November 10, 2021 Issue, Page 17 of 18

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November 10, 2021 WWII Veteran recalls his time in Germany last few years, but his life began they crossed the English Channel hundreds of miles away on a farm and landed on Utah Beach, France in Carmi, Ill. He left school for on “D-Day plus 36.” Lowery re- good at age 14 and worked for a membered how one ambulance few different farmers. went before his and “was blown ‘Then, WWII began in 1939 and to smithereens,” as the Germans when Lowery turned 18 on Feb. didn’t respect the Red Cross. 9, 1943, he was drafted into the Lowery says that he worked as a Amny. He says they sent him back combat medic on the frontlines home until May when he went for for six months with no relief. He 17 weeks of basic training, Low- often slept behind the steering ery says that he volunteered to wheel of his ambulance when he be a machine gunner but they put and his orderly weren't going to him in the medical corps. He says the battalion aid stations where he spent six months giving fellow the most badly wounded were to Herman Lowery soldiers shots. He spent around pick them up and take them to the four months in Louisiana before hospitals. “Back and forth, back By Burgundy Lee Hanrahan “they took me out of the medical and forth for 16 or 18 months,” end of it and put me in an ambu- Lowery recalled. He also recalled ‘The National WWII Museum's lance as a driver.” From there he how once, during a ceasefire (the website has a graph that uses sta- went to Texas where he says they US was following the Geneva Con- tistics from the US Department were told that they were “learn- vention), they went into Germany of Veterans Affairs. This graph re- ing to drive and be ready for ‘the to pick up wounded German sol- veals that of the 16 million Ameri- push,” though none of them knew diers and take them to the hospi- can WWII veterans, only 240,329 what that actually was. Once D- tal in Frankfurt. Lowery says that fire on them, leaving them running the driver.” Lowery explained that Come January, Lowery was one of are still living today, and that Day happened, he says they were a lot of Germans were actually for cover. Lowery explained that an ambulance was the only thing 550 who boarded a ship in Mar- number is quickly declining with called and boarded troop trains good to the Americans, he ate with “it scared us all to death at first that could pass a convoy. He also seilles, France to head back to the 234 of those men and women, on to Massachusetts. There 15,000 many of them as they would come but the further you go, the more shared that out there, there were United States. He remembers that average, dying each day. A mere troops got on what Lowery says out and ask him to eat. you get used to death and to the no ranks on any gear or uniforms— it stormed during the journey. He 3,626 of those veterans live in was the second biggest ship in the ‘The WWII Vet shared that almost killings. It was a job that you had rank didn’t matter - they were “all worked in the dispensary onboard Oklahoma; Judy Haught was able world, the USS America, which the everyday was treacherous for he to do and you did it well or as best just alike.” Lowery also explained the ship, saying “I tried to give to speak to one whom she featured Army later renamed the USS West and the orderly that rode with him you could.” He chuckled as he also that at the time that his partner them everything they needed even in her book “Heroes in Our Midst,” Point. It took the ship five days to (Lowery says that the orderly left recalled once having someone get orderly, who was older than him, though I was as sick as they were.” and he graciously agreed to speak reach Liverpool, England. He was before him and he never did see in his ambulance next to him. He left, he himself didn’t have enough After 16 or 17 days, they docked with The Elk City News as well. says he asked the man who he was points to get out. He recalled that in New Jersey. The Corporal says there for three weeks, the driver him again), as he recalled times and was told “I'm in charge here, you had to have 62 points to dis- he remembers walking down the of one of nine ambulances, three that German planes dropped Herman Lowery has lived at the different companies, From there bombs on their convoys or opened I'm the captain.” To which Lowery charge and that you eared so gangplank and looking down into Clinton Veterans Center for the replied, “you're not in charge, I'm many a month, See Lowery page 10. 0 Dur Veterans HONORING OURNATIONS 4ay 110 Access Road, PRESSURE CONTROL 7238. MerrittRd 580-225-6922 Elk City, Honoring all who served Yes Finance 1414 West 3rd Street - 580-225-1525