Page 62 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2022 - Online Magazine

week after we left, a storm hit great-granddaughter, Halima
us. We had a hospital ship White, live in Slaton, Texas; great-
ahead of us, and they hit the granddaughter, Abby Krieg (Clay),
storm before we did. I got and great-great grandchildren,
sick going over to Europe Margot and Ellis, live in Lubbock,
and got sick coming back to Texas; and great-grandson,
the states. We landed back in Imhotep White (Ambrosia
New York, and I took a train McMillian), resides in Los Angeles,
down to Camp Chafee, in California.
Arkansas. I was discharged
there on March 2, 1946. I W.E. Rainwater has seen a lot of
took a train to Amarillo, change in his 97 years of living. He
then down to Slaton, where I had one final comment on serving
did construction work and his country. “It was difficult
worked for a cotton oil mill serving a segregated Army to help
for a time." liberate others, only to return home
and experience discrimination,
“I met Mary Alice Gamble at but I did not expect prejudice to
a club in Lubbock. We dated be different back on American
for a while and got married soil. When German citizens stop
on December 4, 1948. We had and thank me (for my service)
one daughter, Rose. I was because I’m wearing a World War
going to go to a mechanics II cap, is when I am most proud to
school in Lubbock, but the be a veteran.” Mr. Rainwater wants
supply lines, concluded that “the guy there said, ‘Why don’t to be remembered as a man with
2 ½-ton truck is our most valuable you wait for the welder’s school? common sense, who loved God
weapon.” As for W.E., he was Welders are needed.’ So, I waited and helped others whenever he
awarded four bronze star medals and took the 18-month course, could.
for his service: “one for France, one and graduated as a certified
for Belgium, one for Holland, and welder. I was so excited to have We should thank all veterans
one for Germany.” He was also obtained a 9th-grade education for their service and mean it. It’s
awarded the WWII Victory and and yet finished the course with a because of veterans like W.E. that
Good Conduct medals. 92 average. I worked for Hancock we enjoy the freedom we have.

“I was in Brussels, Belgium, Manufacturing – they built heavy As one WWII veteran of D-Day
said recently to an American news
when a captain said that the war earthmoving scrapers. I also reporter on the anniversary of the
was over (May 8, 1945). I didn’t worked for Clark Equipment for invasion, “I did it for you people.
have enough points to go home, 18 1/2 years and later worked for Don’t screw it up.”
so I stayed there. The Russians Johnson Manufacturing. I was
wanted Berlin, but so did Patton. the manager and
He wanted to go in and whip owner of Gamble’s
the Russians. He knew that they Barbecue Pit, in
would be our next enemy.” Patton Lubbock. I moved
made the following statement to Killeen in 2002.
about Russia after WWII: “You Mary Alice died in
mark my words …. Someday, we November 2012,
will have to fight them.” Rainwater just 20 days short
stayed in Belgium until February of 64 years of
1946. “I shipped out on a Victory marriage.”
ship, a small cargo ship. We had A granddaughter
to wait three days up in the North Teffanie Hanson
Sea before the water calmed down (Matthew) and
enough for us to head home. A

62 Lubbock Senior Link