by Samantha White
Burns Times-Herald

World War II veteran Kenneth Eldridge passed away Jan. 25 at the age of 97. The Burns Times-Herald would like to honor his life and legacy by republishing his memoir, which originally ran on June 18, 2014.

Eldridge was drafted into the U.S. Army Nov. 27, 1943, and he began active service Dec. 18, 1943.

He received basic training at Camp Roberts in California. And on June 8, 1944, he was shipped out to New Guinea.

Although he was from California, Eldridge was assigned to the Alabama National Guard’s 31st Division, 167th Infantry Regiment, Company “B” second platoon, 2nd squad. This division was known as the Dixie division. Eldridge was appointed the first scout of the patrol.

Eldridge’s friend, Everett L. Farquhar (nicknamed “Zeke”) was also made a first scout.

“They made us first scouts as soon as we were attached to their outfit,” Eldridge wrote in his autobiographical account. “If there was a dangerous mission or patrol that came up, one of us, as first scouts, lead out first for that patrol.”

Eldridge was part of the group that spearheaded the landing on Moratai Island, pushing inland until reaching a village where the Japanese set up a temporary camp.

During this time, a knee mortar hit the riffle that Eldridge was holding between his legs. The riffle was destroyed, but Eldridge’s life was spared. 

And a second mortar hit between Eldridge’s legs, as he scrambled toward a tree.

With the exception of two soldiers, everyone in Eldridge’s platoon was injured or killed during the mortar attack. Luckily, Eldridge’s friend, Zeke, was one of the two who were not injured.

Fragments from both mortars, as well as ones that hit some of the other soldiers directly, were embedded throughout Eldridge’s body.

“I believe I had 28 wounds from my eyes to my lower legs,” Eldridge wrote. “I had some of these fragments removed later at sick calls over in the islands that were bothering me; when I bent my legs and arms, they pulled tight against my skin.”

Eldridge had other pieces of shrapnel removed later in life. Yet some pieces, like the one in his right arm, remain lodged in his body.

After Moratai was secured, Eldridge’s group spearheaded the landing on Mindanao Island.

While on the island, Eldridge was first scout on a mission to retrieve a walkie-talkie radio that was left behind by a platoon leader during a battle the previous day.

“We, the U.S., could not afford to let the enemy listen in on our walkie-talkie radios,” Eldridge explained.

While attempting to recover the radio, Eldridge spotted a booby trap. And in the events that followed, he was hit by concussion by friendly artillery shells that landed short of their targets.

“I remember flying up in the air. But I don’t remember coming back down,” Eldridge wrote. 

His knees and elbows were also burned by phosphorus, which was set off to notify a pilot of their position. The pilot was directing the artillery from the air.

Eventually, word was received that the Japanese surrendered, and the war was over.

“This day was the happiest day for us since the war began,” Eldridge wrote. 

He had spent 329 days on front-line combat. 

After the war, Eldridge helped clean up Mindanao Island and waited to go home.

Part of his duties were to dig up the shallow graves and carry the dead back out. 

“I still have nightmares about this, and I can still smell the smell,” Eldridge wrote. “Sometimes it makes me sick to my stomach, then I cry the rest of the night.”

Finally, a troop ship came in for the group, and Eldridge was sent back to the United States.

Unfortunately, by the time the ship docked in California, Eldridge contracted malaria and had to be transported to a military hospital for treatment.

He stayed in the hospital until he was released, and was then sent to Fort McArthur, Calif. for discharge a few days later.

After the service, Eldridge resumed working for Douglas Aircraft Company in California, which was the job that he held before he was drafted.

Eldridge worked for the company for 18 years, eventually earning a supervisory position. While working, he also attended night school.

Eldridge moved to Harney County in 1993, stating, “God sent us here.” 

He began writing an autobiographical account of his military service when he was in his 80s. 

“I have started this story many times and messed up, rewrote pages, then started over,” Eldridge wrote at the beginning of his account. “I have scrapped and burned more pages than I have written.”

He added, “Since the war, I have tried the best I know how to not say one word about it, thinking that one day I could forget it all…I think in my own mind that if I am around other people, they will downgrade me because of what happened to me in the war.”

On the contrary, the staff of the Burns Times-Herald would like to lift up and honor Eldridge for his service and immense sacrifice.

His life and legacy will not be forgotten.