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Area Man Recalls Days as Machine Gunner in WWII

World War II veteran writes memories of his time at war.

As Art Bauer flips through the pages of a book he compiled about his days as a machine gunner in World War II, the events come back to him like it was yesterday.

At 87 years old, he is part of a dwindling generation of WWII veterans, with "very few left,’’ the Army veteran said. A Chicago native, Bauer was drafted at age 18 and served his country from February 1943 until December 1945. He had no idea exactly what he had signed up to do.

"The only thing I got to decide was whether I’d be Army or Navy,’’ the Algonquin resident said. "We all picked Army – like dopes. We didn’t know any better.’’

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Yellowed photos of his time at war, letters of commendation, certificates of recognition of service and news clippings his mother saved fill the pages along with his account of what happened for the nearly three years he served.

With his niece’s help, he started writing down stories of his days in WWII and just kept adding as he’d recall different events, he said.

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 Framed and hanging in his home is his collection of war medals, including Battle Stars, a WWII Victory Medal and the one he is most proud of, his Combat Infantry Badge.

As part of the 40th Infantry Division, Bauer said he never stopped moving, with his unit on the front line of many invasions.

"It was constant – you just kept moving,’’ he said. "The only thing you knew that was going on is what was happening right around you.’’

The Zambales Mountains were the roughest terrain he fought in, and where he saw the most casualties, he said.

"From here on we really started to pay the price – definitely the worst,’’ he said, looking at photos of the area, calling the mountains a "nightmarish place.’’

When the war ended, Bauer was still in southern Korea on occupation duty, he said, adding "that’s what’s now South Korea.’’

 A few pages of photos show he and his wife of 64 years Helen, while he was on furlough.

"That was the last I saw of her for over two years,’’ he said.

 Some of the photos taken during his time in WWII are yellowed and fading, but Bauer said his memories of the war remain clear in his mind.

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