Corporal, John Martin Oates Jr.
 Boot Camp to Honorable Discharge

 

 

 

John Martin (Jack) Oates Jr. drafted - October 2, 1942
Discharged January 1946 

March 1943 - Boot Camp,
Alabama
Pass from Camp Seibert, Attala, Ala.   Jack & Cpl. Carl Stapleton of Kingsport, Tenn. 
Sampson Co. - 1944
Furlough home from Alabama 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Destination - New Caledonia, Pacific Theater

Passed Penhryn Island, Cook Islands Group in the South Pacific - 
enroute to New Caledonia


New Caledonia (French possession). "It was a muddy mess  when we arrived"


Noumea, New Caledonia - 1944 - 
A long ways from home.


New Caledonia, Assigned to the 109 th. 
Chemical Company


This four-man tent was home of Jack Oates for 16 mo.
Shipped from San Francisco on a tub captured from Mussolinni. 
Person in front is one of the other occupants

               
Left photo - one 24 bottle case of FREE coke for every member,  except officers.  
Acquired by Jack Oates from friend, James Rose of Newton Grove (member of the 
Post Office Company).   Coke was warm, of course, but a treat.

         
US Flag at half-mast following death of President Roosevelt.


Non-denominational church - built mostly by personnel of the 
109th. Chemical Company - New Caledonia

Inside view of church


September 10, 1944 - New Caledonia

On the High Seas. "We left New Caledonia for Manila. It was 1945"

 

Welcome to Manila - 1945



Manila - Summer 1945. Ice cream, Philippino style, from street vendor at 50 cents per 
scoop. L-R, Staff Sgt. Binns,  Cpl. J. Oates,  Cpl. Tillery,  Cpl. Dilbeck


The War is over.    Japan Surrenders

109th Chemical Company - Kobe, Japan - Fall 1945
       

American  B-29s leveled each side of elevated train tracks.  Very accurate. 
Started at hillside and came to the sea. Fire bomb destruction in foreground - 
Elevated electric train in background.


Kyoto, Japan - school children


Kyoto, Japan - Four members of 109th at Gateway to Shinto Shrine.  

Jack in Nagoya, Japan

 

Brothers - J.M. Oates Jr. and J.W. Oates met in
Nagoya, Japan - Winter 1945.
Bunk had come from France via Manila following the 
defeat of the Germans in Europe.
 
During this time, brother Ralph was with the army air corp in England and 
brother Hugh was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C.

 


"Farewell, American GIs"


Going Home

Kobe, Japan
Disbanded and sent home through San Francisco in late December 1945
John Martin Oates Jr. was discharged at Fort Bragg, N.C. in January 1946