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Al MacLeod was drafted into the war while living in New Rochelle. He attempted to enlist two years prior, but they wouldn’t accept him. His memory of his first few days in the service is very foggy, but he does remember that it felt like vacation.
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Al MacLeod’s boot training experience contained a lot of marching, learning to fire a rifle, long marches, and carrying duffle bags. He does not remember his instructors, but he didn’t mind training because he loved exercising and being in shape.
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The war that my grandpa participated in is WWII. He stayed in Germany, New Jersey, and Virginia, guarding German prisoners of war. He remembers that he rode a ship and a train to arrive to his first base. He recalls that it was very cold on his ship, and he didn’t realize that he should put his blanket beneath him instead of on top. His job in the army was to play baseball for the team in the army. When he was recruited to the army, the war was already over, so all of the troops were in high spirits and they never saw combat.
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One of my grandpa’s most memorable experiences is when his ship was leaving Bremen haven, Germany, and the whole thing was ice bound. He remembers sitting at the bottom of the ship and all he can hear is the ice rumbling against the ship. The ship was traveling through the English Channel.
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A funny incident that my grandpa experienced in the war is when he went to receive his monthly paycheck and the person giving him his paycheck asked if his name was spelled correctly, and it wasn’t. But when my grandpa told him this, they informed him that they could not give him his paycheck. This went on for six months in a row. So, in order to make money, he sold the two cartons of cigarettes he received a month to the local Germans.
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In order to stay in touch with his family, my grandpa would send letters back home. He also mentioned that the food was pretty good, and if it wasn’t, he wouldn’t eat it. In order to entertain themselves, on pay days the soldiers would play a big game of crap, or a poker game. They also had a bar on base where they could sit and drink beer together. When my grandpa was in Munich, they had shows in the theatre, and they also had movies on his base.
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An unusual event that took place while over seas is that my grandpa found a long-haired schnauzer that he named Sporty, and he took it back home with him after his service. My grandpa made many good friends while in the service, and he liked his officers.
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My grandpa was in Fort Dicks, New Jersey when he was discharged. He went home immediately after to see his family and friends. Using the G.I. Bill, my grandfather went to Kentucky University and played baseball there. After college, he worked for a cigarette company called LORILLARD.
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Click on the pictures to enlarge.
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Al MacLeod World War II
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Al MacLeod World War II
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Al MacLeod World War II
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Al MacLeod World War II baseball
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Al MacLeod World War II
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Al MacLeod World War II
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Al MacLeod World War II
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