Ralph Logan and Melissa Smith
Description
Ralph, a World War 2 veteran, was interviewed by Melissa, an veteran’s organization leader about his service during World War 2.Participants
- Ralph Logan
- Melissa Smith
Venue / Recording Kit
Tier
Partnership Type
OutreachKeywords
Transcript
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00:07 My name is Melissa Smith. I'm 36 years old today is March 12th, 2009 or Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and I'm here with Ralph Logan who is a veteran that attends my veterans group that I hold once a month at the shepherd center.
00:28 Hi, my name is Ralph Logan.
00:31 I am 84 years old.
00:34 Today is March 12th 2009.
00:40 And here in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
00:44 And I am being interviewed by Melissa Smith who?
00:51 Is a chairperson of our veterans group at the shepherd center?
00:57 So Ralph your 84 years old how you are a very
01:04 Young looking 84. What do you attribute that to?
01:17 That's
01:20 Doing the right thing treat people the same as you would like to be treated nice.
01:27 Nice way to do it.
01:29 So tell me about I've never smoked so much one person.
01:37 In my day, I guess it maybe I have to consume too much alcohol at times but then
01:46 Good medicine. So you and I know each other to the veterans fellowship and we talked a lot about your service and one of the most fascinating things to me about you is that you served during World War II not only in that war but in the Battle of the Bulge, can you talk a little bit about that and your experience as well?
02:15 The start with my first
02:18 Thought on war is it worries at all?
02:22 And to me I cannot see why we ever have wars, but without them for years and years. So I think we'll probably have them for a few more years.
02:38 So happened that we were
02:45 Assigned to the battle what they later called the Battle of the Bulge.
02:51 Which way is one of the worst conditions. I don't understand how we ever ever won that war because it was so cold you were lucky to be to exist.
03:08 And you didn't the best you could to help your buddies and they helped you and as a result the some of the conditions.
03:19 They are were just absolutely horrible. Even as far as his food knows, you know, I remember eating cold has you can have fires to heat the food and cold.
03:38 Why me Lord cash, which was the worst thing you could think of I think they're eating. It's no wonder people adding extra money other health problems at the same time beside trying to fight the war but it was
04:00 And that was it and you did the best you could not like I said, we're very fortunate to survive. When when are you going to came off online from the Battle of the Bulge in 38 of us left out of it approximately 200. So it was difficult people and their uses their feet, you know and Frozen feet and toes and and and and live feed a potatoes and things like that, but
04:42 Hey was just
04:45 Darwin you had it handed to the Germans because they were they had far Superior Equipment. And in many cases they were trained better because when it came to the Battle of the Bulge and there was a lack of of the Infantry soldiers for the front line.
05:12 And anyone who wishes you might stay warm.
05:18 Was pressed into service are due to do what they could and then and many of the men had been old and they should have been for us because I had bad feet to start with the things I said she thinks it's at you know, what? Yeah, I guess the 90s young fools who didn't know any better. We we survived.
05:43 So for those that don't that don't know much about the Battle of the Bulge you say that you handed to the Germans. They should have one. Can you just how did we win? I think it's in the
05:59 Please
06:02 Just did the American.
06:07 People in the fact that they're going to survive and they're going to come out now this winter so is it will result we came out as winners perseverance.
06:25 You mentioned you were one of 38 survivors out of 200 people. What do you attribute that to?
06:35 I guess good. Lord was looking after me. I'd say is number one because I can't I can't say that. Well, I realize it that, you know, maybe a lot of those people who who are heading to.
06:51 Frozen feet I remember when we used to have two pair of socks and we keep one in her and up against their stomach and under a clothing and keep that warm and then at night when we were in a foxhole would massage your feet and change socks and put the put the one pair back in there for the next night. Hopefully you survived another day and you'd have a chance to change him again, but I think it's in general the American Soldier he was
07:28 Hey was going to persevere and come out on top.
