Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
1:33 | Skin and bones. That's what Al Morehouse saw on both the living and the dead when his unit liberated a Nazi work camp near the border with Austria.
Keywords : Al Morehouse Austria Germany work camp prisoner forced labor starve
In 1942, Al Morehouse was in his second year at Purdue University when the Army called and he was off to join the war effort. His training got off to a dubious start when the mess sergeant noticed some food left on his plate.
He felt at home in the tank but Al Morehouse knew it would be a big target when they got to the battlefield. As his unit headed to Europe in a convoy, he somehow resisted the seasickness that struck nearly everyone else
Newly arrived in France and billeted on a French family farm, Al Morehouse's unit readied a brand new Sherman tank for the push into Germany. But first, they were treated to some roast chicken.
When his armored unit joined the 3rd Army's advance across Europe, Al Morehouse was moving so fast he never knew where he was or where he was going. He sums up Gen Patton's philosophy as, "Go like heck!"
Al Morehouse looked out of the hatch and the tank commander, Lt. Harry Brickhouse, came up to take a look around from the other hatch. A sharp cracking sound caused them to look at each other and ask, "What was that?" It was their last conversation.
They had to take cover underneath their tanks as German 88's rained shells down on their position. But Al Morehouse and the rest of the men in his unit knew that the war was winding down and they stopped advancing when they reached Austria.
It was determined that Al Morehouse's armored unit was perfect for retraining for the Japan invasion so they shipped back home very quickly after the war ended in Europe. As he waited at home on furlough, Al got the best news he ever heard.
