>> If that's okay with you.
>> It's okay.
>> Thank you for your patience.
>> You're good.
>> Thanks. This is James Newberry.
I'm here with Harry Anton on Thursday March 24th,
2016, at the Sturgis Library
at Kennesaw State University.
And Mr. Anton, do you agree to this interview?
>> Yes.
>> Thank you again. We'll start at the beginning.
If you could state your full name.
>> Harry, initial J. Anton.
>> And what does that J stand for?
>> Well, I don't like to say it,
but it was my name for a while in grade school,.
Junior because I really wasn't named at my birth.
And then when I found that out when I applied for
a passport because a birth certificate
is one thing you had to have.
So I had no name.
I had to get affidavits from different people,
an army discharged and all
to prove what my name really was.
So I don't use it. I use the name Harry.
I've used the name Harry since the fifth grade.
>> I see. So Mr. Anton,
tell me when and where were you born?
>> Paynesville, Minnesota,
little town, central Minnesota.
>> And what's your birthday?
>> November 17th, 1923.
>> Now, you didn't stay in Minnesota?
>> No, when I was five years old, we were on the farm.
We moved to Waterloo,
Iowa, which was closer to all the relatives,
which were from Port City Iowa,
which is a little town about 15 miles out of Waterloo,
but we moved to Waterloo.
>> Can you describe the farm for me?
>> It was 160 acres on the east side of Waterloo,
just an average farm.
>> What sort of crops did you grow,
or did you raise animals?
>> No. It was mostly crops;
corn, soybeans and oats.
Some of them were for feed for our own animals,
but we found out after we moved there
that all of our horses
died and there was a disease in the barn.
So we had to farm a tractor.
All farming with tractor.
>> What were your parents' names?
>> My dad's name was Harry.
That's where the junior came from.
Had two middle names,
Harry Byron Jacob Anton.
Mother's name was Adaline [phonetic].
>> And they farmed for a living?
>> Farm, yes.
>> They didn't do other jobs?
>> No.
>> So did you have siblings?
>> I had two brothers, both older.
One was 10years older than I and the other 14.
Both are dead now.
>> You were going to say something?
>> I don't know what it was.
>> So where did you go to school?
>> Farm school.
Probably went to all eight grades in
the one room country school.
>> Did you learn alongside students that were other ages?
>> All one room we had eight grades in one room.
And you would be called for recitation up to
the front and other students had to do their
studying while recitations were
going on because it was eight grades.
>> Do you remember any of your teachers there?
>> I remember one.
Probably, I think was
my last teacher I had in country school,
but I don't know her name.
>> So when did you graduate from school?
>> Well, let's see. I started when I was
five years old and for five years,
went to that school and then we
transferred and went to a different farm,
different location five years later.
So let's see, 1929,
I started grade school in 1929.
So it'd be eight years after
that I graduated from country school
and went to junior high down in town of Waterloo.
>> So you started high school in Waterloo?
>> Went through high school in Waterloo.
>> What type of school was that?
>> The high school? Waterloo was
a town of about 70,000 small town.
And we had two high schools;
East Waterloo and West Waterloo,
and river split the city.
So East Waterloo,
and it's still there.
>> So what year did you graduate
from East Waterloo High School?
>> That would have been
12 years after 1929.
'40 or
'41.
>> Now, what did you know
about the war going on in Europe at that time?
>> Well, the war started in December of '41.
I joined the army and enlisted in
the army in March of '42.
>> So what are your memories of
the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December of '41?
>> I remember the day well.
It was a Sunday and I was
outside fooling around with a baseball,
throwing it up and down and catching it.
And I remember hearing the news over the radio.
I thought, well, we'll get those guys in a hurry.
I remember Roosevelt's speech about
declaring war on Germany,
but I don't remember
anything other than listening to that.
>> So when did you enlist?
>> In March of 1942.
>> And what motivated you to enlist at that time?
>> There was the general motors was
coming through the Midwest and
getting volunteers to form
a base ordinance and supply depot.
I enlisted in that because here's a chance to
get into the army without going to the infantry.
