Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 14, Number 30, DeMotte, Jasper County, 9 June 1944 — JACK EAST HOME ON SHORT LEAVE FROM HOSPITAL [ARTICLE]

JACK EAST HOME ON SHORT LEAVE FROM HOSPITAL

Jack East of near Wheatfield, who is a veteran of this World J - War, having enlisted the 24th day of October, 1941, arrived home last week end from the Billings hospital, at Indianapolis, where he is recuperating from a broken leg. His limb is enclosed in a “walking” cast and he gets along quite well with a cane. In addition to the cast Jack is also wearing a Purple Heart decoration, with cluster, his overseas badge and a good conduct medal He has seen a lot of this man’s globe. After joining the U. S. military forces he trained at Camp Wheeler, Ga., and then Fort Dix. N. J. He was sent overseas in April 1942, going to North Ireland, Scotland, South Africa and Italy. He took part in the invasion of the Algiers. He was in Africa ten months and was in the midst heavy fighting for six months. I: was in Africa he was first wounded. This was in September 1943, when he was with another infantryman who tripped on a wire that set off a mine. Peculiarly his sec ond injuries was from a mine also. He attempted to step around a dead soldier in Italy and hit another mine that broke his right leg above the ankle, shattering the bone. At first it was thought that he would not be able to save the leg, but fine Army doctors fixed him up. It hoped that he now will be able to use it. The injury came last January 28th in Italy. He went to Italy from Africa in September and left there this last April, rfe landed at Charlestown, Va., in May 7, and later was sent on to Indianapolis for hospitalization. Jack is the son of Mrs. Clifford Kerns, Wheatfield.