Corporal Harry Robert Swadener, United States Army 36th. ID  Combat Military Policeman during WWII in the European Theater.

http://www.myspace.com/robertswadener  

I was born in Logansport, IN 1923.  We moved to Indianapolis in `40 after my brother finished High School.  Went Arsenal Tech, graduated in `42 and worked as a learning machinist until 1943.  Was drafted February 13, 1943.  Broke my foot the third week of Basic Training, so after a short stay in the hospital, was shipped home for a short leave and was sent to Camp Swift, Texas.  Was sent to Hampton Roads, VA and boarded a ship that ended up at Oran, Africa.  After a short stay there I was sent to Naples, Italy where I landed off the s side of a scuttled ship.  After another short stay in the Reple-depo, I as assigned to the 36th Division MP Platoon.  Were I got into the Division, we could see Mount Vesuvius and all the ash coming from it.

 We did a lot of road patrolling at first then we were moved farther up in Italy.  We took care of prisoners just after they were captured.  While in Italy, I watched the bombing of Abby, which was awesome!!

 I remember climbing down the side of a ship and landing on French soil.  One of the ships was hit by a bomb and it drifted under the CP in a house and blew up about 4 times knocking us to our knees each time.  Went up France, where the Lt. tried out his French and got nowhere `cause the Frenchman spoke English!!!

 Went through Germany after crossing the Rhine River.  Came home after the end of the war in only five days, after taking 23 days to go across!!