Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
5:14 | College would have to wait. Roy Rowland was at boot camp getting a different kind of education. At the next training level, he was made assistant driver on a half-track. Then it was on to New Jersey to prepare to ship out but he had enough time there to manage a trip to New York City to meet his fiance.
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Roy Rowland had plans to become a physician but that was interrupted by World War II. Like many college bound young men, he signed up for the ASTP program which would send him to school, after which he would receive a commission. And like all the rest of them, he was instead sent to the infantry to be trained as a replacement.
As he sailed past the Statue of Liberty bound for Europe, Roy Rowland wondered, will I ever make it back? He landed in Le Havre, which was pretty much destroyed. Soon, his armored unit would join the final push across Europe into Germany.
When Roy Rowland faced his first combat, it was a terrifying experience. As his unit pushed into the Ruhr Valley, the worst thing was the German 88's, their versatile and devastating artillery piece.
Roy Rowland was relieved when the captain stopped sending men across the Isar River. Some had crossed already and some of them were trapped on the other side. He doesn't remember volunteering but, somehow, he ended up with two other men going across to search for wounded. For this action, he was awarded the Bronze Star.
The memories of combat were still vivid years later for Roy Rowland, especially the frightening fire from the German 88's. He recalls meeting a German woman who forecast the political alignment coming after the war and a German officer who gave him his pistol.
It was a great feeling of relief. No one wanted to be the last one to die in this war and Roy Rowland remembers those days when potential death was no longer a threat. While waiting to be sent home, he was able to tour Hitler's Eagle Nest retreat.
For Roy Rowland the trip home on the Liberty Ship was much better than the trip over. Resisting the pleas to reenlist, he returned to college to pursue his dream of becoming a physician. After that career, he found another in politics.
He grew up fast when he went to war. Roy Rowland entertained nothing but serious thoughts after that life changing experience. He credits Harry Truman with saving his life and, despite his political career as a Democrat, he has kind words for a Republican president.
