John A. "Johnny" Childers

class photo, Oakland School	1942 LHS junior class
with 4 sisters	Andrew Childers Clan	1988
1952

A February 18, 1943, Lowell Tribune article (page 1, column 3) listed John A. Childers of Lowell among the 55 south Lake County men reporting to Fort Benjamin Harrison after passing an army examination and spending a week's leave at home.

This March 4, 1943, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 2:

Wishes to Have Friends Write

Mrs. Andrew Childers

The following Aug. 24, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 4, column 2:

Writes from France

Dearest Mom and All:

Well, I finally got out of England -- and boy, am I ever glad of it, too. Of course over here we do not get to go to town or anything like that, but I'm getting closer to home.

The worst thing for me, as well as the rest of the boys is that we can't understand the French language.

There sure are some sights over here caused by the invasion. The boys surely fought hard and are still fighting hard. We are having lovely weather here. The sun is so nice and hot - just like back home. So much better than England. We have been living on C and K rations but they aren't so bad. They fill you up and I guess that the main object.

The fireworks are sure pretty over here and this is one time when I'm glad I got a back seat from them. We had a nice boat trip across the channel. I never knew there was so much water between France and England. I know now why the older men called this country a battleground - there are fox holes all over, which showed they took it little by little. I don't think it will be long before I can come home. I mean in a year or so. Just think, Mom, it has already been a year since I've been home, but it doesn't seem that long, does it?

We had another party before we left England. It was the last party and will be a long time I suppose, before we have another unless we can find a cave full of drinks like some Yanks did.

Boy, a guy would lose track of time if he didn't write, because every day is the same over here.

Oh, yes, the first night in France we pitched our tents in a field, and about that time here comes an old French lady and her husband with the milk cans and they milked their cows right out in the pasture without tieing them up and no shed. They sold milk to us for five francs a pint, or ten cents. That's something I can say I never had in the ten months I spent in England.

The money is a lot more simple over here than the Limy money. And it's good to see them drive on the right side of the road again.

Well, mother, I set pretty good for the present, but don't know how long it will last. We haven't reached our destination yet, but I'll write again as soon as we do and get settled. We now have our fox holes dug with our pup tents over them.

I've got two little French kids sitting here at the table with me. They are just jabbering away and I can't understand what they are saying. They sure are hard to keep away from white bread - they call it cake or in French "Bon". All they ever have is long black loaves like daggo bread.

All I need now is some writing paper with lines. We get about everything else we need free -- a cartoon of cigarettes, 10 candy bars, 2 packs of gum, matches, soap, razor blades, tooth powder, tooth brushes and shaving cream.

Hoping to hear from you soon. Tell all the folks to write. Your son,
Johnny

The following Sept. 14, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 4 column 1:

Seeing Paris

This January 4, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 1, column 4:

3 LOWELL BOYS ARE WOUNDED

PVT. JOHN CHILDERS, PFC. CHARLES ALM, SGT. BEN BUCKLEY ARE CASUALTIES

Charles Alm

Ben A. Buckley

Pvt. Childers and Pfc. Alm were both listed as "slightly wounded" on December 9th, and although no further word has been received on either, it is presumed that they are making saticfactory recovery. Both boys attended Lowell high school, Alm graduating with the class of 1941, but Childres enlisted in February, 1943, in his senior year.

Sgt. Buckley, 26, was wounded in action on Dec. 6th according to the telegram his parents received Dec. 28th. The same day the telegram arrived, the Buckleys received a letter from one of their son's buddies who had driven his tank all through the Anzio Beachhead battle in Italy as well as in France, stating that he knew Ben had suffered only a broken arm and was getting along well. No further word of his condition has been received.

Sgt. Buckley has now been wounded three times in the 29 months he has been stationed in the European theatre. On one occasion, according to a letter Ben wrote his parents recently, his tank was blown from under him, killing three of crew, and wounding one, but he escaped without a scratch. Among his medals are a purple heart which he received for a previous wound, and a bronze star with citation, and an oak cluster. Ben has been in the service five years, enlisting a year and a half before the United States entered the present conflict.

This February 15, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:

Pvt. John A. Childers received the Purple Heart January 5th, after being wounded in action in Germany on December 9th. Johnny says its something a fellow doesn't try to get, but yet it's nice. He is making normal recovery in an army hospital in England, according to a war department telegram to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Childers.

This April 5, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:

Pvt. John A. Childers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Childers, has been transferred from the army hospital in England to Kennedy general hospital, Memphis, Tenn. John was wounded Dec. 9th in Germany when he stepped on a mine, receiving a nerve injury to his right leg. After receiving treatments for a few weeks, he expects a furlough home.

Last updated on April 12, 2007.

Go to John Childers, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.

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John A. “Johnny” Childers