Memories of
 James W. Green Jr. (dad)
During World War II
 placed on the web Saturday 2 January 1999

    James W. Green Jr. (dad) was in the Army Signal Corps during World War II. His job was repairing radios & transmitters.

1. He was drafted & reported for duty at Ft. McPherson, Atlanta, GA
2. then was sent to Sea Girt Nat. Guard Camp in NJ for basic training
3. then was sent to Ft. Monmouth NJ for advanced training (electronics repair)
4. then was sent to Ft. Harahan Louisiana
5. then about Feb 1942 embarked at New Orleans on a cattle boat that had been converted into a military transport ship.  There were about 500 soldiers on board.  They endured a bad storm & arrived in Colon, Panama after about 5 or 6 days at sea.
6. Dad was one of about 200 soldiers that were immediately put on a train and at about 2 PM the train left Colon.  About an hour later they arrived at Ft. Clayton.
7. They were quaranteened at Ft. Clayton for about 3 weeks, thinking it was the measles. It turned out to be a skin infection.
8. Then they were sent to Corozal for 6 months while the army built Madden-Y. During this time there was a shortage of MPs (Military Police) & they assigned several, including dad, to be MPs.
9. then as Madden-Y was nearing completion they were transfered to Madden-Y. I hope to find a map showing Madden-Y and how to spell it. I have plotted it based on dad remembering it as being a mile or 2 further along the railroad from Summit, toward the Atlantic coast. I have marked Corozal, Summit, Ft. Clayton, the RR, & the canal at Colon from inspection of maps that I have. The huts in Madden-Y were built on stilts of cypress logs which were painted and as ants built mud tunnels up the logs, the tunnels were destroyed. Some of the huts had walls & some didn't. The cloest hut was probably 100 ft. from the railroad. There were about 75 soldiers living there. Dad lived there about 2 years repairing receivers & transmitters. Medical & electronic supplies were kept there. It rained for 9 months out of the year.
10. Next they were moved back to Corozal & Madden-Y began to decay.
11. After 6 months in Corozal they returned to Colon & went back to New Orleans by ship.
12. from New Orleans dad returned to Ft. Monmouth NJ where he was discharged about (Nov. 18?) (1946?).
  • Dad was a T5 in the 211th company of the Signal Corps of the Army.
    Dad exchanged Christmas cards with some of the soldiers he was with in Panama & dad has visited some of them & they have visited him. I am looking for dad's discharge papers & a list of his fellow soldiers that some one memeographed & distributed. Here is what dad remembers.

    1) Dad's 1st Sgt. was Nick Janes* who married Rose. He was with dad at Madden-Y, Panama. In 1979 they exchanged Xmas cards. Mr. Janes' address was:
    1477 State St.
    Calumet City, IL 60409

    2) Jack Glick was a T5 with dad at Madden-Y, Panama.

    3) Mr. Stern* was a T5 with dad at Madden-Y, Panama. After the war, he lived in (SC?).

    4) Paul Uppenheimer* was a T5 with dad at Madden-Y, Panama. After the war, Paul lived in New York City, NY

    In 1972 we moved from Johnson City TN to a Rural Rt. of Winnsboro SC.
    Dad thinks he was the oldest of the above.
    Dad visited Janes in Chicago & Jack Glick in Baltimore MD prior to 1972.
    *Came to see us in Johnson City TN

    Dad has about 4 photos from Madden-Y, Panama that someone gave him. The photos show:

    1) inside the PX with 4 out of 5 soldiers looking at camera. Behind counter, one on left is labeled Sam & one on right is labeled me. Dad does not recognize them.

    2) about 9 men playing volley ball with 1 story baracks in background &

    3) the 2 story baracks on right & mess hall on left with someone in foreground hitting volley ball with both hands.

    4) 4 men playing volley ball, one of which is facing camera. A one story baracks is in the background.

13. After the war, dad got a job with the CAA (which after a few years became the FAA). His 1st job with the CAA was "on the road" installing equipement at airports.
14. He married Essie Inez Broom 5 PM EST Nov 8 1947 in Central Baptist Church, Johnson City, Tennessee. My parents have only been married this once. They have had no other marriages. Both are still alive (as of Jan 1999). They have been Southern Baptists all their lives.
15. After marriage, he lived in Bristol TN & did maintenance at Tri-Cities Airport.
16. After a few months he was transfered to the airport at Savannah GA where I (James III) was born (Telfair Hospital) Nov. 17 1949. I am their only child.
17. In 1950 he was transfered back to TriCities Airport & we lived in Johnson City TN. We lived in Johnson City TN until March 1972. Our address from about 1951-1972 was 614 Lamont Street, Johnson City, TN 37601
The Signal Corps Regimental Association http://www.signalcorps.org/index.htm

Signal Corps Home Page www.gordon.army.mil/home

From: "Tuschen, Amy E." < tuschena@emh.gordon.army.mil>
To: jameswgreen@juno.com
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 09:33:03 -0500
Subject: RE: my Signal Corps page & yours

James,
A place to start is with the Command Historian office here on Fort Gordon, that maintains Signal History. Perhaps they can help you. The POC is Mark Dunn Dunnmw@emh.Gordon.Army.Mil , (706)791-5212. Also, while Fort Gordon is the home of the Signal Corps, their home page is at www.gordon.army.mil/home
I will let you know if I find any other info on the 211th. Sincerely,
-Amy

======================
AMY E TUSCHEN
National Manager
Signal Corps Regimental Association
Fort Gordon, GA 30905
(706)791-3919 DSN 780- FAX -8728
======================

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This page was last Updated 19 July 2000.

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