Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Major: I had two cousins, Selby and Orsey Johnson who grew up in Archer City TX. When WW II was declared both were drafted or joined the US Army. Selby wound up as a sgt and was in the Red Ball Express, and Orsey way in the infanty and fought his way all the way from the D.Day invasion all the way through France and was severly wounded at the Battle of Bastogne.

Orsey said one time he came upon a French home, or chateaux, and went and opened the door. When he did he saw this dirty soldier pointing a weapon at him. He fired a burst and ran. After not hearing anything or seeing anyone, he creeps aback and he had just shot the hell out of a full length mirror in the hall opposite the door!

He said they were in fox holes with about 2 feet of ice and water when the Panzer tanks broke through and were firing phosphrous shells and flame throwers. He was put on fire and had to dunk himself in the bottom of his fox hole to put out his overcoat. A shell hit a tree close by and that was the last he remembered until waking up in a French hospital.

Since Selby could not write to him directly, they would trade correspondence by writing their parents who would then forward their letters. Selby asked Orsey why they were blowing up everything as they advanced. Orsey said, "You come up here and you will see why we have to blow up everything!"

When the war was over and both got home, they put their wives and children in their car and came to our house to visit. They arrived around midnight, and we stayed up the rest of the night telling stories and singing old 1940's era songs.

It wasn't two months until Orsey was working as a derrick man on a drilling rig, which the derrick crashed and killed him. Amazing that he would be able to survive all that combat and then die from a rig accident! Just Sayin...RJS

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

What a shame!

crystalbeachbum Loc: Crystal Beach, TX (on the Bolivar Pennisula)

Robert, I mentioned once before that until I retired 3 years ago, we had a ranch near Gainesville, TX for 20 years. My 2 youngest sons worked for Joe Wallace at North Texas Marine for a number of years. One was service manager and the other a rigger & engine tech. Your partner must have been Dick Wallace. My son has an original bomber bait in the original package. Small world.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

crystalbeachbum: Yes, Dick Wallace was my partner and his son is Joe. When I was there in the late 1950's Joe was just a little kid that asked a million questions every day. Guess that's how he learned enough to make the place a success. After I left, Joe went to UNT and when he came back to North Texas Marine he turned things around.

In the early years, Dick and I gave away too much of our profit to get a trade. When Joe came, he installed computer programs that itemized everything on one program so nothing was given away by mistake. Then he had another program that solicited the best financing, which at the time was far better than financing a car.

I heard that at one time, North Texas was the largest Evinrude dealer west of the Mississippi. And they would take all the bass boats that were used in bass fishing contests and sell them as slightly used demos. He is entitiled to take the credit for their success because he has earned it! They now have a second operation in Fort Worth that Joe's two sons operate.

I dug the trenches for the foundation of NTM, but Joe Wallace made it a success! Just Sayin...RJS

crystalbeachbum Loc: Crystal Beach, TX (on the Bolivar Pennisula)

Thx for that brief bit of history. I new Joe fairly well and he indeed have a successful business. My youngest son who was the rigger got valuable training there and today is a major player at Texas Marine in Clear Lake. Thx for sharing

crystalbeachbum Loc: Crystal Beach, TX (on the Bolivar Pennisula)

Thx for that brief bit of history. I new Joe fairly well and he indeed have a successful business. My youngest son who was the rigger got valuable training there and today is a major player at Texas Marine in Clear Lake. Thx for sharing

herman49

Dad, WW1, oldest brother





ww2, Next older brother and myself, Korea, Oldest son was a Marine for 8 years. We are very familiar with where do we find such men. Anchors away and hoorah.

cyclops Loc: Lexington, N.C.

my dad, a retired Sgt.Maj. of the Marines is in his 80's now, the stories he could tell could be endless, I always found it funny when one farted he would say ' keep hollering Lt. we'll find you'....

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

cylops: Hoss, you need to get those stories captured before he passes. If you aren't comfortable with recording them on your PC, Amazon has solid state recorders for less than $20. They work great have a lot of memory, the only objection i have is they are so small! People frequently are guilty of putting off getting their stories recorded in some fashion, and then it is suddenly too late. Don't wait! Just Sayin...RJS

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

X2

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

God Bless them one and all. They served above and beyond the call of duty, or pay grade. Just Sayin...RJS

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

I just watched a documentary on WW1 on the British side with actual old never before seen before film footage From new recruits joining and training before the war to the finish. Dam the actual mutilated bodies in the trenches and "NO-Mans land was horrendous. The gas of all types. I remember meeting my Exes's Grandmothers husband in Greeley, Co back in the 60s, he was a WW1 vet with terrible lungs and bad smokers cough from the gas.