Page 59 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2018- Online Magazine
P. 59
wwii
with regular wheels at the front for steering Birmingham Hospital in Van
and continuous tracks at the back to propel the Nuys, California for further
vehicle and carry most of the load.) It crashed treatment of his wounds. After recovery, the Army
over a hill. We were always afraid of German “made me an MP, and I guarded Ft. Mason in San
Tiger Tanks. We couldn’t stop them. If we Francisco.” Britt was discharged on April 4, 1946 at
thought one was coming, we’d hit the ditch. We Ft. Bliss, Texas. He was awarded the Combat Infantry
got very little sleep. After 30 days on the front, Badge, Bronze Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct,
we were pulled off the front for a warm meal and American Theatre, European Campaign, National
new uniforms.” Defense and WWII Victory Medals.
“It started warming up in March 1945. We After making his way back to Amherst, Texas, he
practiced our rowing at night and crossed the resumed farming. He met his future wife, Ray
Moselle in the morning and captured Koblenz, Lynn Blessing, at a party, and he “bought her a $69
Germany. We took prisoners along the way. I engagement ring.” They raised two boys and one
used a bicycle to herd 15 captured Germans to a girl. Roger continued farming for 50 years, and Ray
POW camp. Coming out of the woods, we came Lynn was the district clerk for Lamb County for 25
to a meadow where the Germans opened up on years. Roger Britt is a real American hero, but when
us. While running across the battlefield, I was asked what he would like to be remembered for, he
shot in the side by a bullet that passed through simply said, “Growing good watermelons.” Thank
my right elbow and in and out of my stomach. I you for your service, sir.
had to lay there in the field for over two hours
before a medic got to me. They put me on an
old wooden door they found and carried me to
an ambulance. I was taken to a field hospital
behind the lines, then took a plane to England for
recovery.” After his recovery, Roger was put on
a troop ship back to the U.S. He took a train to
Roger went on the 2014 Texas South
Plains Honor Flight and “liked all
the memorials, especially the WWII
memorial.”
Lubbock Senior Link 59
