Mocasino. I received the purple heart for this. They were shelling and bombing us at the same time. We were next to the Armored vehicles and tanks of the Bnritish Army.
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OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
The purple heart, I was wounded in my shoulder. I still have shrapnel inside of me. When I go to the airport through security, it causes the alarm to go off.
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WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
All of the gun crew members. We used to share everything. Our gun crews consisted of between 11 - 15 people.
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CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
In Brussels, we were assigned as MP, this lead me to join the LAPD!
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WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
I worked for the LAPD and am currently retired.
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WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Commander of Purple Heart Association 2929, VFW, American Legion, and Disabled Veterans of America.
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
It made me independant. and taught me how to take care of myself.
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