Brock Corbin

Address: P.O. Box 725 Monticello UT 84535 Phone: 435-587-2527 Fax: 435-587-3198

Email: joejoe@sanjuan.net

History of Corbin after ASTP

After we finished the Advanced Phase of ASTP on October 28/44, I went on Furlough and then reported to Camp Crowder for advanced training in radio. Before that was finished we were given a 3 day pass and upon our return were called out and told, "the following E M are transferred in grade to the Infantry".
So I soon found myself at Camp Gordon Ga. doing 20 mile hikes and training under live fire for 6 weeks. I was then given a delay in route to Fort George G. Meade where we were organized into an Infantry Co. and were shipped to Camp Kilmer N.Y. for embarkation to Europe. While there I became engaged to my sweetheart from Alamosa Colo. who had transferred there with Western Union. We shipped out on 23 March 45 and arrived at Marseille France on 3 Apr. 45. We then went by train to Gourmand Holland where we stayed for a few days or weeks and then boarded a 40 & 8 train for Germany. We crossed the Rhine River in time to get a Battle Star for the Battle of Europe. We arrived at Muenster Germany and were Billeted in the Luftwaffe barracks and garages for a few days. One Morning the Company was called out to be loaded into Trucks for transporting to clean out the Ruhr pocket of Germans.
By this time I knew where my name came on the Roster so as instructed I had one hand on the Truck and the other on my barracks bag with my mouth open to answer yo when my name was called. Lo and behold the Sergeant didn't call me so I said, " Sarge you didn't call my name" and his answer was " Get back in line and I will call you when I get to you," real gruff like all Infantry Sergeants were. Well when all of the men were loaded except me the Sergeant came over and ask, "name rank and serial number", which I gave him. He looked on the Roster and said " you're not on the list, go back to the barracks". Which I did with no questions of why and he didn't bother to find out why either.
I stayed there for over a month and was in Co. X for extra men. The first morning after being left behind, we were called out to go to the Rifle Range to shoot. The Officer in charge ask for a volunteer to repair and install Radios that had been procured from German Homes. One Soldier volunteered and the rest of us went to the Range. We came back at noon and I had had enough of that so I went into the office and ask if they needed another volunteer. The CQ said yes," go help that other guy", which I did and found out that he was a Radio Operator from the Air Force and didn't know beans about repair. He was soon transferred out and I had it all to myself. I had a nice repair shop and reported to no one. I had my own Bicycle and could come and go as I pleased. If I needed parts I called a driver and he drove me to the warehouse where the parts were stored. I was living the life of Riley. I put radios or speakers in all the Officers Quarters, the USO, Nurses quarters and all the floors in the barracks.
The Army finally found me and transferred me to the 137th Signal Radio Intelligence Co. they had been active in the War for a long time and were on R&R in a little town in Germany that had a Brewery. Each weekend we were issued a quart of Gin and had a Barrel of Beer in the Messhall. On weekends we had a Tub of Cognac in the area behind the Messhall, so we all had a good time.
We were finally called to go to Neuenkirchen Germany to take over operations while the army changed out the Co. that was there, for a new one. I was in charge of the Electric Generators. We lived in a private residence and were not subject to any formations. We often went out to the farms and procured eggs and cooked them in Butter we had procured from the messhall. We also made love to some of the farm girls. After awhile we were transferred to Spa Belgium to await further orders, we lived in the large Villas in the area. My group lived in Kaiser Wilhems Villa and could go to town and take hot mineral baths and get a massage. While in Spa we were given a weekend to Paris where we tried to consume all of their Wine. We also made love with French Girls as all good soldiers would. We were finally ordered to go to Austria and sent an advanced party ahead. Before we could get prepared to join them our orders were changed and we were ordered to go to the States and on to Japan. I went with a party of men to Luxembourg to get our boxes to box up our equipment. We then took our equipment to Rheims France and turned it in and proceeded to Marseille France to get ready for our trip back to the States. We were on ship and out to sea on the 14 day of August 45 and all troupes were frozen in the ETO on August 15,45.
I had a total of 32 points and we left guys that had as many as 300 points, but we were going to fight a war. We arrived in the States on 26 August 45 and were greeted by a large cheering crowd, and went on to Ft. Dix N.J. Our ship had a large Banner hanging on the side telling who we were and we were featured in all the papers. I feel like I was a tourist for the 5 months and 4 days that I was gone from the States, and for that matter for the 3 years and 4 months I spent in the Army.
We were given a delay in route to Ft. Jackson and while I was home I married Arah Wilson of Alamosa, Colo. On reporting to Ft. Jackson I got a hardship furlough and returned to Monticello. Utah, where I had left my wife. On returning to Ft. Jackson I was transferred to a Signal Warehouse at Warrenton Va. just out of Washington D. C. where I spent the rest of my Army time. My wife came and joined me and we lived in a private home in town. I was discharged 11 Feb 45 at Ft. George G. Mead and returned to work at our family owned Tele. Co. in Monticello, Utah.

After many transfers with Contel, who we merged with in 1964, and at retirement, I returned to my old home town of Moab, Utah. where we lived part time for 6 years and then back where I was born, Monticello.

We have 4 Children, 20 Grand Children & 14 Greatgrand children with 2 on the way. My #1 son David has his own business, a rebuilding & repair shop ( VW Specialties) & holds down a full time job with a trucking Co. as their head welder & forman. My #1 Daughter has her own Real Estate Office and has completed scholling & is a Broker. My #2 Daughter & her Husband have a Printing Co. My #2 Son is a Police Officer & Jailer in the Salt Lake area.

Continuing on with my life: I stayed in Monticello for 20 years working for our Family owned Co. In 1966 (after the merger with Contel)I was transfered to Calif. where I managed a Co. for Contel for 2 years. I was then transfered to Idaho to Manage all of their Properties there. After 7 years of that I was Transfered to Phoenix as the Division Contract Adm. In August 1981 I was Sent to Lima, Peru to write a large Contract between Nipon Ele. & the Gov. owned Peruvian Tele. system, to revamp all of their Exchanges in the Lima area.

At my return I was unhappy with my Boss and told them to take the Job & shove it. As I was almost ready to retire, and was a long time Employe & previous owner in our family Co. they sent me home & paid me my salary until I retired on Jan, 1 1982.