From: Rees, David B - MONTGOMERY AL [mailto:david_rees@ml.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 4:34 PM
Subject: Veteran's Day

Yesterday was Veteran’s Day and we had a really good parade here. Right up front was Katherine’s father (Jack McLemore) – who turned 93 yesterday. He has some really interesting stories about WWII. He and some SAE fraternity brothers were headed back to Auburn University from Birmingham on December 7, 1941 – turned on the radio and heard Pearl Harbor had been attacked. They enlisted the next day – but, were told not to report until after their sophomore year was over in June, 1942. He served in the Pacific Theater on New Caledonia, Leyte, Peleliu, Solomon Islands and Philippines. Then on to Japan as part of the occupation forces – and home finally in January, 1946 – 3 years and 7 months after enlisting. I told him if I had been on one of those landings I would have had ammunition clips in every pocket and ammunition belts over both shoulders. He said “I did – on the first one – and darn near drowned! After that I just had a clip in my rifle and one in my pocket because once you got on the beach ammunition was everywhere for you”. Never thought of that!!! He has a lot of memories – and tells about the “everyday” things that went on that are interesting. Just how they kept up with everyone in such a huge area life the Pacific was amazing. Jacks answer to that - THEY DIDN’T! Anyway, he is doing pretty well these days. Jack Smith is in the back. Here I am with them (driving) – keep forgetting I’m a “Veteran” too when I’m with these two guys.