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Independence, MO —
John Modlin – U.S. Army, World War II
BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Army
YEARS SERVED: 1943-1946
HOMETOWN: Winfield, Kan.
JOINING UP
John Modlin was born in Winfield, Kan., in 1926. He was raised in Kansas City and Independence and graduated from Central High School in 1943. The Draft Board let John finish school and gave him three days after graduation to report for duty at Fort Leavenworth.
John was sent to Camp Roberts, California for basic training and was sent to college for engineering work that would lead him to a commissioned officer. However, due to a shortage of infantry, the college program was broken up because they needed all of the men for battle.
BATTLE OF THE BULGE
John became part of the in the 21st Armored Infantry Battalion of the 11th Armored Division where he was trained as an infantryman and sent to France. Once there, they gathered equipment and the Battle of the Bulge began. John was only a platoon sergeant, but because of a high number of casualties, he became responsible for what was left of a company of men. It was the coldest winter in Europe in 50 years. One of John’s most time consuming duties was trying to keep his men from losing their toes or fingers due to frostbite.
The battalion regrouped, Belgium closed the Bulge by meeting up with the 2nd Armored Division and entered Germany where every soldier was handed a torpedo upon entry. John and his men slept in barns with hay, if they could find one, or slept in a home if one was offered.
John was hit by a mortar blast and sent by boat to England where he spent three months recuperating from his injuries at the 123rd General Hospital.
John was deemed fit for duty and returned to France. He was assigned to a quartermaster unit, which was a redeployment unit, by this time; John had accumulated enough points to be discharged from the military and returned home where he adjusted well.
CIVILIAN LIFE
John had the G.I. Bill available to him, so he went to Missouri Valley College and to UMKC where he received a degree in Sociology. He met his wife, Wanda, and went to work doing labor relations and contract negotiations for a bakery company. Then he went to work for Interstate Bakeries, where he was the Training Director. John retired from Farmland Industries, where he also did labor relations and personnel work.
John Modlin – U.S. Army, World War II
BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Army
YEARS SERVED: 1943-1946
HOMETOWN: Winfield, Kan.
JOINING UP
John Modlin was born in Winfield, Kan., in 1926. He was raised in Kansas City and Independence and graduated from Central High School in 1943. The Draft Board let John finish school and gave him three days after graduation to report for duty at Fort Leavenworth.
John was sent to Camp Roberts, California for basic training and was sent to college for engineering work that would lead him to a commissioned officer. However, due to a shortage of infantry, the college program was broken up because they needed all of the men for battle.
BATTLE OF THE BULGE
John became part of the in the 21st Armored Infantry Battalion of the 11th Armored Division where he was trained as an infantryman and sent to France. Once there, they gathered equipment and the Battle of the Bulge began. John was only a platoon sergeant, but because of a high number of casualties, he became responsible for what was left of a company of men. It was the coldest winter in Europe in 50 years. One of John’s most time consuming duties was trying to keep his men from losing their toes or fingers due to frostbite.
The battalion regrouped, Belgium closed the Bulge by meeting up with the 2nd Armored Division and entered Germany where every soldier was handed a torpedo upon entry. John and his men slept in barns with hay, if they could find one, or slept in a home if one was offered.
John was hit by a mortar blast and sent by boat to England where he spent three months recuperating from his injuries at the 123rd General Hospital.
John was deemed fit for duty and returned to France. He was assigned to a quartermaster unit, which was a redeployment unit, by this time; John had accumulated enough points to be discharged from the military and returned home where he adjusted well.
CIVILIAN LIFE
John had the G.I. Bill available to him, so he went to Missouri Valley College and to UMKC where he received a degree in Sociology. He met his wife, Wanda, and went to work doing labor relations and contract negotiations for a bakery company. Then he went to work for Interstate Bakeries, where he was the Training Director. John retired from Farmland Industries, where he also did labor relations and personnel work.
John and Wanda have one son and one daughter and they have a grandson who enjoys showing John how to use a computer. John works out daily in the fitness room at the Palmer Center and is still active in Boy Scouts. John and Wanda enjoy shopping for antiques. John feels that ROTC and the Boy Scouts prepared him for some of what he would endure in the military. John is very proud to have worn the Army uniform.
Peggy Sowders, who is on the staff for the city of Independence, compiles interviews with veterans from the entire area at the Truman Memorial Building. Contact her at psowders@indep.mo or 816-325-7979 if you are interested in helping a veteran tell his or her story.
