The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Harper. In 1937, Harper joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked in his native Texas. In 1939, he joined the Army and was assigned to D Battery in the Fifth Field Artillery. He never received basic training. He went straight to work with a 155mm Howitzer crew at Fort Benning. The unit moved to New York after participating in the Louisiana Maneuvers. Harper made sergeant and worked in supply. He eventually was assigned to the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion and shipped out aboard RMS Queen Mary with the 1st Infantry Division bound for Scotland in August 1942. He arrived in North Africa with his unit in December and drove a half-track. After leaving North Africa, Harper's unit was attached tot he 36th Infantry Division and landed with them at Salerno. Later, he landed at Anzio with the 3rd Infantry Division. After landing at Southern France, Harper received a 90 day furlough beginning in October, 1944. When he was home, he got married. When he returned to his unit, he drove with them into Germany before he was wounded at Nuremburg in April, 1945. He was discharged n …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bill Harper. In 1937, Harper joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked in his native Texas. In 1939, he joined the Army and was assigned to D Battery in the Fifth Field Artillery. He never received basic training. He went straight to work with a 155mm Howitzer crew at Fort Benning. The unit moved to New York after participating in the Louisiana Maneuvers. Harper made sergeant and worked in supply. He eventually was assigned to the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion and shipped out aboard RMS Queen Mary with the 1st Infantry Division bound for Scotland in August 1942. He arrived in North Africa with his unit in December and drove a half-track. After leaving North Africa, Harper's unit was attached tot he 36th Infantry Division and landed with them at Salerno. Later, he landed at Anzio with the 3rd Infantry Division. After landing at Southern France, Harper received a 90 day furlough beginning in October, 1944. When he was home, he got married. When he returned to his unit, he drove with them into Germany before he was wounded at Nuremburg in April, 1945. He was discharged n …