I didn't want to go to the infantry,
so that is a part of
the story and in the end of my story.
>> What is an ordinance and supply depot?
>> It repairs damaged vehicles and
there's a supply of all kinds of equipment that's needed.
>> And how did you think working for
the depot would help you avoid the infantry?
>> Well, just because I was already in an outfit,
I wouldn't have to go to the infantry.
>> I see. So where did you go to enlist?
>> I don't recall. I was in Waterloo.
I don't recall the enlistment at all.
>> Now, how soon did you go to boot camp?
>> Very soon.
I actually may have enlisted in
the end of February because we left for Camp Sutton,
North Carolina, where we took
our basic training and left in March. I know that.
>> So very soon after you enlisted?
>> Yes.
>> Tell me about Camp Sutton. Where is it?
>> Camp Sutton was, it's no longer there,
Monroe, North Carolina,
which is about 40,
50 miles out southeast of Charlotte.
>> And tell me about arriving there. What did you find?
>> I've got a total blank on arriving.
I don't know anything because we
were doing nothing as far as our supply is concerned.
We were taking basic training,
which is a lot of marching
and I don't recall about other else,
but we stayed there until December of '42.
We went overseas.
Headed to Oran, Africa.
>> But you did transfer to Camp McCoy?
>> I did, yes. That's right.
We left in September of '42
from Camp Sutton and went to Camp McCoy,
and it was a camp then.
And that's still there,
but it's called Fort McCoy now.
>> And what type of training were you doing there?
>> We trained somewhat on what we were going to
do as a supply depot and repair.
>> And what branch of the military were you in?
>> Army.
>> So in training to be
part of a supply depot, what are you learning?
>> Just how to handle equipment,
repair equipment and supply.
I was in the carpenter shop,
I did a lot of carpenter work.
>> So what kind of equipment are you handling?
>> All kinds. The army had trucks,
jeeps, and combat equipment.
>> Tell me about the carpenter shop.
>> There was three of us in the carpenter shop,
and there wasn't much we did in
any carpenter work that was called for.
>> Was that something you already had experience in?
>> Yes. Because I was
working as a carpenter for my father,
who was a homebuilder in Waterloo.
>> So when did you ship out?
>> I'm not sure the day we shipped out.
I remember the landing very well.
It was on Christmas morning in Oran, Africa.
And we docked at a regular dock and were
able to get off the ship without any problem,
but we marched to our depot,
which was a huge building,
and was able to supply and repair equipment.
We had Christmas dinner early on board ship
before we landed because
we had brought our Christmas dinner.
When we got to the base,
they were having it late in the day
and we had Christmas dinner there
because they had scrounged the area
for I think it was the turkey and not chicken.
But we had a full Christmas dinner there.
We on our trip were bringing
the Christmas dinner to those people.
And the next day on the 26th,
we had Christmas dinner again.
Three times. [LAUGHTER]
>> What did you have for those meals?
>> It was a regular Christmas dinner.
All you would have anywhere,
the turkey and what depends on which well,
they were all the turkey everybody
on board ship and when we got
to the depo and entered their Christmas dinner.
They knew we were coming.
So they waited for us.
And then we were bringing their Christmas dinner,
which was turkey and all the trimmings.
You have pumpkin pie.
>> Was it canned food?
>> I don't recall.
>> Let's back up a little bit to
the trip on the boat coming across.
>> Hit a storm. Probably it was a hurricane.
I don't recall that,
but everybody on board got sick except a few of us.
Now those few after
a couple of days were called to clean up the galley.
[LAUGHTER] What a mess it was.
I got sick and were able to get up and heaved overboard.
>> How did you have to clean it?
>> I don't remember what equipment we
had because I wasn't there long.
>> So you said you landed in Oran?
>> Oran, North Africa.
>> Could you spell that?
>> O-R-A-N.
>> What country is that?
>> In Algeria.
>> Now, you had brought
Christmas dinner to the soldiers that were already there.
Can you describe the encampment there?
What did it look like?
>> Well, there was an area,
probably it was parking area originally,
but an area we had all our equipment.
