Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
3:15 | He was having a big time working at his father's business, but Buck Stiles got a telegram from the Army. There was a war on and the reserve officer was needed. His first active duty tour had been in the horse cavalry, but now he was going to be riding tanks.
Keywords : Buck Stiles Fort Benning tank armored
As a reserve officer, Buck Stiles spent a year on active duty and then went back to working at his father's business. He was in the horse cavalry during that year, a Shavetail 2nd Lieutenant.
It was the safest job in the army, according to Buck Stiles. He was company commander of service company in the 66th Armored regiment and it was his job to move whatever needed to be moved. His trucks were in constant movement to each forward company, first in North Africa and then in Sicily.
He came ashore on D plus three and set up just in from the Normandy beach. Service company commander Buck Stiles had some tense moments when the Germans began shelling, but soon they were pushed back and he could get on with his task of supplying his regiment with everything they needed.
His regiment was greatly involved in the Battle of the Bulge, and all their supplies were sent to them by Buck Stiles. His service company was kept very busy. They were one day from Berlin when they were told to halt and get off the road. Soon they were trading candy for war souvenirs.
