‘From then on, things changed’

BY MICHAEL J. RUDOLF

Wyoming County Press Examiner

TUNKHANNOCK - As commander of a machinists' unit, Francis Turner of Tunkhannock fought his way across Europe during World War II, from landing on the beach at Normandy to occupying Berlin.

Turner received numerous commendations for his service, including the Silver Star and the Bronze Star, two of the highest honors the U.S. Army awards.

While a young man living in Centerville, near Pittsburgh, Turner enlisted the Army in January 1941. The United States was not yet embroiled in the war that had taken over Europe. Turner said he knew he would inevitably be drafted, so he signed up.

Turner was on guard Fort Belvoir, Va., when Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec. 7, 1941.

"When I got off duty and I got back to the barracks, everyone was gathered around the radio. From then on, things changed," he said.

"I suspected my three-year enlistment might be longer."

Turner headed off to officer candidate school, and a few months later became a combat engineer lieutenant.

After amphibious training in the Chesapeake Bay, Turner - then with the Second Armored Division - was dispatched to north Africa. They landed near Casablanca.

"I think that was the first amphibious landing of the U.S. Army," he recalled.

His engineering platoon was responsible for unloading ships off the coast. While there, the ships came under enemy fire.

"I know what it's like to be on a ship that's hit by a torpedo," Turner said.

He recalled that during the attack, his men lost most of their off-duty clothing. The troops later took shore leave in Casablanca, but were soon sent back to the ship. Turner said as their commander, he received a dressing down from the commanding general for allowing his men to go on leave without proper uniforms.

After helping to train troops for the Battle of Sicily, Turner was re-assigned to England to prepare for the D-Day invasion in 1943. At first, he thought his role would be mundane - he served as a PX and mess officer.

That soon changed, and Turner returned to an engineering unit. He was part of the second wave that landed at Normandy, coming ashore on Omaha Beach two days after D-Day. He explained that the Allies had to establish a beachhead before heavy armor such as tanks could be sent over.

Turner's unit advanced across northern France, and became the first Army combat unit to enter Belgium. He said his unit advanced so quickly the supply lines couldn't keep up.

"We ran out of gas," he recalled. With the tanks unable to advance, the Germans had time to re-establish their fortifications. The unit had to backtrack, and eventually aided in the conclusion of the Battle of the Bulge.

During that conflict, Turner said a friend of his in the unit was among those killed. He and Lt. Cecil McMahon of Alabama met on their original crossing of the Atlantic and became close.

"I used to play chess with him aboard the ship," Turner remembered.

As the unit later advanced through Belgium and across northern Germany, Turner said other men under his command whom he was close to lost their lives. As their commander, he said he felt the angst, but had to put it aside.

"You get a little sorrowful that you lost somebody that's important to you, but you have to go on," he said.

The unit almost constantly faced enemy fire, Turner noted.  But he recalled a time it seemed his troops were under attack by Americans as well.

The day after Christmas 1944 was exceptionally cold and clear, Turner remembered, and it was the first opportunity in some time for the Army Air Corps to join in the conflict due to weather. He said his unit spotted a column of German troops just ahead of it, so his men held their ground while a squadron of P-38s strafed the enemy.

The planes flew over, then turned around to fire on the Germans from the opposite direction. In doing so, however, the gunfire would occasionally bounce off German tanks toward the Allied line.

"The bullets they were firing were going right over our heads," Turner said.

The war in Europe officially ended as Turner's unit made its way across Germany. The troops continued on and joined other Allied units in the occupation of Berlin.

The camaraderie of the unit did leave some positive memories, Turner said. He described his troops as having "a reputation of being a hard-drinking outfit."

For example, while preparing to cross the Rhine, a mess sergeant came upon a German winery. Turner said the sergeant found a truck, loaded it with empty water cans and drove back to the winery.

"Every squad in the company had about 15 gallons of wine to drink," Turner said.

Following the war, Turner maintained his military connection in the Army Reserve, eventually attaining the rank of major. He trained for active duty during the Korean War, but his unit wasn't shipped overseas then.

He said over the years, he has attended many reunions of his unit, but it wasn't until relatively recently that he felt comfortable talking about the experience to outsiders - including his family.

Turner said he has kept in contact with several friends he made while serving in Europe. For example, he said just last week he spoke with Lt. Fred Smith of Tennessee, who received his battlefield commission while a sergeant under Turner's command.

"I gave him bars off of my own uniform so he'd have a set," Turner recalled.

Next year, Turner said he and the other surviving members of the Second Armored Division have been invited back to Belgium for ceremonies marking the 65th anniversary of the liberation. He said he is excited about returning, knowing the Belgians are extremely grateful to the Allied forces.