HomeMy WebLinkAboutLeon Sinclair, Jr., Brazos Valley HeroesOne in a series of tributes to members of "The Greatest
Generation" who served our country during World War II
Living in the Ninevah Coummunkty of Leon Canty in the 1930's and
40's meant you were 20 miles from a telephone, or w it seemed. That
was where Leon Sinclah, now of Bryan, grew up.
"I graduated hem Centerville High School in 1943 and joined the
NYA - the National Youth Adnunistration. I was sent to a school in
Boerne, Texas, to became a radio technician, but the money for the
program ran out in tloern s so we hitched a dole to Waco to the school
thee. The only problem was it was an all ghls school, but they had an
empty dam and they let us stay at the Warn Schad unN its funding
ran out too.
"I went hone and received my draft call in September 1943 and by
October 10, 1943,1 was on my way to Houston for my induction physi-
mi. I weighed 120 pouts soaking wet and I thought they might not
take me because of r y size. I was wrong. By this time of the war, they
were taking everyone, me included.
"I was sent to Ft Sam Houston and left Buffalo on the train to San
Antonio on Halloween night The second day I was at Ft. Sam, they
gave us an 10 test and told Le If wa didn't want to end up in infer" we
better scorn real high. I guess I didn't want to be in the infalrby because
I scored well for same reason.
"They had me waiting around Ft. Sam for about six weeks doing
very little until they handed me my records which were marked in red
ink - Special Assignment. I had nor Use what I was in for, but when I got
to Ft Sieben, Alabama, I was toll I was going to be in the Chemical
Warfare program. I thought I relight get poisoned to death, but at least
my chances of getting shot wcokl be leas - I trwught"
Sinclair wen trained in afl owner ad Chemical warfare on how to
protect himself and others in case of a chemical attack. He eventually
added up being a member of a heavy chemical mortar company.
"We were sent to Camp Reynolds. Pennsylvania, and were issued
sun -tan dl. We figured we were headed to the Pacific, then D-Day
occurred. They took away our suntan di, gave us back out ODs and
shipped us to Glasgow, Scotland,"
By August 1944 Sinclair was in France at a replacement depot just
outside Paris.
"While we were waiting around lobe sell! to umes a� replaoet�snts,
ore of the guys slipped away, heading to Paris. A coupe of us thought
that was a good idea, so we took of for Pans also. We caught a we on a
coal- buming truck to Pans and as sour as we got there, we were picked
up by the MPs and placed in a pen in the middle of Pans wdh a whole
bunch of other soldiers and then sent back. That's all I saw of Pans.
"I ended up in Holland with the 92nd Chemical Mortar Battalion. In
October we were making a push on the Germa border On November
17, 1944, 1 was on a mortar fire mission. I had a shell in my hand ready
to drop if when wego a stand -down older, I had just laid the shell down
when something hit me in the groin area it fell like a bee sling bul h
wasn't. I had been shot. I never saw where it came mart The next brig
I know I am in a field hospflal in Belgium being operated on.
"They were to fly me and some other wounded soldiers to England,
but on the way, the pilot got lost in some clouds and wa ended up over
Gentian territory, getNg shot at and hit by German flak. We landed in
France, and when they took us of the Wane in our litters, they had to
tarty our pilot out with us."
Sinclair ended up in an English hospital in a body cast finally making
A bark to America by boat to South Carolina and than to a rehabilitation
hospital in Palm Spmgs, Caldomia. He was reassigned to the hospital
at Ft Sam, where he was discharged after the bomb was dropped on
Japan.
After the war Sindak retuned home, eventually going to work for
Corbusier Chevrolet in Bryan, where he reddened for thirty-five years
as the pans manage.
"I didn't volunteer for very much, but I did my part. I've enjoyed the
813-plus yeas the Lord has given to me."
Leon Sinclai's narrre can be farad on the Brazos Valley Veterans
Merolla]. For move information, to make a contritwkon, or d you know
a World! War II veteran whose stay needs to be told, contact the BVM at
www.veteans- mertanel.ory or BIII Youngkin at (979) 260 -7030.
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The Eagle