LOUIS J. SCHILLING
Louis James Schilling Jr. was born 30-JUL 1920 in Saint Louis, Missouri. His parents were Louis J. Schilling Sr. (1896-1962) and Mary Latch Schilling (1909-1981). Louis had one brother: James. Louis attended and completed four years at a local high school. The 1940 Federal Census reported that Louis was living at 3717 DeKalb and working as an “Office Boy.” He worked fifty-two weeks in 1939 and reported his income as $780.00 for the year. He was living in the household of his grandmother, Catherine Schwarzkopf Schilling, along with Emilie Schwarzkopf (Catherine’s sister), and his parents, and brother James. Louis’ grandfather, Martin had died in 1898.
Louis was the third generation to serve in the Army. Christian Schwarzkopf served in the Missouri 1st Infantry Regiment (Union) in the Civil War. Louis James Schilling Sr. was also a veteran. He served briefly in Comp E of 120th Engineer Corps.
Louis registered for the draft on 16-Feb 1942 in St. Louis. His employer is listed as Busch Sulzer Diesel Eng. Company. In April 1942 he married Dorothy Florence McFarland. Five months later, Louis was inducted into the Army on 9-Sept 1942. His Service Number was 37384080.
Though he was drafted, Louis had flat feet. During World War II, having flat feet could disqualify recruits, but the Army did accept draftees who had flat feet if they didn’t have foot pain or swelling, and other conditions were met. Often, they were placed in Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) where long marches were not required. Louis, having completed four years of high school, while not inherently unusual but was considered well educated at the time. He was transferred to the officer’s branch, but deliberately flunked the training to be sent back to the enlisted ranks. Louis wanted to serve with the regular guys in the Army.
Louis trained with the Medical Detachment and became an ambulance driver trained in EMT procedures. Louis would serve in the 108th General Hospital. The enlisted men of the 108th General Hospital completed 8 weeks of basic training at the Medical Replacement Training Center (MRTC) at Camp Barkeley, Abilene, Texas. They then underwent specialist training at the station hospital at Camp Barkeley.
On 7 July 1944, orders were received moving the hospital from Llandudno, Wales, to a small transit camp at Danebury Hill, Stockbridge, Hants. On 27 July, the unit left Danebury at 0900 hours by motor convoy for the marshalling area at Southampton, arriving there mid-afternoon.
The British transport ship HMS Llangibby Castle sailed out of Southampton at exactly 1530 hours, 29-Jul 1944. In addition to other branches of the service, three general hospitals were on the same vessel, consequently, only nurses had cabin space. Officers and enlisted men slept either on deck or in hammocks. The ship was part of a large, protected convoy en route for Utah Beach in Normandy (Designated code: “Watson”).
Arrival in the European Theater
Just offshore of Utah Beach, everyone was lowered over the side into LCTs (Landing Ship Tanks) and headed for the beach, where an advance party of four officers were waiting. Motor transportation was provided for the nurses, while officers and enlisted men marched to the transit area “B”, 4 miles away. About 0300, 31-Jul 1944, the unit moved to the new hospital site at Tourlaville, three miles east of Cherbourg in the Cotentin Peninsula. Cherbourg was liberated just one mother earlier. Engineers were already on site, and with the use of all the available manpower (about 250 men from the Hospital) and some vehicles, access roads were built, trails widened, and a Phase I, Expeditionary Type, Tented Hospital was completed in 16 days.
For more of Louis’ story, click on the pdf below.