07:33 And as a result that I got to get what you want did it because
07:40 It was just horrible conditions, even though the fight sometimes you can't even dig up rocks or what ground was frozen and you lay something down or anything. You could find sometimes the ammunition and lay it lay on it and cuddle up in with your overcoats on over two or three of you so that you could take advantage of each others body heat.
08:07 That done
08:10 It's it's really really.
08:13 I think you'd have to be there to really appreciate that. What what the conditions were you can imagine yourself even here. If you were home when there's a snow heavy snow in a blizzard. You try to go down and walk down the street just think sometimes that oh my gosh, you know, you can't wait until you get into some kind of shelter. Well, it wasn't any shelter there most of the time it is and just stay with your sister alone.
08:45 But then I think Hitler was smart enough to know that that was the best time to break somebody's morale down when they when they had those conditions to did wet fight Andhra.
09:01 Were you drafted into the war or did you volunteer?
09:16 19790 North Route 18, I guess.
09:20 And how did that interrupt your life?
09:23 Where were you when you were 18 when I was 18 when I work?
09:29 And when I got out of out of high school and that you would like me and many other students said they didn't have any money. So you just want to see if you couldn't find a job while I ended up with what I thought was pretty good job. I like electrician's Apprentice worked in the printing industry in Philadelphia and then
09:56 Free contractor are in Philadelphia and I thought one of those Justice was a good thing that we have learned that trade, you know and make something out of yourself with that as a result one has come to
10:16 Hey opportunity or needed needed to Soak City just went through on that ended up being drafted and I want in a night. I kind of thought well, maybe I could do something but I ended up in the Infantry, which would probably the worst.
10:34 If it's a car services shift, like if he ever select but you didn't have a choice if you are warm and they needed somebody there. That's where you were.
10:46 When you found out you were going to be drafted. I figured my just like everything. I was trying to get my number came up. So you know you
10:59 Hayward serve your country to Country needed you. So as a result you you want that's what I do when I got world did I felt the same thing? Will my number came up on it was my turn, you know.
11:13 Were you scared at all? I mean you were 18 when you knew you were going to be leaving.
11:19 No, I can't say it was.
11:22 No, I
11:25 Hi. I thought I was a trained and that was
11:31 I could I could do the job. Just go ahead and do what you're selling to do.
11:40 How is your family respond when you were drafted?
11:44 My father been in World War II
11:49 That about you going to World War 1 and it's Agni way that was supposed to be the board and all wars, you know well and that didn't work out. So here you go here. We are World War II.
12:03 Hopefully we don't saving man and I and I felt it was your duty to go serve you known and I just felt it. Well, never knowing what I did always.
12:15 Just glad that I could go and my father went to France and thankfully he was able to return without me and we'll get her anything. Well, I wasn't quite that lucky I got wounded but at least a lot of those fellows and I never made it back. They died right there and I always since it fell, I'm glad I went because hopefully my son want when it went out the dude do serving service and go to war.
12:59 How long did you serve before you were wounded?
13:04 I guess.
13:06 I'd been.
13:11 Probably a year-and-a-half anyway.
13:17 You get winded what happens?
13:19 Well after after the battle of the balls and shit in the unit was pulled back and and Reese Taft. I got more Personnel replacement and at April 3rd 28th, and 75th infantry divisions were assigned to the French first Army to go down to the what they call the Colmar pocket.
13:46 Do this was the last German stronghold on this side of the Rhine?
13:53 And so we went down there and
13:57 I do I change the Germans across the Rhine going back and
14:05 The way you were attacked and
14:10 App and we're witches to do with that small village are in the I remember we always the Germans had been in that they're not able to push him out.
14:26 And that nut way, I remember laying in the mall that died down. There was a little warmer in a little muddy area wasn't wasn't quite as cold as it was up in the balls and
14:43 We got into town and push the germs out and we've moved into to some of the homes there.
14:52 And the one the one that was in there not had his Squad there and I had to and a guy from Texas Hill on.
15:05 Just join join the outfit.
15:09 And was assigned to my squad and that I guess maybe 2 or 3 days before we've made this attack on that happened where?