And it was just like
any other supply maintenance and supply.
>> Was Oran a large city?
>> Fairly large, yes.
But the size, I couldn't tell you.
>> And it's on the coast?
>> Right, at Mediterranean sea.
>> How many soldiers were milling
around there? Was it a good number?
>> There were a few there,
but I don't know what they were there
for what their duties were at all.
And we had a battalion and
I don't know how many people are in a battalion,
but it was four companies in the battalion, A, B,
C and D. And they had their own specific duties.
I remember D company of repair of small arms.
And we were in A company,
but I don't recall
what the specific duties for each one was.
>> Do you remember the number of
your battalion or the name of the battalion?
>> I knew you were going to ask me that and I can't
recall the name or
number of the battalion because later on,
it was changed into just companies and we were in 3251.
>> Okay.
>> That was in Africa.
>> Go ahead.
>> Well, this made the split in America before we left.
So we left as companies.
>> How long were you in Oran?
>> Almost two years.
All through the African campaign,
which is a story in the end by itself
and then through year of D day,
and then we landed in Marse we left in December,
it would have been two years later.
>> Let's wait for that.
>> Okay.
>> Since you were there for two years,
what were your daily duties?
>> Pretty much the same as they'd always been.
And I don't know why we were there that long.
But we shipped out in September of '44.
>> Did you see any combat at that time?
>> Not in Africa, no.
But later on, it'll come into play.
>> Was there entertainment in Oran?
>> We had one of the major and I can't recall who it was.
I don't think it was Bob Hope.
But it was one of the major entertainers
for all Oran area.
>> And where were you going to see this entertainment?
>> I think it was staged at our depot,
not in the parking area.
>> How did you keep up with
news of the war of the Africa campaign?
>> Radio. And we had the Stars and Stripes.
>> What's that?
>> Newspaper.
>> Tell me about that newspaper.
>> Was it an army newspaper or it was published,
I have no idea.
Probably right there because we were a spa major post.
A radio on that Stars and Stripes.
>> Did you ever see or meet come
into contact with any of the well known generals?
>> Eisenhower.
>> Tell me about that.
>> Came to visit our Depo.
I never talked to him personally,
but I was around with him,
and he was there to view our operation.
He was a major general.
>> So that's before he was [inaudible]
>> Yeah.
>> Did you have any communication
with your family or friends back home?
>> Only by email, called email electronics.
When you got it, there was a page about that B.
That's how I remained in contact.
>> What sort of news
were you getting from home from your family?
>> Not much just general news
of what was happening there.
>> What did you eat on a day to day basis?
>> God. [LAUGHTER] We had everything.
At a base we were served just like any army place.
Any food. It was good food.
>> And what was the dining area like?
>> Just a big dining room with tables and benches.
>> How did you get the news that you were
going to be transferred?
>> To Europe.
They came to our officers and they let us know.
>> So how did you feel about this transfer?
>> This was part of duty. That's all.
We crossed in and not regular ships were LST and LSD?
And there's a small flat bottom boat.
And of course, we hit an understorm in the Mediterranean.
And we go in all directions
and finally got together before we landed.
And we had to land in the water because we walked ashore.
>> Did you have your gear on?
>> No.
>> So what was the reason for this change of posting?
>> I supposed to get us closer to the action
because after we landed.
We walked road to Beaune,
France, which is just Northwest of Switzerland.
And part of our convoy on the way up there,
two of us driving a Jeep and some
other Jeeps ahead of us and trucks.
We got separated from
the main convoy and ended up at the Swiss border.
We got into Switzerland,
that would have been the end of the war for us,
but they turned us around.
We got back to our convoy
then and settled in Beaune, France.
>> Can you please spell that city?
>> B-E-A-U-N-E.
>> What sort of city was Beaune France?
>> It was a small town I can't remember.
We visited after the war.
We went to Europe,
and then we stopped in Beaune,
but don't remember any much.
I remember the downtown a
little bit and where we used to eat.
But that's about all I remember.
>> Where did you eat?
>> It was in a restaurant.
