GUARDIANS OF FREEDOM
Saluting Those Who Served in the U.S. Army
In Honor of Alfred Bohn & George "Pete" DeFrain, Part 1
by Janis Stein

Join The Lakeshore Guardian in paying tribute to two World War II soldiers: Alfred Bohn and George “Pete” DeFrain. While both soldiers survived the war, they have since passed away, but their memory lives on in many a heart.

So often World War II veterans who served the United States of America pass on before their stories are told, before they are honored publicly to the degree they deserved for their part in fighting for lives and for justice. Alfred Bohn and George “Pete” DeFrain are two such soldiers who served together during World War II.

George “Pete” DeFrain was the brother of Leonard “Pic” DeFrain and the father of Alan DeFrain. Pete spoke little about the war when he returned home, but the photographs in his album spoke of untold horrors. Pete, who participated in the second wave of D-Day landings at Utah Beach in Normandy, France, as well as three invasions in Sicily, Italy and North Africa, served alongside Alfred Bohn, a man engaged to a girl named Gertrude – a girl who hoped Al would survive the war and return to her safely.

Alfred Bohn passed away in 1989 and, after his death, Gertrude found a journal in which Al had chronicled his war experiences. In a steadfast voice, Gertrude recorded Al’s experiences on a cassette tape. Gertrude Bohn shared the recorded tape with the DeFrain family so, they, too, could know more about the details regarding George DeFrain’s service.

Bohn had a love for photography. One night, two officers came and awoke Bohn, telling him to bring his camera. Bohn snapped pictures of unimaginable horror and quietly made copies for his fellow soldiers, including those that landed in the DeFrain album.

George “Pete” DeFrain passed away on December 4, 2003. And now, together – through one soldier’s photo album and another’s war journal, the world will know the sacrifices Alfred Bohn and George DeFrain made for their country and the battles they faced during World War II. During their service, both soldiers received extensive amphibious training and would eventually build necessary roads and bridges to support the war effort.

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Alfred Bohn received his draft notice on April 22, 1942, and the following day Bohn, like so many young men, traveled to Fort Custer before moving on to Camp Robinson, Arkansas, where he endured seven weeks of systematic training. At some point, Bohn and DeFrain forged a friendship and by June 17, they were on the move again, this time to Camp Edwards, Massachusetts, for four weeks of engineer training.

At Camp Edwards, DeFrain and Bohn joined the Third Battalion of the 531st Engineer Shore Regiment. While at Camp Edwards, the battalion received strenuous amphibious training in beach landings.

Bohn and DeFrain then boarded a boat on August 6, 1942, leaving Staten Island, New York, and sailing for 12 days, before arriving in Belfast. While on board, the soldiers spoke of their homes, of their loved ones, and all agreed they would be happier at home.

Every day, Bohn and his comrades watched the ship guns fire for practice in this young war. Well protected, the men hunkered down in their boat equipped with 16 guns, anti-aircraft .50 caliber machine guns, .30 caliber and four and six in-surface guns. The entire convoy consisted of about 40 boats, which included 13 troop transports, 25 battleships and other Navy boats. Soldiers ate heartily of chicken, fresh baked bread with butter and jam and for dessert, ice cream. All the while, the men watched with interest as the convoy created different formations and practiced safety precautions.

As soon as the night sky turned dark, they extinguished all the lights – including cigarettes. Much of the trip had been made in the fog, affording the men a good deal of time to rest – they would need every bit of it. Bohn spent much of his time looking at pictures of Gertrude, wishing he was home and, wondering, too, what horrors might lie ahead. Protestant services were held each day; when Bohn attended, he couldn’t help but think of all the good people praying for him back home.

While en route, Bohn and his comrades commented they had never seen so much water and such high waves. Encountering rough weather, the men held on to whatever was at hand, the boat heaving and pitching so much so that when the boat swayed, the rail nearly hit the water. Many men became sick from the tumultuous ride; all wondered when they would see signs of land and were curious about exactly where it was they were headed. The soldiers would learn in a few days’ time.

On the early morning of the 12th day, Bohn awoke, happy to see the shores of Ireland. After enduring such rough weather, he and others thanked God they had arrived without a scratch. They thought it a miracle they had arrived at all. Many of the soldiers had already realized the Army operated on its own time and, after a few hours’ wait, they were transferred to a smaller boat to be taken to port. Everyone along the shoreline welcomed the American soldiers as Bohn and his comrades boarded a train whose depot had been destroyed by bombs a year before they had arrived.

Bohn and his fellow soldiers in the battalion traveled by train and soon arrived at the spot where they would camp, some 18 miles from Belfast. The men marveled at the beauty of the Irish countryside as they settled in for what would become a month-long stay while they continued to train and reorganize.

On September 4, 1942, the battalion then moved on to Englington, Ireland, for three weeks before boarding another boat that would transport them to Toward Castle, Scotland. In Scotland, they shared a camp and trained with British amphibious troops, all the while the American soldiers listened with rapt attention as the British soldiers shared their experiences. In Scotland, DeFrain and Bohn’s battalion attached to the 16th Combat Team of the First U.S. Infantry Division.

From there, they traveled and boarded a very large ship docked in the harbor. Never before had Bohn seen so many vessels as here, every type and description, flying every type of Allied flag: British, Canadian, American. As part of the Western Task Force, these soldiers became part of the largest convoy ever to assemble. An invasion was imminent, yet the soldiers waited for details.

Be sure to look for the continuation in next month’s issue and read firsthand the experiences of these two soldiers who participated in the invasion of Africa.

©2008 Stein Expressions, LLC