Wallace Hays, from Cowan, Indiana, fought in WWII. Mustered in with the 38th division in Indianapolis and sent to Camp Shelby in Mississippi for basic training. A meningitis outbreak in his barracks prevented him from going with the rest of his fellow Hoosiers to the south Pacific. After being quarantined for a few months he was placed with a bunch of Okies and Longhorns in the 36th Texas Arrowhead division, 142nd infantry regiment of the 5th Army. First went to N Africa then saw significant action in Italy at Rapido River and Mt Cassino amongst other places. Was trapped for many days by German gunfire in the mountains in the dead of winter. Feet were frost bit and nearly had to amputate but thanks to a British nurse tried a new technique which saved them. He always wanted to meet her. Couldn't walk for months and was stuck in a hospital in southern Italy until he was allowed to go home. Walked with a limp the rest of his life with severe nerve damage but managed to be a successful farmer, drove a bus for the local school and was fully engaged in many activities in the small farming community. Well respected in his community, never smoked or drank a drop of alcohol in his life. Kind of person if you crossed him once you never had a chance to do it again. Practiced tough love with my brother and I but was honest in his dealings with others and expected the same. US government finally got around to sending him his bronze star and European campaign medals shortly before he passed away. Never talked about the war until late in his life but when he did the stories were unbelievable about the things the soldiers went through. I miss him dearly. A great example to me. RIP grandpa.