And we going on pass,
we go into town.
We were actually at the edge of the city.
So it wasn't far to walk into town.
>> Why did your unit wander up to the Swiss border?
>> Someone ahead of us got lost and made a wrong turn.
>> And were there who was
standing at the Swiss border to
keep you from crossing over?
>> It was just a little what do you call little shack.
There was two soldiers or two were Swiss Army soldiers.
>> So in Beaune,
how long did you stay there?
>> Let's see. We landed there,
I really don't know.
Let's see.
We get the landing mixed up.
I got to think a little bit.
We left in September,
I know that left Africa in September 1944.
The war past Beaune,
France, where we were stationed.
They were already on beyond it.
>> How many soldiers in your unit bivaed there?
>> Don't know.
>> Large or small group.
>> A company size,
which was less than 200.
>> And you said at some point here,
you saw your name.
>> On buildings. Our ancestry was Alaine area,
which is an area between Germany and France.
So naturally you've got some German,
some French people and the name Anton
was on some buildings we saw we went to Beaune.
>> So tell me what happened after Beaune, France.
>> What was the name of the Belgium?
The Germans broke through there.
>> Besto?
>> Yeah.
>> That came in I think November, December.
Battle of the Balls.
There I get it. Battle of the Balls what
happened and Germans broke through for ways,
but we were able to stop them and turn it around.
That was a baston,
is that was
well known Battle
of Bastards or baston
>> I'm blank in a couple of things.
But anyway, because of
the Battle of Balls we lost a lot of
men and needed people in the army.
So what happened that came through
all the base ordinance and base supply of
all kinds and took men who had no family,
single and no family,
gave us six weeks of infantry training.
So I ended up in the infantry after all.
Six weeks of infantry training.
And then we put us in
just before the bridge.
What's the name of the bridge that we captured intact.
>> That was a bridge over the Rhine River?
>> Bridge over the Rhine River that
the Germans tried to blow up
and something didn't work and
they left the area and the bridge was intact.
So all of our army
or our equipment there crossed the bridge.
So we were able to get across fairly rapidly.
I wish I could think of the name of that bridge.
>> Well, so you say you were drafted
at that point into the infantry?
>> Right.
>> And that was not something you wanted?
>> That's something I didn't want.
>> So how did you feel being drafted into it?
>> I didn't feel very good about it.
[LAUGHTER] But you just said well,
they need me, so I guess I better go.
No problem that way.
>> Did you have any sense of what you'd be facing?
>> Yeah, because we had
people in Africa that were assigned to our army,
our base, individuals who had been
in battle, and were reassigned.
So I had a pretty good idea
what it was about. Never right.
>> What did they say?
>> Well, I remember one guy said two months in
the infantry was like two years out of
the infantry doing other things like we were doing.
And he was right.
I really was not in the infantry very long.
>> Where did you carry out
those six weeks of infantry training?
>> In Northern France.
There's a city North of France,
and I can't tell you the name of it.
[NOISE] It's not a big city,
but it's an average sized city that we took our training.
I can't remember the name of that town.
>> Tell me about the training.
>> Well, we just had planned [inaudible] training.
I remember shooting a bazooka.
>> What was that like?
>> There was a tube,
about six inches around,
and it was four foot long.
You put it on your shoulder
and controls were right here and
it shot a shell out of it.
It had a tail.
It was a real small bomb, that's what it was.
>> What was the thrust like when it shot?
>> Really not much of
anything because it was open on both ends.
The missile put in about the middle.
>> How heavy was the [OVERLAPPING]
>> Not heavy at all?
>> Because I was small like I am now,
and I weighed 165 pounds.
I remember that. You just
set on your shoulder and controls were right here.
>> Now, when you went into training for the infantry,
were you issued new gear?
>> Well, I don't
recall anything of the nature of what we were issued.
Probably similar to what we had before.
>> What did you carry on you at all times?
>> Just a uniform.
>> Did you have a rifle?
>> [NOISE] Different rifles.
[NOISE] In our base ordinance,
we're assigned a rifle.
It was something 06, I don't recall.
