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Send us your news Public Service Announcement Submit Advertising Classified Advertising Issue Archives 8 November 2007 |
Stantonsburg friendship through WWII and beyond
By Sarah A. Wise
NL Staff Writer
15 November 2007 — Across the country, many veterans used this weekend’s festivities to reunite with old army buddies and tell stories of their experiences during the war. But swapping war stories is a bit old hat for Arthur Winstead and Aaron Swinson. The two World War II vets have the opportunity to recall their war stories with each other almost every day.
Arthur and Aaron, who both live in Stantonsburg, have been friends since they were young. They regularly get together, often over a meal at the Stantonsburg community building.
During the height of World War II, Arthur and Aaron joined the Army together. The two young men were inducted at Fort Bragg in March of 1943. From there, they went for specialized training at Camp Hood in Texas.
Up until they got to Texas, the two went through much of their training together. But when they arrived at Camp Hood, Arthur said that changed.
“We got separated when we got to Texas,” he said. “But we kept training there until we were ready to go overseas.”
Arthur was sent to Germany via France and Italy. When his unit left Texas, they traveled by boat to France, a journey that Arthur said took much longer than they anticipated.
“There were mines out in the ocean, so we couldn’t travel very fast," he explained.
Arthur said the men were out in the water for thirteen days and nights before they reached the coast of France. After landing, the group spent some time fighting in France before moving on to Italy and eventually Germany, where they spent most of their time.
“When we were fighting in Germany, we were under a commander," he said. “He would tell us where to point our guns at, and we’d fire until we hit our target.”
While Arthur was in the heat of the action in Europe fighting the Germans, his buddy Aaron was on a bit of a different course.
From Texas, Aaron said he was sent to England. However, soon after he arrived, he became sick and unable to do a whole lot of fighting.
“I did see some battle," he said. But when he remained ill, Aaron said he was transported back to the United States to receive care. He spent three years in the Army before he was honorably discharged.
Upon the end of the war, both men returned home to Stantonsburg, where they found themselves jobs and began to settle back into everyday life.
Arthur got a job in a sawmill in Stantonsburg. Aaron eventually went to work at a factory, where he stayed until he retired.
Both men are now retired, and spend their days with their families.
Aaron is married to Queen Esther Swinson. He has one child, and his wife has five. Aaron also has three grandchildren.
Arthur and his wife Annie have three children and eight grandchildren. And in the Winstead family, military service during wartime extended into the second generation. Arthur’s son is a veteran of the Vietnam War.
Arthur and Aaron are part of a dwindling number of World War II veterans who are still able to swap their war stories. As the years go by, more and more veterans of the war have passed on.
But Aaron and Arthur’s stories are a unique tale for local citizens, because, though the two saw different aspects of the world and saw the grit of war at a young age, their story ends where it begins – with friendship. More than 60 years ago, the two departed for the unknown as young recruits. Though they were separated during their service, their return to the U.S. brought them both to Stantonsburg, where their friendship has stayed strong throughout the decades.
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Issue of 15 November 2007 Headlines Stantonsburg friendship lasts through WWII Army tour and beyond Stantonsburg finds ways to reduce emergency response costs Benfield, Hardison wed at Carolina Beach Spray field could cost Fremont $1 mil Soccer: CBA team makes history Wayne Wilson News Leader Princeton News Leader Email us: |
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