15:18 And then there is there's a case of yours and here's a guy at
15:25 The wife and two kids
15:29 And you're an amazing leader and I'm 20 years old and I
15:37 And we went in to this house and after we push the Germans out and so we were in there waiting for orders to to proceed.
15:51 And the Germans didn't actually knew where are all the Bella twins wearing that they just left the place. So as a result, they they threw the ath in there and then
16:07 Hit the Bell magazine. That's when one Hill and I both got hit.
16:14 And a helmet
16:19 Head and he was crying and hollering.
16:26 And I thought my God, he's really got hit bad, you know.
16:33 And my case my my right leg was just burning up.
16:40 But I yelled for the Medics to get medics in in my
16:48 One of my buddies I yelled for him to come up because I knew we did we need more help there.
16:56 And so we got the Magic Johnson from Massachusetts. He came up.
17:03 And he took care of the Hill Aaron got anymore.
17:08 Straighten out and then they gave me a shot of morphine cut with my boot off my foot, you know, and my foot was just dang on I could so I couldn't walk so they help me when I get on the hood of a Jeep and then I took his Pactiv the bat Battalion medic Transformers bad guys that to another
17:32 Another hospital and
17:38 But I I kind of wanted to talk my own that shit, you know, and like I said before your your your number is up. I hear some people were very fortunate and we're able to go through the whole war with that knife thing it.
18:02 I don't know. Maybe maybe I had the idea. Well, this was
18:08 This is the end for me because a lot of people, you know, some people shot their self, you know, just just to get out of those horrible conditions, but I I never never give that any thought you know, but I figured while I guess it this is it this is it meaning it's time for me to come home for me to go back in and then go
18:36 Get fixed up and go home later. I found out you went back to
18:49 To him. I had a night to back hospital and then naturally I'd been all doped up and
18:59 About the only thing I remember was it the one I
19:03 I was in the game the right side laying on that stretcher there and I look at the back of the wind of the ambulance in the driver said you look at their he said you look down that Street Derry. Did you see the Eiffel Tower?
19:17 And I sure why did not sweet and great. You know, what the first General Hospital on in Paris and
19:27 Oh man, I had been operated on up and Rambler or fillers.
19:34 And when I woke up there and I understand it was a French barracks.
19:43 But then
19:45 I want to look up I remember the doctor coming on setting to to me already said don't worry. We'll fix you up in no time. Will you be back with your buddies? You know, that's good because you really is not the well, that's what you were there for it and I'll maybe you should baby. Hey, I was just did you see Mickey Rooney Mickey Rooney was here when that great night. I've often thought later that there really was Mickey Rooney. There. Was that just Psychology today to boost you didn't say. Yeah. You can short time. You going to be back with your buddies? Well,
20:27 And then then they transferred me out of there today the first general and
20:32 And I think you when I did not time that did the blood from my wound had been set yet.
20:44 I like that take the bandages off and I thought that was the worst feeling I think of the whole whole thing as it was it was hell when the when I want my leg was burning up, you know, they gave me a shot of morphine and and kind of they put two and banishes up in the out in the field like that for when I took the bandage off after the operation there man. I thought that's the worst one of the worst feelings. I ever had shot a big big big hole on the back of my leg.
21:29 And look at 8 decided they couldn't do anything at the first general and they were going to have to send me back in. This is normal routine. You know that you just got going back and back until they could get somebody to take care of you. So I went back to do it to England and they operate it again. I don't know. I think I have that it had about 10 operations over and at one time it was it was such a big hole in my leg that they consider amputation fortunately. I put me on a liberty ship and sent me back to the States and down and
22:12 And I want to
22:15 Melissa it might appreciate that. I came into Camp Myles Standish in Boston and they said no. Yeah. Well we can send you the Atlantic City or or Martinsburg West Virginia. Where would you know, where would you like to go that? Where would you think I would learn that? I think he went to Atlantic City Atlantic City at the moment. You need my friend to come down and visit me and so forth and so on. Well, I'm actually I got assigned it shipped down to Martinsburg, West, Virginia.
