HomeMy WebLinkAboutCharlie Dileo, Brazos Valley HeroesBy Bill Youngkin
Special to The Eagle
Charlie Dileo has a lot of experiences to look back on after
86 years of fife, but one experience he will always remember
was his time in the army during World War 11.
As recalled by Dileo, "I was raised on a farm where
Nuches lane in Bryan is now located. We farmed cotton, corn
and cattle on a little over 118 acres we had. I attended school
at Woodville until I left to farm on a full -time basis. My dad
died before the war started, leaving three of us boys to help
my mother and sister on the farm.
"Because of my families' situation, my brothers and I
didn't think we would be drafted. But all three were - one
into the Army Air Corps, one into the Navy, and me into the
Army. With no one to work the farm, my mother and sister
had to shut the farm down until we returned from the war.
"I was sentto Ft. Sam (Houston) in San Antonio and then
to Camp Hale just outside of Leadville, Colorado, in February
1943. Camp Hale was hel I, as we had to dril I in weather that
was sometimes 35 degrees below zero. After basic training I
was assigned to the 26th Remount Troop.
"Our job was to train pack mules for service in the war
in Burma. We were assigned two mules and two horses each
week. Our job was to ride the horse dragging the two mules,
on halters and with packs, up the mountain and then down
the other side, then turn around and do the same thing that
afternoon. It was pretty dangerous, as those mules would
dig in and resist following, especially when coming down
the mountain. When they dug in their hooves coming down,
they often dislodged rocks that came tumbling down the
mountain at you. Several guys got hurt, me included.
'The day I got hurt, the worst was when we had ridden
to the top of the mountain. It was real icy, but the sergeant
decided we should ride around a boulder and back for time.
When it came my turn, my horse fell rounding the boulder,
landing on my leg. They had to cut my horse loose from the
gear so he could stand up. Then they lifted me up. My ankle
wasthe size of watermelon.They had to cut my boot off and
put me bads on the horse to take me down the mountain.
When I saw how close my horse and I were when we fell to a
100 -foot dropoff, I really got scared.
"When we got down from the mountain my lieutenant,
Lt. Courtney, who was from College Station and an A &M
graduate, transported me to the hospital in his Jeep. He was
my buddy. I was in the hospital for 14 days and on light duty
thereafter. They told me they were going to send me home,
but when I got my orders they said Pennsylvania, not Bryan.
"We eventually boarded ship in New York, where I spent
the worst 14 days of my life. It was up and down, up and
down. I didn't leave my bunk for the first three days I was so
sick. Thank goodness I was on the top bunk. If they hadn't
taken me up on deck for some fresh air I don't know if I would
have made it We landed in England and then on to France,
where I was assigned to a quartermaster unit and assigned
as a M.P. in Verdun, France. I would remain a M.P. until I was
discharged.
"One of our primary jobs as M.P.s was to make sure the
American soldiers who were being relieved off the lines
weren't allowed to enter the houses of ill- repute operating
in the area. We weren't very popular, but we did ourjob until
one day one soldier pulled a pistol and stuck it in my face.
I decided he should be allowed in. It was his health and I
would let him worry about it. I decided my health was better
served by letting him go in.
"Another function for our M.P. unit - and really the
primary one - was to take charge of and hold the German
POWs that were being sent back. We also had to take the
POWs on work details each day, mostly to the rail yard to
load and offload the trains that came through. We never had
any problems with any of the German POWs. I think most of
them were just real glad to be out of the war.
"I remember one time after we had loaded a train, I was
assigned to guard it. Shortly after I took over the guard duty,
a plane came over the hill and was coming real fast. When
it opened up and started shelling the train, I knew it was a E
German plane and started trying to find something to hide j
behind. I was abletojump behind some railroad ties stacked
nearby. That plane really shot up that train but missed me,
just barely.
"One other memory was getting to salute General Patton,
pearl - handled revolvers and all, when he came through our
headquarters one day. I was a lot luckier than some in the
war and was able to head home soon after the war ended.
Some, like my next -door neighbor and best friend growing
up, Luke Patranella, didn't get to come home. He was killed '.
20 miles from where I was at stationed at the time."
After the war, Dileo worked at a couple of jobs until
he went to work at Stacy's Furniture, where he worked for
20 years. He left Stacy's to start his own business, Charle's
Furniture, which he operated until he retired in 1988. But he
has never retired from full -time cattle ranching.
When asked about his experience in World War II Dileo
replied, "I'm glad I served and glad I came out alive. But I
would do it again if I had to"
Charlie Dileo's name isfound on the BrazosValleyVeterans
Memorial. If you want to have a name added to the Veterans
Memorial, for more information, to make a contribution, or
if you know a World War II veteran whose story needs to be
told, contactthe BWM at www.veteransmemoNal.org or Bill
Youngkin at (979) 260 -7030.
One in a series of tributes to members of "The Greatest Generation'