Willard Rosebrough
Tyler Buechler
Mr. Thomas
US History X, Period 7
11 May 2006
Willard Rosebrough was an infantry man in the 4th infantry division. He was wounded twice after his arrival on Omaha Beach. His one injury in the stomach was caused by shrapnel and doctors believed he was going to be left impotent the rest of his life. He received two Purple Hearts for his valor. When he came back to the States, he was blessed with two children. His eldest daughter, Barb, is a nurse at St. Francis and is my mom’s coworker. Willard is currently retired.
Tyler: What branch of service were you in?
Will: I was in the 4th infantry division.
Tyler: What type of training did you have?
Will: It was just like the regular army. We had the basic training where we went out on problems and then there were mock invasions then after a little while we go.
Tyler: What beach were you at in Normandy?
Will: What did I do?
Tyler: Yes what did you do in Normandy?
Will: I was in 222nd infantry scouting patrol and intelligence
Tyler: hat do you do intelligence wise?
Will: You study about the enemy, and you learn to read maps. They call it the JAN, the joint army and Navy, we worked with the navy. They would go with us and when we called for a certain gun; they would bring it and then raise or lower it.
Tyler: Planning wise what was going on?
Will: I can’t quite understand you.
Tyler: Were you apart of the preparations for the invasion?
Will: I don’t know about that.
Tyler: What beach did you say you were at?
Will: I was in Normandy by Omaha, there was little strip there. We were the first division at Omaha beach.
Tyler: What happened when you got there?
Will: Hell broke loose, that’s all I can tell you, and it was terrible.
Tyler: Were you wounded?
Will: Yes, twice. The first ten days on the beach I was hit in the stomach and the next day I was hit in the back with shrapnel.
Tyler: What did you do after you secured the beach?
Will: Well, I was with a lot of dead people. And when you are in the enemy’s territory they got the high terrain and they can look down at you and that is why we lost a lot of people. War is terrible you just can’t believe it. It is just terrible.
Tyler: What did you do after the primary invasion?
Will: You fought for your life and just tried to live.
Tyler: did you know about Operation Bodyguard?
Will: That was a name of an operation that is what they called an um … we picked out some troops so the enemy could get the message. That was the name of a small conflict with the enemy.
Tyler: How long did you serve in the army?
Will: 4 years and 11 months of combat.
Tyler: Did you receive any medals?
Will: Yea you receive medals; I received the sharpshooter medal and a good conduct medal. Also, I received the Purple Heart. I wasn’t a hero or nothing I was just one of the guys that went off.
Tyler: What were you duties after D-day?
Will: After you rush the beach, you get your troop together and form a platoon and go up where you can see the enemy
Tyler: Coming back to America, how did you feel about the decision you made to fight?
Will: Well, I felt like I should and Hitler more or less had the equipment to take the world. I would not want to go again, but if I was you would join.
Tyler: Well I think I am done thank you for everything.
Will: Thank you.
Barb: Tyler, did he tell you he was drafted in the last draft? He walked through Europe.
Tyler: No he never mentioned that.
Barb: Did he tell how he went to basic training?
Tyler: He only touched on it a little bit.
Barb: First, he went to Spartanburg South Carolina and that is where he had basic training and then we went to England for two years. Then he walked Europe. He said when he was in battle that he was too scared to go to the bathroom. He said the Germans were so much like us it was difficult because when you captured one of them it was hard because they were blonde and blue eyes. They were so like us; and they had families just like us. The war was silly. Then when he got out he received two purple hearts. When he got injured the one time, they didn’t think he would ever have kids. But thankfully he had me!
Tyler: Does he still remember it?
Barb: He is 87 and he remembers it like yesterday?
Tyler: Do loud noises or anything of that sort remind him of the war?
Barb: Well, when he was married to my mother he woke up in the middle of night and he had his hands around her throat. He doesn’t enjoy seeing saving Private Ryan or movies like that because they are too real.
Tyler: How did he feel the war was being portrayed back on the home front?
Barb: In WWII, you were fighting for a cause and all of America was behind you and everyone supported men in uniforms, you were proud of serving your country. He is very patriotic and loves his country.
Barb: He was a staff sergeant, but he could have been an officer but he chose not to be. He taught a lot of lieutenants at Ft Wayne Georgia and at WestPoint. He kind of showed them the ropes and he is proud of that.
Tyler: Well thank you for everything
Barb: Your welcome, I know this made Will’s day.