Rodman, Harold, T/4

TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT INFLUENCED HIS/HER DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY?
I believe my dad was determined to leave the farm that he was born and raised on. He had a deferment from military service because he was a farm worker, but he waived it so he could enlist in the Army on March 28, 1941 at the induction center in Chicago, Illinois.

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?
My dad was good with his hands and enjoyed working on anything with an engine. Cars, trucks, tractors, etc. The Army sent him first to Fort Lee, Virginia for basic training then Automotive Repair school, then he was sent to Camp Edwards, MA, assigned to work on the new DUWK amphibious vehicle, (soon to see service around the world on every D-Day invasion in the ETO and PTO).

While on maneuvers in North Carolina, in December of 1941, the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor reached Dad's unit. Soon after, they they returned to Camp Edwards then to Fort Meade, Maryland then to New York City to sail to the United Kingdom for more training. Soon they boarded ships and sailed south then east for "Operation Torch", the invasion of North Africa in November 1942.

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.
Dad was in combat in Tunisia then Sicily, as well as France, Belgium and Germany. He didn't speak of the fighting, I think it overwhelmed him and made it difficult to talk about it. He would only talk about the funny or unusual thing he saw. The German bomber shot down and landed in a field not far from them in Ferryville, Tunisia. Four crew men burned to a crisp, but kneeling in a row as if praying. The young Lt. who grabbed the barrel of a recently fired 50. Caliber machine gun, burning his hand. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal. My dad could not talk about what he had seen and done.

At the end of his life, he died in 1992 at age 80, he was finally able to talk to my cousin about what he had seen. She said he would talk and cry then compose himself, then more tears. I think he was unburdening himself of his long penned up thoughts and feelings so he could leave this world with a light heart. That's what I truly think.

My dad was the best man I ever knew.

OF ALL THEIR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY HE/SHE HAD FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS THEIR LEAST FAVORITE?
I think his best station was Fort Sheridan, Illinois, August 18, 1945. The day he was finally discharged from the "@&#*%" Army! Dad had enlisted when you were to serve only one year, but he ended up serving four years, four months and 21 days.

FROM THEIR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY PERSONAL MEMORIES, YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, WHICH IMPACTED HIM/HER THE MOST.
Dad told me the ocean was choppy and rough when they sailed for England in August 1942. The crossing took 12 days because of all the zig-zazging the convoy had to do because of the threat of U-Boat attack. The crossing from Tunisia to Sicily was worse. A storm hit the convoy and Dad said he was so seasick, he went topside and hung over the railing, vomiting most of the night. He said at that point, he didn't care if he got washed overboard. He was that sick.

That morning, July 11, 1943, he said they were under fire from the Luftwaffe fighter planes strafing the beach. There was also threat of Panzer Tanks breaking through to the beach. An anti-aircraft unit near where my Dad's company was finally shot down one of the planes. My dad and two others went to investigate and were shot at by the pilot. My Dad was able to return fire and capture the German flyer. He was a decorated pilot who had flown in France, Russia and North Africa. Dad was awarded the Silver Star Medal for his actions. When the war ended and Dad was sent home, he said the ocean was like a sheet of glass, clear and calm.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS DO YOU BELIEVE HE/SHE WAS MOST PROUD OF FROM HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE?
Dad was awarded the Silver Star Medal for capturing a German fighter pilot in Sicily on July 11, 1943. Dad's unit was awarded the French Croix De Guerre for being part of the Normandy invasion June 6, 1944.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES HE/SHE RECEIVED, WHICH WERE THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO HIM/HER AND WHY?
I don't think my Dad was impressed with medals or awards. The Silver Star was important, but so was the Good Conduct Medal to him. He said he was more impressed/concerned with getting home alive than being a "hero". He always joked he would rather be a live coward than a dead hero. The Army may court-martial a coward, but the coward would still be alive for them to do it! This was something I heard him say countless times. I didn't understand why he would say such a thing. I believe that he meant that he would do his duty and then go home. Nothing fancy. No heroics. He was a hero to me, my sister and to most anyone that knew him. The name Harold Rodman and the word coward could never be used together.

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?
He said all the guys were a "great bunch of guys", showed "stick-to-it-ness", bravery and a sense of humor.

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?
Dad said one night in London, he and a buddy were leaving an underground pub, He was surprised that it started raining so suddenly. Actually it was two drunk GI's above them peeing. Dad said he ran up the steps, but the two had ran across the street and hopped on to a bus, gone with the wind!

Dad had contracted Malaria and Yellow Jaundice in Italy. He was weak and had lost about 30 lbs. He was being carried by two German POWs on a litter. Twice they dropped him on his head. He would say, "now you know why I act goofy sometimes".

Dad was in an Army hospital in England with a relapse of Malaria. The actor James Cagney came to the ward to entertain the troops. Cagney sang, danced and told jokes. he had the guys laughing out loud! Dad always spoke of that time with a smile. He said he wanted an autograph, but he had nothing to write with or write on.

IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, WHAT PROFESSION(S) DID HE/SHE FOLLOW AFTER DISCHARGE?
Dad came home from the war and had several different jobs until he started working for a small oil company in 1951. He stayed in that business the rest of his working life. Among his many jobs with the company was to deliver home heating oil, (it was a main source of winter heat in the mid-west until natural gas replaced it). He could not stand to see people suffer from anything. Heat, cold, hunger, etc.... He would go out in the middle of the night, freezing cold, to make a delivery to people who had run out of oil, then get home in enough time to eat breakfast and go to work for 10 to 12 hours. He was the best man I ever knew, bar none.

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?
Dad joined organizations that most veterans did; VFW, American Legion, etc. I think he felt obligated to join, but he seldom attended meetings. He found out that his unit had reunions each year. He would tell me that he was thinking about going, but as the date approached, he would always find something that would keep him from attending. Most of the time it was work. I think that going and seeing his old buddies was to much for him to bear. I think he didn't attend because it would bring up old memories of the war.

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?
My dad's war service was just that, service to his country. I think him working to deliver home heating oil to hundreds of families in the bitter Illinois winters was preforming similar service to people. To work and help others was what he felt was important.

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?
He would say go and serve. Then come home alive and in one piece. No one can ever take that away from you. You served your country when your country needed you.

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?

TWS and the US Army

I think mainly, it helps me to express the pride I have in my Dad's service to this country in World War II. He went willingly. Served longer than expected and returned home a changed and humble man. He was a great guy. Kind, caring, unassuming, understanding, always willing to help another person in any situation. He could not stand to see others in need or suffering. He was a giver not a taker.

DS 2/14/17