Herbert P. Orth

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Herbert P. Orth

United States Army 528th Field Artillery
Battalion 1944-1946
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Growing Up

• Born November 3, 1922
• Corporal in the United States Army
• Dates of Service 1944-1946
• Served in World War II in Germany

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Growing Up

• Born in Preston, IA
• Drafted into the military at age 21
• Left on his birthday
• 2 older brothers in the military

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Training

• Drafted into the war
• Trained in Fort Hood, Texas for 10 days
• Learned how to shoot and clean the 155mm Long Tom
• Herb told us that the training was a great help
  in the actual combat experience

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Overseas

• Shipped overseas from New York to England
• Weapons were shipped to France
• Waited a month for the weapons to arrive in
  England
• Eventually taken to Germany to actually fight in
  WWII

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Souvenirs from Germany
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Souvenirs from Germany
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A German Family Background

• Family moved to America from Germany before Herb
  was born
• Herbs father was a member of the German Army but
  went AWOL
• Fought parents hometown
• Suspected that extended family was part of the
  German Army
• Family spoke German at home

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Interpreting

• Helped battalion with translation between them
  and civilians
• Dialects were different in various areas of
  Germany

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155mm Long Tom Gun

• 15 people/ gun
• Herb sighted it horizontally
• Shells weighed 98lbs
• Had 360 degree range of fire
• Had to keep your mouth open when gun was fired to
  protect ears

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ClipWounded
1849
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ClipNo Food
2434
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ClipCivilian Friend
2828
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ClipGeneral Patton
3513
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Homecoming

• Rode a ship home
• Held 5000 people and was 5 decks high
• Had to dump food overboard when they got back
• Appreciates his daily shower

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And the little rewards