Reflections of My Life by JL Byars – page 5

Some of the inductees who came to Camp Polk about the time I did were Doyis Neisler  (wife, Neta) from Paris, Texas; Elgin Maikell (wife, Mary) from Dublin, Texas; Dan Abernathy (wife, Virgie) from Altus, Oklahoma; and Howard Marchbanks from Dallas. Howard met his wife, Nettie Fay Martin, (a friend of Doris and mine from Dunn, Texas) through letters. They married the second time they saw each other after the war was over.  Marchbanks was the only one who had a car – a 1935 Nash and when we got a leave, he would bring us all to Dallas and we would catch a bus to our hometowns.

The friendships we made in basic training remained throughout our training and on into the battles and once we were home again our families stayed in close touch and visited almost yearly.  In 1979 six of the soldiers and their wives came to our home and spent four days.  We had a wonderful time and relived many memories.  We were truly closer than brothers.  Abernathy and I are the only ones living now.  We visited him in the Veterans Nursing Home in Clinton, Oklahoma in October of 1999.  I still miss all of my army buddies.

Our time in Fort Polk was very short.  Our job was to train other recruits for the Divisions that were being formed.  By July 25, 1941, the Third Armored Division had received a group of men from all states in the East and central United States.  We were known as “Hell on Wheels” of the Third Armored Division with First Army.  Later the “Hell on Wheels” became known as “Spearhead” due to its action in combat, since we were always on the front.