A lot of what you read about soldiers and war is either untrue, derogatory, exaggerated, or boring-take your pick. This book is different from typical military fiction because of the irreverent slant that I have used as your author. I feature bad commissioned officers from West Point and good noncommissioned enlisted men and the struggles that they face whenever they are trying to communicate. My primary protagonist is Sergeant James Homer Hounshell of Jackson, Kentucky, my maternal uncle. My secondary protagonist is Larry Wetzlen (PA) who was injured by a friendly fire and a victim of battle fatigue. Jimmy becomes his nurse for the duration and the storyline is looking after Larry. The antagonist is Second Lieutenant Oscar Karo from Georgia, a man who goes out of his way to make pain for James Homer. Their feud started during basic training and continued until 1945. I'll take you through the major campaigns of WWII, his mysterious death just two days before the final conflict at Magdeburg, his burial at Margraten, and his love affairs. How the mystery of his murder is solved is a very unusual and interesting part. I hope that you enjoy my book.

LOOKING AFTER LARRY

A World War II StoryBy CHARLES HAYS

Trafford Publishing

Copyright © 2012 Charles Hays
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4669-4542-5

Contents

Chapter One PROLOGUE.................................1Chapter Two ADOLESCENCE..............................3Chapter Three FIRST FURLOUGH.........................15Chapter Four HAWAII..................................26Chapter Five OFFICER TRAINING........................38Chapter Six MANEUVERS................................50Chapter Seven FINAL FURLOUGH.........................59Chapter Eight THE CROSSING...........................69Chapter Nine ENGLAND.................................82Chapter Ten D-DAY....................................94Chapter Eleven HEDGEROWS.............................107Chapter Twelve COBRA.................................120Chapter Thirteen ST LO...............................133Chapter Fourteen MORTAIN.............................149Chapter Fifteen BELGIUM..............................161Chapter Sixteen MAASTRICHT...........................174Chapter Seventeen AACHEN.............................185Chapter Eighteen MALMEDY.............................200Chapter Nineteen MAGDEBURG...........................217Chapter Twenty MARGRATEN.............................230Chapter Twenty-one POST WAR..........................243Chapter Twenty-two DIVINE RIGHTS.....................257Chapter Twenty-three MYSTERY.........................272Chapter Twenty-four EPILOGUE.........................286PHOTOGRAPH (1): James Hounshell.......................146PHOTOGRAPH (2): Mother and Son........................146PHOTOGRAPH (3): Maastricht............................147PHOTOGRAPH (4): Germany...............................147PHOTOGRAPH (5): Mack Trucks...........................148PHOTOGRAPH (6): Final Assembly........................148

Chapter One

PROLOGUE

MY MATERNAL UNCLE James Homer Hounshell, was a productive writer. He kept a Journal, wrote regular letters to each member of his large family, to all of his girlfriends, and to several `pen pals' around the entire World. When he wasn't fighting the Nazis, he was usually writing something with his 1929 Remington typewriter. If not, then he would be found inside a village bar and socializing. Jimmy didn't care for the Post Exchanges because the PX's didn't offer any women for sex. They featured fist fights.

Imagine that his half-track is parked while mortar shells are exploding all around him. Some of those mortar hits are too close for comfort where the rookies are concerned, but not Jimmy. He had enough experience to know when to take cover or not. He had good hearing and when the incoming shells came close, he would take cover.

Then, the rookies would immediately follow his lead. Before he ever started the engine of his truck for evasive purposes, he would try to finish what he had begun, another piece of writing, either poetry or prose. Sgt. Hounshell also made a pact with the men under his command that, should he die as a result of WW-II, his Journal would be hand-carried to his nephew, me. This arrangement was necessary so that Jimmy could circumvent the problems that are associated with the US Army Censors.

Previously and, during his last furlough to Jackson, Kentucky, he asked me if I would serve as his surrogate writer. And, I promised him that I would be happy to serve his needs, if possible. And, he was pleased with our agreement. And, eventually, his Journal and all his writings were returned to me by a young survivor from the big City of Louisville, KY whose name was Pvt. William Isaac McDaniel. His kindness to the Hounshell family will never be forgotten. So, this book is being written in honor of Sgt. James Homer Hounshell. I have used my knowledge and ability to place his story before an audience that still appreciates reading World War II literature. Jimmy's storyline takes the reader through what he called the `10,000-Mile-Club' from Kentucky-to-Hawaii-to-Germany. It is a rendering of that classic military struggle between a very talented enlisted man and, his less-than-perfect Commanding Officer, a man by the name of Lieutenant Oscar Karo.

During a typical war time scenario, that kind of a man who had zero leadership qualifications should have been removed from his command position to be given a desk job somewhere in the rear echelons where he would be out of harm's way. However, the officers at the rear didn't want to have anything to do with Karo so, he stayed where he was. So, Jimmy was stuck with him and he was forced to carry Karo on his broad shoulders, so to speak.

Naturally, Karo resented his help and protection so a personal feud was initiated. Their relationship was called the Karo-Hounshell Feud. All of the men around those two people knew about the obvious friction between them. All other officers looked in the opposite direction as they chose to not get involved.

What I am describing to my readership, is the problem that is created by having two men each fighting one War within another War and, simultaneously, at that. When they weren't fighting the Germans, they were fighting each other and that kind of problem was not a good one for the 30th Division. One of the greatest mysteries for the Family to try and resolve was simply stated, "Why didn't someone separate them so, that they could not hurt each other any further?"

Chapter Two

ADOLESCENCE

JAMES AND MYSELF were both products of the Great Depression years dating from 1929-1941. Jimmy was born in 1920 and I was born in 1932 so, that statement merely suggests that we each shared the horrible experience of living at least nine full years during the worst days that this Nation has ever faced.

That particular era of angry, hungry, dispirited, and dejected men, women and children was a horrible time to be alive. Nobody from that time period would ever have asked if they could be born during that awful time. Even if they might have had a controlling say about the issue.

During those years of pure stagnation, there was very little work to be had and people were killing other people for as little as a twenty- five cent coin. Do you find that to be upsetting? In today's World, the going rate for a Mexican hit man is still just $50.00 of US cash money. So, in one sense, not much has really changed since the 1930's. Life is cheap in hard times.

Welfare programs that send out a survival check of about $600.00 per month had not yet been invented and, maybe, that is a good thing. The free cheese and soup that we received back then did not destroy a person's character like those welfare payments of today do. There are families in Eastern Kentucky who will not work because our Government pays them to stay at home. I love my Country but, I hate my Government.

As a child, Jimmy lived in Quicksand, Kentucky which is a small village outside of the nearest town of Jackson, Kentucky. Quicksand became famous in its own right because an entire team of horses and their cargo was lost during one of General John Hunt Morgan's raids in that area. A Yankee supply wagon with guns and ammunition just vanished into the mud. As a result of that deep quagmire activity General Morgan won that skirmish and the Confederacy had high hopes once again.

Jimmy's earlier years of education were received in a single room log cabin that was nestled very near the intersection of what is, today, State Highways 15 and 30. All eleven of his brothers and sisters had also attended that little school at different times, of course.

When he wasn't attending grade...