[NOISE] But it was a standard rifle for
our infantrymen, we had that.
The only time [NOISE] it was different,
I had a [inaudible] It was lighter in weight,
smaller, but shot faster.
>> So let's return to the crossing of the Rhine River.
Do you remember the [OVERLAPPING]
>> We crossed beside the bridge on a pontoon bridge,
was put up because when we were there,
we got to the Remagen Bridge.
We got to Remagen Bridge in
that area and the Remagen was a town.
It was not suitable for
anyone to cross it because
it had been bombed by the Germans,
they were trying to bomb it and sink it,
which they finally did after we crossed the Rhine.
But we crossed the Rhine on
pontoon bridges right beside the bridge.
And then went into battle beyond that.
That's when I was hit.
>> What was the weather like?
>> Just like it would be around here, I guess.
I don't remember that.
It was a nice day when I was hit.
>> So it wasn't wintertime?
>> Let's see. No. I was
hit on March 23rd.
>> Describe that day for me.
>> [NOISE] We were on a side hill shooting
at some Germans in a forest area.
We were in kind of a forested area
and there was just open field in between us.
But we did not know that there was also some of them
beside us and they were shooting in us,
and that's when I was hit in the side.
>> Do you know what it hit you?
>> [NOISE] I was all tore up.
It was not just a gun shingle bullet wound.
We were hit by a burp gun
and it shot a small shell about the size of a 22,
and it shot 600 shots a minute.
>> So it may have been multiple.
>> Yeah. Multiple because it hit me in the side.
I was laying down and it hit me in the side,
and tore up along my side,
came out my belt buckle and mutilated my belt buckle.
And I had my belt buckle for a long time,
but somehow it got lost when we moved.
[NOISE] I went through what we call now
a mass unit and then went from
there to an Army hospital in Paris, France.
>> What was your level of consciousness after being hit?
>> Normal. I had no problem at all.
I think I yelled out, I'm hit and I slid down the hill
into [inaudible] on a little road.
They gave me temporary and sent me to the hospital.
>> What level of pain was it?
>> Evidently was not all that
great because I don't remember that much about it.
Did not tore me up flesh wound,
did not penetrate the abdominal wall.
That's one of the things that happened and
then I couldn't, let me start it over.
When you go back to the hospital in Paris,
if you weren't ready to be discharged to duty,
a certain length of time and I don't know how long.
But anyway, I know it was less than a month,
it was about two weeks, I think.
I transferred back to
England and in the hospital in England.
And they couldn't repair
my wound because it was all tore up.
They couldn't suture or anything,
so it just had to heal on its own.
And so I was in the hospital even probably six weeks,
two months, so I don't know.
I can go back and think how
long once I left the hospital and I don't remember.
But anyway, I had been in contact through
an email with my buddy
back in the old outfit, my base outfit.
[NOISE] And the war was over at
that time when I got out of
the hospital in Europe, it was over.
[NOISE] And he and I corresponded back and
forth and the Army was
sending people to England on pass if they wanted it.
So we arranged and on the discharge from the hospital,
you had a week to leave.
I went to London,
[inaudible] got four days together in London.
And I noticed on the fruit salad that he had
a ribbon that was not there.
It was something in Africa,
[inaudible] Africa and I called him about it.
I says, "How come you've got that?"
He says, "You're eligible for it."
It was while we were in France or in Africa,
we were in direct contact with the front lines.
There was no in between,
so we were considered in the battle zone,
and we got a battle star from that.
That was five points for discharge.
If you have to go back on the army when the war was over,
we're giving discharges on a point system.
You have to have 75 points for discharge,
and points were allowed for being married,
having children, how long you were in service,
how long you were overseas.
Each thing was first five points.
When they first came out with that,
I think I had 65 points. Then they declared
23rd of March as the central European combat zone.
I earned five points there and five points from my wound.
I had 60 points.
So that gave me 70 points to discharge.
I knew I didn't have 75,
but when I saw that ribbon for that battle in Africa.
I knew that I was eligible and he
told me because I was with the Alpha at that time.