22:54 There it was a very interesting because
23:04 They said that they were after performing a what's it called Krauss lay flat cuz the whole was so big they got to take the fortune off my good lighting and so are the ones the other leg and then then cut it off and I was at 27 days. I was in both legs in it.
23:28 The cast and never that was most important thing day. Did you try to hit Charlotte Levens in next conditions? But how do you effectively on or are you still affected with it with fire Lego? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
23:50 I did I did. All right live in Wilmington Delaware and I did it was a Red Coach the VA hospital. They are not good at that good care there, but I come down here to
24:04 The Winston-Salem I I have yet I have trouble with the what's up like you on time Aaron?
24:13 I had that and got the right combination to to make a field what I think it way. I think it should be I would say it 84 years old and after 10, you're doing pretty well.
24:35 I'll tell you what's the matter with you, you know.
24:40 Sao I am I said, I'd I got a bad like you're not and then if I if I really know I'm all set yet. I'll trade you right legs now. I'm living down here in Winston-Salem and I see a lot of these people on the summer younger than I have it don't get around as good as I do, you know, and I I kind of feel it well.
25:05 Which we're doing. Alright, I get some I don't have too many more years to go.
25:12 I always am always so fascinated by World War II veterans who not only remember the names of the people that they serve with but they always
25:24 Associate them with a city, you know, you mentioned the guy from Texas or the guy from Massachusetts. I should say statement City.
25:36 How does that happen? I mean the connection is so there or it's on visit describe I feel and then it's amazing that you bring that up because in the Squire in the squad.
25:53 And I just don't last.
25:56 Couple weeks. I'll talk to.
25:59 To at least three guys at that survived. I got the two guys that didn't get get moved at all. And then another guy I think he's down here in Gastonia Roy Mitchell.
26:13 Hue, I remember the one that you said that
26:18 Mitchell got hit
26:21 And I had a I was taking a fox hole in one side the road and he was on the other side.
26:29 And I would crawl crawl across the road and Mitchell was laying alongside of that I have is the Foxhole.
26:38 And he was bleeding from head to toe.
26:47 God God my God help him because I know you didn't know whether I liked that can cause you had a lot of stomach stomach wounds.
27:00 And then just a couple weeks ago. I got down and see him.
27:07 Another guy in
27:09 An Iowa, he just went into a nursing home. Everybody called me the other week and the other another guy from Kentucky joke Pat and get the to get to talk to him every now and then, you know, but I have a ritual more or less of the
27:31 On the Christmas Eve or the week before Christmas call him again to say while we made it another year. We fortunate that, you know, because so many of our buddies never come back you huh?
27:51 And you you see that there.
27:55 You go over. I've been back for three times and visited no more cemeteries. And you see with Relafen row of white crosses in.
28:06 Hey. I think more or less it comes to my attention this why why did they have to
28:17 Sacrifice set
28:20 And you're wanting it.
28:23 And I and our family are.
28:29 Logan Steiner we had three three of us serve in the 75th Division in fact, and he come to ye of the 291st and
28:46 P.m.
28:49 He was shipped out of Camp Breckinridge is a as a replacement to the hundredth division it and you are and then Melvin he
29:01 He graduated from high school. I think I can.
29:06 Drafted him right away and he got killed man in Germany in April of 45. He could he must have joined the outfit, you know after I got hit because we never had the association of seeing each other in Europe.
29:26 How to feel
29:37 For the past has it has affected you for the past 60 years.
29:45 I don't know. I think it really is it when I think of it. I think I've been blessed cuz I've had a pretty good life and even when I came out and when I stable to go back to school and and then I had a pretty good job and they able to work all these years and then the fight.
30:07 And here really I've been retired 23 years and I've lived a good life.
30:17 It's been a few years there. Like you said you've been to Snowbird and
30:22 And now I'm
30:25 Here in Winston-Salem for till the end. I guess you
30:31 Life's been good.
30:33 Even even though it's been up and down, you know, especially you know, and it's the way things are today with the economy and everything. You need to see people.
