A Rifleman Remembers

by

Edwin F. Forrest

Copyright by Author

First Printing December, 1997

by the Type Shop

Montevallo, Alabama

Hell on Wheels

The triangular patches at the top of this page are the divisional patches of the great 2nd Armored Division of World War II.  The division was formed in the summer of 1940 at Fort Benning, Georgia.  The division's commanding officer was General George Smith Patton.  Hard training on the reservation at Fort Benning, maneuvers in Tennessee, Louisiana, and the Carolinas honed the division to its fighting edge.

While fighting in North Africa, Sicily, France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany, the division was never found wanting and earned its motto "Hell on Wheels."  The color blue on the patch symbolizes infantry, yellow for armor, and red for artillery.  The tank track is armored protection, the cannon barrel fire power, and the lightning strike is emblematic of lightning action.

Dedication

This work is dedicated to

Company "C", 41st Armored Infantry Regiment

of the "Hell on Wheels: 2nd Armored Division.

We fought the good fight.

And to the doctors, nurses, and therapists

who mended and dented our broken, torn, and bleeding bodies

with skill and compassion.

Reluctant Hero

Although he would be the first to deny it, my husband is a hero.  The young men clamoring to go overseas exhibited bravado, which, though it is admirable, is not heroism.  These same young men who had seen combat, and wanted to win and end it, displayed fortitude and courage.  But the young man who, terribly wounded, was able to say, "I must get back to my outfit,  They need me," was a hero, pure and simple.  They don't get braver than that.

Jerry B. Forrest, Ph.D.

Acknowledgment

My wife, Dr. Jerry B. Forrest, is a native of Mississippi, an Ole Miss graduate and an unreconstructed Rebel.  She is a retired clinical psychologist and one of the most brilliant people I have ever known.  She is a period doll-maker and a creative artist with her sewing machine.  Jerry has many and varied interests and does everything well.  After hearing my stories of adventures as an enlisted man in World War II, she suggested that I commit them to paper.   She patiently deciphered my writing and corrected the occasional lapses in grammar and spelling.  In no way did she change any parts of my writing.  We enjoyed working together on this project, and I hope that you, the reader, also enjoy our efforts.

Edwin F. Forrest

Table of Contents

Web Master's Note:

This page is still under construction as there are many more stories and priceless war time photos to be added.  Mr. Forrest is legally blind and uses Department of Veterans Affairs supplied optical and electronic equipment to write and edit his work.  

Mail to Web Master

Accesses as of  April 21, 1998   Please Sign Guestbook

Last update: 04/30/98

©By Author and Zodiac Productions, Inc. 1998  All rights reserved.