That would give me 75 points for discharge.
What they were doing. When you leave the hospital,
you go to what's called a replacement depot,
which is people that are going to be assigned to a unit.
Then there were different replacement depots.
There was one in La Jarre one in Northern France,
I don't know where and one in Frankfort Germany.
Once I got to Frankfort Germany,
I was to be reassigned.
But I went to
the first replacement depot
and I went to the office and asked to
be applied for my star for Africa.
And I said there's no need of
applying for it because it takes
about two weeks for that thing to get here.
You'll be go to the next replacement depot before that,
which I was about three days,
I went onto the replacement depot in Northern France.
I did the same thing.
I went to the office and asked to
get credit for that battle star.
He said the same saying you won't be here long enough.
So I went to Fankfort knew that was the end.
Frankfort I'd be assigned.
If I get assigned to one of these outfits,
many of the soldiers had over 100 points,
and I knew it would be a long time
before I ever got assigned. I got home.
So I went into the office and
talked to the guy there and he says, Well,
same story, you'll be assigned
before they get approval of it.
And we talked around a while afterwards he said, hell.
I'll go ahead and send your papers in.
We don't know what will happen.
So we did and the next day,
but the day after I was called by the headquarters,
and they says you
had a switchboard experience, haven't you?
And I had in Africa and the carpenter shop.
I had been assigned to switchboard for
a while. I says yes.
Says, we need a switchboard operator.
Would you mind coming up here
and being assigned to us for
switchboard duty until your approval
comes through on your battles day?
I didn't say no.
I did and I don't know.
It was two or three weeks when I got
my orders so I could go.
So I left then went back to Lahar
and onboardship for home.
>> I want to briefly go back to
the hospital where you were in recovery.
Were you there when victory in Europe was declared?
>> I had to be. I don't know which one.
May and I was in the hospital in Paris. England then.
>> Do you remember the announcement of victory?
>> Not really. No.
>> In the hospital,
you were there several weeks?
>> I was because the wound had to
heal on its own. I couldn't suit you.
>> So what were
the day to day activities in the hospital?
>> I have no idea. I remember what I did it all.
>> So you departed from La Jarre, France?
And what sort of ship did you board to return home?
>> Liberty ship they called it.
Average size Troopship.
>> And where did you dock in the United States?
>> New Jersey Fort I went to Fort Dix.
The War Pacific was over while we were on board ship.
I remember they made the announcement war
in the Pacific was over.
>> So that would have been September of 1945?
>> No. It was August of 1945.
>> Do you remember any celebrations on board?
>> Just some cheers. That was about all.
I don't remember. I remember the announcement was made.
And all of these, the war in Europe was expected.
So when they said it was over,
it really was not a big deal.
>> How did you feel about returning home?
>> Go ahead.
>> And you separated at Fort Dix?
>> No. I was shipped to Fort Dix
to based in near Chicago in Northern Illinois.
I can't recall the name of it.
But that's where I got my discharge.
And we had a sergeant
to give us a discharge talk if you want to call it that.
And it was brought up about joining
the reserve says you can,
but I advise against it.
I was glad because not long after that,
the Korean War broke out and they took
all the reserves. So I missed it.
>> Why are you glad?
>> I didn't have to go into the army again.
>> How do you evaluate
your general experience in the army?
>> I don't know. I'm just a normal soldier that's all.
Did you enjoy it?
>> Well, I didn't hate it.
>> But you didn't want to go back?
>> No.
>> So tell me about meeting your wife describe that.
>> The day after I was discharged,
day after I got home.
This the city is a small town.
It had a good bus system,
and the bus stopped
three houses away from me at the corner.
And I draft course my army outfit and all.
But I got on the bus.
I wanted to go downtown for something I wanted for.
I have no remember what I went down for.
But anyway, I got on the bus and that the next stop,
my former wife got on the bus.
At that time, she was 17,
I think when I first met her.
I didn't meet her then, but I flirted with her.
She wouldn't have anything to do with me.
But couple of days after that,
there's a small drug store
not far of two blocks from our home.