30:46 The other sacrifice in this and that new think well, I remember we did that during the Depression, you know it if you do what you have to do it, you know, I tell you make the best of it. I was just telling somebody last night. I said there's a
31:03 There's something lacking now because in the depression that like I said, my father was in World War 1 and those veterans.
31:14 I think she's stuck together.
31:17 Men, trying to help each other more than than happening today, you know people today or sure there are suffering and you can see that good long life food lights and everything people are helping each other out, but I don't think there was that bond that there was was in the depression from my stay in fortnite.
31:39 Do you have any ideas as to why that is because of the
31:44 The war that they're coming back from it was a little different than the war. You came back from more rewards different and
31:54 Eye doctor takes it to
31:59 If you look at the condition of some of the individuals today that have lost so many of my four off Limbs and have the psychological problems.
32:20 Yeah, I don't I don't think we really
32:25 The position yet, let their appreciate all the problems that and I think maybe Melissa in your field you you couldn't
32:38 Six panel door, that's more than I could but I take it he
32:43 So many so many of these young veterans are psychological you guys head shape and handle them properly.
33:04 We only have a few more minutes and
33:13 Okay, I wanted to
33:17 Maybe have you just finished up talking about your relationship with CD one of the other veterans that comes to the group and just how important that relationship is to you and and maybe just a few things that you all have done together.
33:39 Well, as you know it CG and I'll write it served in the same division and and he was Annie company and I was in there and I never knew CG until we took a trip than 2,000 back to you work.
33:56 And that I wanted don't know strip where we got to know each other and she's all right. He was from Winston-Salem how yeah, yeah. I said my son lives in Winston-Salem.
34:09 Come to find out they go to the same church, you know and then it when I would visit my son at one time he got us together, you know, and I would least it's Christmas. I would correspond with CJ and find out how he still doing everything in.
34:31 And since I moved here while he's he's the one that I had not been quite active in veterans groups in in Delaware, but I came down here and CG said well we go over to shepherd center stuff. So he is the one that got me the shepherd center with him, you know, and and we're become quite friendly now that
35:02 But do I'm living here and he always said how I'm glad he was when he heard that I had moved in Winston-Salem.
35:15 Do you talk about the past or not so much. I would say so because of
35:26 I guess it's the kind of conditions were they were such in the in the Battle of Bulge?
35:35 Let them
35:38 I don't think anybody can unless they've been there. They had no idea what that what it was like then you heard it will tell the story about milk on the couch.
35:53 I remember that I put the cooler and it was a Belgian Army Barracks is where we were stationed then and we were set up to the Ravine are where they expecting the Germans to.
36:11 Do attacked by Erickson. Remember one of one of our guys were they when they shall the barracks one guy? I remember losing his arm their birthday and she Gmail quit milking the cows, you know, you got to have a shoe some of the things.
36:41 A lot of veterans in our group do Towson very funny stories very funny stories.
36:52 I would say absolutely. Yes. Yeah.
36:59 And I think for many years you know that.
37:03 Hey, did you have went to numerous? I think maybe first?
37:11 Maybe until about mid 70s before I got to go back to many of these reunions and they would go back.
37:23 More and more of the stories
37:27 Will come out, you know, and you tend to open up and I think when you open up and tell him how certain things, you know, you you kind of feel.
37:39 Feel nice sharing your your thoughts with somebody else and find out they had the same or or or Worse Maybe.
37:55 Well
37:56 What would you say is was the best moment about your service or the best moment of your service?
38:08 Leaving and coming back here getting out.
38:19 Hi.
38:21 I don't know like here you probably hear many of them to say well.
38:26 We went take about $11 for work, but we wouldn't want to do it again. And that's that's pretty much sums it up.
38:35 You did what you had to do and you start to your room.
38:39 Burn service of your country
38:43 Well, we thank you for it.
38:46 Are you quite not going to thank you. I thought I thought sounds to me. Like I've done that done most of the talkin and I thought you were going to ask me about 50 years thousand questions in the hoodie that you hadn't asked that many questions. Thanks Mister Logan cute.