Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
6:52 | New mess sergeant Johnny Caldwell faced a challenge on the Atlantic crossing when he was put in charge of the kitchen on the ship. He was a member of an anti-aircraft battery which was deployed inland six days after D-Day.
Keywords : Johnny Caldwell Pardon D. Watson SS Uruguay kitchen anti-aircraft 40mm gun 50mm gun D-Day France mess sergeant air strip England rain Omaha Beach Cherbourg Women's Army Corps (WAC)
When Johnny Caldwell arrived at Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts for basic training, the Southern boy stepped into waist deep snow. Within days, he was in the hospital with frozen feet. Seeking an alternate path in the military, he became a mess sergeant, much to the delight of his commanders who were getting an upgrade in the kitchen.
When food supplies got tight shortly after D-Day, mess sergeant Johnny Caldwell drove his newly commandeered truck right back to Omaha beach and loaded up with food at the source. Later. his anti-aircraft unit was stationed in Belgium and the advancing enemy force from the Battle of the Bulge was getting near.