It was kind of a hangout place for kids
and that's where I
met her then because she was working there.
I don't know anything much
about after meeting her or anything.
>> What was her name?
>> Manida Lessin, L-E-S-S-I-N.
>> How long was your courtship?
>> Let's see. I would have met her then in August.
We were married the Labor Day month.
Not the November,
it was a year later.
So we had over a year, of course.
>> Is that 1946?
>> Yeah. That's when we were married, in '46.
>> And you're still married?
>> Still married to the same lady.
>> So what anniversary is that this year?
>> Seventy this year.
>> Wow. So describe your readjustment to civilian life?
>> Well, I didn't really have a problem.
Before I was discharged,
I was thinking, well, I'll take
a week before I go to work.
I had a job already.
I worked for my father,
who was building homes.
And I think about four days after I was discharged,
there was nobody there.
I was discharged so early because I was
unattached and I was discharged early.
All the guys from my outfit were
still in Germany, the original outfit.
I was in battle,
that was the second infantry division.
And they were gone.
They were transferred to
the Pacific War while I was in the hospital.
So when I got home,
I went back to work.
>> And you went to work for your father?
Tell me about working with your father?
>> I don't know what there is to say about it.
One of my brothers and me,
both were working for him.
>> What were you doing?
>> Carpenter work.
>> What kind of?
>> Home building.
>> And that was in around?
>> Waterloo.
>> Was it a thriving business?
>> Just average. I wouldn't say it
was bustling, but just average.
>> What sort of income did your father bring in?
>> I don't remember. I remember
I started working for 60 cents an hour.
Then I went to a dollar.
I remember, the dollar
that back then was pretty good wages.
>> Did you move in with your parents?
>> Yes. I was married and I lived with my parents,
and then we rented a two-room apartment
on the west side of Waterloo.
>> So when did you decide to go back to school?
>> Well, I had that in mind all
along because I didn't want to always be a carpenter.
And so I had
close contact with the supply people, lumberyard people.
And to me, that seemed
inviting to be a lumberyard manager.
So that's what I went to school for.
I searched for different schools that had that degree
, building material supply.
So I went to that route. Let's see.
I went to what is called now Northern Iowa.
Back at that time, it was Iowa State Teachers College.
I took some of my basic courses there while I was
searching for a place to go,
to end up, and I ended up in
Denver because I thought they had the best course.
>> What was the college?
>> University of Denver.
>> And you completed college there?
>> Completed college and got my degree there, yes.
>> What sort of degree was it?
>> In building materials.
>> And your goal was to become a manager.
>> A manager.
>> Of a lumber yard.
>> And I started out as an assistant manager.
>> So tell me about
the lumberyard you first started working at.
>> Well, it was just a small town lumberyard.
>> Where was it?
>> Well, I think it was in the same town I ended up in,
but it was a different company.
I'm not sure.
>> What about the lumberyard in Dyersville, Iowa?
>> It was a small town lumber yard,
carried all lumber building construction materials.
>> But you were prevented from becoming manager. Why?
>> Because he already had one.
Now, I don't know what the situation was,
whether he really wasn't an assistant manager,
but they were in cahoots together,
and he called and
told me that he was the assistant manager.
And that's when two days later,
I went to Davenport, Iowa,
and interviewed my second choice,
and then was placed in that yard.
>> Well, how were they in cahoots?
>> They were scheming and I don't know how or what,
but I know they both were fired.
They were not sentenced,
no criminal activity or anything of that nature,
but they were both fired.
>> So instead, you took a job in Davenport.
>> Yes.
>> And did you
remain in this sort of work throughout your career?
>> Yeah. I was there,
I think, 4, 5 years.
And then the dad wanted to quit the carpenter business,
so I went back and I worked with him.
I actually took over the business.
>> How long did you own your father's business?
>> Three or four years.
>> What was the name of the business?
>> Just Antone Construction Company, yeah.
I'm trying to think the year,
but it was a depression year.
And there was very little home building at all.
In fact, the year that I declared bankruptcy,
one house building permit was issued for the entire year.
So I declared bankruptcy.
