World War II Honoree

Emery W. Heuermann

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Conroe, Texas

Honored By

Emery W. Heuermann, Jr.

Relationship

Son

MY DAD SERVED IN THE ARMY IN AND AROUND THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AS A TRUCK DRIVER IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF INFANTRY. HE HAULED 5 GALLON FUEL CANS AND AMMUNITION MOSTLY. HE CAME UNDER ATRACK SEVERAL TIMES INCLUDING 1 INCIDENT OF HIS TRUCK BEING BLOWN UP BY ENEMY AIR FORCE. HE LIVED BECAUSE HE WAS ON THE WAY BACK FROM THE CHOW LINE TO HIS TRUCK WHEN THE ATTACK BEGAN AND HE DOVE INTO A KITCHEN TRASH DUMP HOLE. HE WAS CUT MANY PLACES BY THE TIN CAN LIDS FOLDED OUTWARD. HE SAID HE ALMOST DROWNED BECAUSE THE HOLE WAS HALF FULL OF WATER. SEVERAL MEN KILLED THIS INCIDENT, ONE WAS HIS BEST FRIEND, ANOTHER TRUCK DRIVER. TRUCKERS TRAVELLED IN PAIRS AND ONLY ONE COULD BE IN THE CHOW LINE AT A TIME. THIS HAPPENED ON LUZON ISLAND AS I REMEMBER. HE HAULED DEAD JAPANESES NUMEROUS TIMES TO BURIAL PITS. HE ALWAYS HAD RESPECT FOR THE DEAD ENEMY. WHEN HE FIRST GOT THERE HE CARRIED AMERICAN DEAD SOLDIERS ONE TIME FROM THE BATTLEFIELD BUT GOT IN TROUBLE BECAUSE HIS TRUCK WASN'T 'CLEAN', MEANING HIS TRUCK HAD PREVIOUSLY CARRIED JAPANESE DEAD AND WAS OFF LIMITS TO CARRYING AMERICAN DEAD. HE HAD TO PAINT A RED X ON THE FRONT AND BACK BUMPER. MY DAD WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED. OF INTEREST, HE WAS ALWAYS PROUD THAT HE HAD TRANSPORTED AMERICAN DEAD FROM THE FRONT LINE TO THE REAR AT LEAST ONE TIME. IT WAS THE ONLY TIME HE EVER CARRIED AMERICAN DEAD IN THREE YEARS.