May 2002
My name is Lloyd James Morrell, now age 84 and residing at Redmond, Oregon. I was born October 4, 1917 in South Boston, Massachusetts, home to many good Irishmen at that time.
I entered military service in October 4, 1940 at Boston, MA. The National Guard was having a big recruiting drive at the time. While passing a booth they had set up at the Boston Common I decided to enlist. Registration for the draft appeared eminent and I thought now was the time to enlist in the arm of the military that was of my choice. This was the field artillery, 155-mm howitzer regiment.
Military training initially took place at the Commonwealth Armory in Boston. After we were federalized on January 16, 1941 our training was at Camp Edwards on Cape Cod. At that time we were part of the 26th Yankee Division. Training also included maneuvers at Fort Devens, MA and the Carolina maneuvers in 1941.
Pearl Harbor happened just as we were returning to Camp Edwards from the Carolina maneuvers. When we got back to Camp Edwards we were restricted to the base and told we were on alert for overseas movement. At midnight on January 20, 1942, a few weeks after Pearl Harbor, railroad trains were backed into the sidings at Camp Edwards. We were loaded on board the unlighted coaches and transported to the Brooklyn, NY Army Base docks. We were then loaded aboard the SS Argentina and left the pier on January 23, 1942, destination unknown.
We transited the Panama Canal and ended up in Melbourne, Australia. Since we were the first American troops to enter Australia we received a tremendous welcome. Our battalion moved by train to Bendigo, a small former gold mining town. We were quartered in private homes, two men to a home. After about a week we returned to Melbourne and reloaded onto the Argentina and left for New Caledonia.
We were on New Caledonia as a defense force for about eight months. During this time the Americal Division was born. Eventually we moved on to combat at Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and the Philippines. This is all found in the Americal history.
I was very fortunate in that I served in the same battalion of artillery from October 4, 1940 to the war's end in September 1945. Originally we were the 180th FA Regiment. The first battalion was selected to join Task Force 6814 as the 180th FA Battalion. The 180th was later redesignated the 221st FA Battalion.
I began service as a member of A Battery, then reassigned to Service Battery in March 1941 as Mess Sergeant. When we went overseas I became Battalion Ammo Sergeant (S/Sgt) in charge of the ammo section. In June 1944 on Bougainville I was reassigned to Hq & Hq Battery and promoted to First Sergeant. I remained there until the end of the war.
One of the things that remain in my memory was that for over three years I lived entirely under canvas. Living conditions were never very good, but Guadalcanal was the worst. It was there that I contracted malaria and was hospitalized three times with attacks. With the exception of the Battalion Commander, I was the last of the National Guardsman left in the battalion at the end of the war.
Altogether my wartime service was an experience I will never forget, or regret. In those days it was a duty and honor to serve our country. After the war ended I was rotated back to the States and returned to Fort Devens, MA. I was mustered out of the Army in the grade of First Sergeant.
About a year of civilian life was about all I could stand and I re-enlisted at Fort Banks, Boston, MA. on October 4, 1946. I had the grade of Staff Sergeant. Although I enlisted in the Army I was assigned to the Army Air Corps with administrative duties.
I was with the Air Corps when it became the U. S. Air Force. I served at First Air Force HQ at Mitchel Field, NY and at Ninth Air Force HQ at Langley AF Base, VA. When the Korean War began the headquarters had a levy of two positions in my grade and MOS for overseas duty. Due to my long overseas service in WWII and the number of points I had accrued I was sent to Alaska rather than Korea.
I remained in the Air Force until September 1955. At that time I took a discharge in order to remain in Alaska. At the time of my discharge I held the grade of master Sergeant on the staff of the Commanding General, Alaskan Air Command.
I spent the next seven years in the US Department of Justice and then went over to the US Department of Agriculture. My pre-war occupation was in the meat industry and I decided to return to that occupation. I entered Agriculture as a Meat Inspector but after a couple of years I again moved into administrative duties. My final assignment was Executive Officer, Food Safety and Inspection Service, located in Washington, D. C. I had nationwide responsibilities for administrative functions of the agency.
I have three children, son Lloyd, daughter Brenda, and son James. They were all raised on military bases. My youngest son Jim followed a military career and recently retired in the grade of Captain, US Navy. His final assignment was as Commodore, Destroyer Squadron One, and San Diego. This command consisted of eight guided missile frigates. I was married for 24 years to my first wife. My second wife Ann and I will celebrate our 37th anniversary in June 2002.
I have stayed in contact with many of my wartime buddies over the years. Our friendship has remained strong since our WWII service. While most of them have now passed on the few of us left are still comrades and still in touch. The only veterans' activities that I participate in are with the Americal Division Veterans Association. My membership goes back very many years. I have served as Chapter Commander for over 29 years and also on the Nominating Committee and the Executive Council.
My final comments are that I am very proud to have been a member of the Americal family for over 60 years and I hope for many more. As a member of the "Old Guard" I am very pleased with the way they Americal Vietnam veterans have taken hold in the Association. I am sure the name Americal will remain strong for many years to come under their direction. I feel that I have many friends in the new generation Americalers.