>> On that business.
>> Yes.
>> And what did you do after that?
>> Let's see.
>> Did you continue working in the lumber business?
>> I'm drawing a blank on something.
I should know right easily.
>> So when did you come to the state of Georgia?
>> Now I got it. When I declared bankruptcy,
I was looking for anything to do anywhere,
but when did I come to Georgia?
That's terrible.
>> Well, prior to this interview, we were talking,
and you mentioned that you came to
Georgia in the early '60s?
>> '63.
>> And why did you come to Georgia?
>> It was for a job.
What I am doing about it is getting confused
with that one and the one before.
Why did I go to work in Georgia? That was terrible.
>> Was it a job in the lumber business?
>> Well, I can't remember.
>> I understand. That's all right.
Do you remember the city you came to in Georgia?
>> Atlanta. I had the choice of Atlanta
or Birmingham. Now I got it.
Well, in January of 40s, I'm not sure 46.
Anyway, I always went
to the Home Builders National Convention,
which is in Chicago.
And I went there and was part of
the reason to see what I could find for a job.
And they changed their name after Julian.
We're going to get back to [inaudible]
>> So it was a business
that was exhibiting at the home builders?
>> One of the exhibitors, they represented
the Western lumber and Trade Association work.
And I applied there along with a couple of others,
but I ended up with them and there was opening
up a new position which they didn't have in Atlanta.
I said I could
choose Atlanta or Birmingham and at the time,
I looked over the [inaudible] and chose Atlanta.
And what I was doing was contacting
any and everybody that used
or had anything to do with lumber.
I architect, build the home builders,
retail lumber, retail wholesale number
of people, any one.
And just helping and giving
information to them and
what the industry was about to do,
why they wanted the field staff,
we had five field staff member
placed throughout the United States.
The industry was changing the size of dress lumber.
They were planning on it,
changing from an inch and five eighth thickness
to an inch and a half.
They needed field men to explain
this new product what it
was to keep them from rebelling against it.
So we were in the field
talking about it before it ever happened.
But actually, the people had a
date set for it at the time.
So we did that and then after they made the change,
we still are out explaining it
and talking to them and ever help
our job was to help any and
everyone who had anything to do with Lumber.
Western Wood Products Association.
And I did that until they begin to disband it.
Let's see. I reading time is mixed up.
>> You were doing that work for them
while living in Atlanta?
And when did you retire?
>> Well, It was in the early 90s.
But I went on and when
they wanted me a problem somewhere,
they would send me for a while in my area.
I remember I was in South Florida
when Hurricane begins with a letter A.
>> Andrew?
>> Andrew came.
It was on its way.
Knew where I was going to hit and
I had been there to observe
some lumber that someone
building in the park was complaining about.
So I was there to settle
and I got out one day before Andrew hit.
>> Return to Atlanta?
>> And return to Atlanta.
>> So you stayed in this representative
of the lumber business throughout your career?
>> Until the 90s. I was 65,
I think in 88,
but I stayed on partially.
And then I also did some other jobs.
My wife was working for a interior design firm that
sold wall paper and carpets and things of that nature.
And she was working there yet.
I I retired in 91
from Western Wood Products Association
and did these odd jobs along.
I think all graduate.
Well, one of the jobs I had was with her firm,
I needed a quick job for carpet in Dalton, Georgia.
So they had the truck for it and I would drive the truck,
pick up the carpet and come back for it.
I did that for quite a while just off and on,
maybe a couple of times a
week or maybe a couple of times a month.
Until 98 and she left,
I think in 1998.
>> So you have one son?
>> One son, one grandson.
>> What's your son's name?
>> Victor, Vic.
>> And what's your grandson's name?
>> Michael.
>> And where did your grandson,
Michael go to school?
>> Right here at 10 Associate.
He's majoring in the GIS.
Geographic Information Systems.
>> Excellent. So Mr. Anton,
why do you think it's important to
share your story of World War II?
>> I just think it might be interesting to people.
>> Well, thank you so much for sharing it
today and we'll go ahead and end there.
>> Okay. Thank you.