Page 100 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2024 - Online Magazine

ceLeBratinG 10 YearS

arMY
VeteranS
2022 wwii
eDition

daughter, Rose. I was going Army to help liberate others, only
to go to a mechanics school to return home and experience
in Lubbock, but the guy discrimination, but I did not
there said, ‘Why don’t you expect prejudice to be different
wait for the welder’s school? back on American soil. When
Welders are needed.’ So, I German citizens stop and thank
waited and took the 18-month me (for my service) because I’m
course, and graduated as wearing a World War II cap, is
a certified welder. I was so when I am most proud to be a
excited to have obtained a veteran.” Mr. Rainwater wants
9th-grade education and to be remembered as a man with
was over (May 8, 1945). I didn’t yet finished the course with a 92 common sense, who loved God
have enough points to go home, average. I worked for Hancock and helped others whenever he
so I stayed there. The Russians Manufacturing – they built heavy could.
wanted Berlin, but so did Patton. earthmoving scrapers. I also
He wanted to go in and whip worked for Clark Equipment for We should thank all veterans
the Russians. He knew that they 18 1/2 years and later worked for for their service and mean it. It’s
would be our next enemy.” Patton Johnson Manufacturing. I was the because of veterans like W.E. that
made the following statement manager and owner of Gamble’s we enjoy the freedom we have.
about Russia after WWII: “You Barbecue Pit, in Lubbock. I moved As one WWII veteran of D-Day
mark my words …. Someday, we to Killeen in 2002. Mary Alice died said recently to an American news
will have to fight them.” Rainwater in November 2012, just 20 days reporter on the anniversary of the
stayed in Belgium until February short of 64 years of marriage.” invasion, “I did it for you people.
1946. “I shipped out on a Victory Don’t screw it up.”
ship, a small cargo ship. We had A granddaughter Teffanie
to wait three days up in the North Hanson (Matthew) and great-
Sea before the water calmed down granddaughter, Halima
enough for us to head home. A White, live in Slaton, Texas; w.e. rainwater
week after we left, a storm hit us. great-granddaughter, Abby
We had a hospital ship ahead of Krieg (Clay), and great-great passed away January 23,
us, and they hit the storm before grandchildren, Margot and Ellis, 2024 at the age of 98.
we did. I got sick going over to live in Lubbock, Texas; and great-
Europe and got sick coming back grandson, Imhotep
to the states. We landed back in White (Ambrosia
New York, and I took a train down McMillian), resides
to Camp Chafee, in Arkansas. I in Los Angeles,
was discharged there on March California.
2, 1946. I took a train to Amarillo,
then down to Slaton, where I did W.E. Rainwater has
construction work and worked for seen a lot of change
a cotton oil mill for a time." in his 97 years of
living. He had one
“I met Mary Alice Gamble at final comment on
a club in Lubbock. We dated serving his country.
for a while and got married on “It was difficult
December 4, 1948. We had one serving a segregated

100 Lubbock Senior Link