John Edward Binnion: 2: His Military Career Begins

UT Longhorn Band Pass
1939 Photo

"After the 1938-39 and 1939-40 academic years at the
University of Texas, I was able to see the end of the trail for my
Bachelors Degree in Accounting during the 1940-41 years."
--John Edward, ca 1998

 

At the same time, by the beginning of the 1940 academic year
our nation watched the war overseas
and debated issues of isolationism and intervention.
Conversations held in the House, the Senate, and the White House
were likewise held around dinner tables, coffee shop counters,
and campus gatherings. These conversations
and debates were heated, with strong advocates for isolationism
and equally strong advocates for intervention.

 

 

"Sitting around the Campus Guild CO-OP 

with Bill Lanford and Matthew Tucker and others

 . . . we talked about the military problems in Spain, German, and Italy

as aggressors. And, in fact, also talked about 

the countries being oppressed.

Argued with the pacifists and the would-be-communists . . .

and talked about 'joining up' with other groups to help."

--John Edward, ca 1998

 

John Edward, University of Texas, Austin (UT)
Longhorn Band Drum Major, 1938 Photo

   Such conversations were held while
John Edward attended classes,
worked as Student Assistant in

the Business Administration School,

and served as Drum Major of
the Longhorn Marching Band
during UT football games.

During down time in the Campus Guild CO-Op
the young men explored their options.   

 

Several of their Longhorn Band friends
belonged to the 36th Division of the Texas National Guard
and answered questions about
opportunities and experiences found there. 

 

John Edward is on the left side of the front row

John Edward also asked for military enlistment advice from his cousin, Col. J. M. Caviness,

and from the Longhorn Band Director, Col. George E. Hurt.
Both wrote to Col. Ernest O. Thompson, who was Commander of the 111th Quartermaster Regiment of
the Texas National Guard in addition to his position as Commissioner with the Texas Railroad.
Col. Thompson readily responded with the letter below.

 Meanwhile, John Edward had gone
"down to the Capital and talked to
(then) Col. Ernest O. Thompson
about going into the Texas National Guard.

 

He raised his eyebrows about my stuttering
but was eventually talked into taking my enrollment application and before long I was a member of Headquarters Company,
111th Quartermaster Regiment, 36th Division." 

--John Edward, ca 1998

 

Severe stuttering would long continue to be a challenge.
It would also build resilience and perseverance
and it would foster the strong sense of humor
often seen in his letters, even after debilitating war injuries.

John Edward wrote home on a
Sunday afternoon in August of 1940:

Dear Folks,

Hold your hats, for here we go with some very 

startling news--and I do mean startling. Yes, 

your son and brother--as the case may be--has 

joined the National Guard Unit here in Austin. 

Maybe I am right, and maybe I am wrong, 

but I am in now, and there is no way of getting out.

 

I hope.

So now you can call me Private Binnion. That is, 

you can until further notification.

I ain't gonna stay there all of my life.

Have you found a job yet, Dad? I sure hope 

that you have--but even if you haven't you are almost sure 

to find one soon. There will be a heck of a lot of us 

seeing our year in the Army, and that will make 

plenty of openings. Have you been down to see 

Mr. Jamison at the place where I used to work. 

They need good men down there.

I will be able to save enough of my Army salary 

to get me through my next school year.

I have enrolled in school, and am 

preparing for a big year--me and the Texas football team.

Bye now and write soon

Love

 John Edward

John explained many decades later: "To be drafted 

meant a person would not have a choice of where to be sent for

training or service. To be a member of the National Guard meant

that one would join up with his unit and his friends.

So . . . I joined the Texas National Guard. 

However, that in itself did not mean much 

to me--only that I would be with someone I knew."

--John Edward, ca 1998

John Edward looked back on his decision
with the perspective of hindsight and experiential wisdom. 

Nonetheless,

"Dad's decision was a significant commitment at a time when there
was limited commitment to support of Europe."
--John Edward II

  Col. Thompson, Col. Caviness, and Col. Hurt
were seasoned officers and understood much more that summer of 1940.
They knew full well all that was at stake.

Within less than one year Germany had advanced into Poland, Norway, Denmark,
the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France.
Germany had signed a pact with the Soviet Union,
and encouraged the Soviets to continue its invasion of countries such as the Baltic States.
Then Italy entered the war as an ally of Germany and more countries were invaded.
Their next goal was Great Britain. The Germans would soon drop
bombs day and night on London and other cities and towns.

 

Both Col. Caviness and Col. Hurt continued to write letters
on behalf of John Edward; they also corresponded with and encouraged him
throughout his military service and well beyond.

 

Meanwhile, the need for a peacetime draft bill was debated
throughout the nation, in the press and in Congress.
On the 16th of September President Roosevelt signed our nation's first peacetime draft.
It required all male citizens ages 21-35 to register with their local draft board;
draftees would be selected by lottery to serve a 12-month tour of duty.
President Roosevelt continued tireless work with his Cabinet and others
to support Great Britain and Europe and to help defeat Hitler without entering the war.

Over the radio Roosevelt told the country:

"America stands at the crossroads of its destiny. 

We cannot remain indifferent to the 

philosophy of force now rampant in the world. 

We must and will marshal our great potential strength 

to fend off war from our shores. 

We must and will prevent our land from becoming a victim of aggression."

Selective Service Registration, or "Draft Card"

 

 

October 16 was designated "R Day."
Registration Day.
Across the nation schools were closed
and men age 21 through 35 waited in line
at their designated centers.

 

The next day John Edward wrote home:

"R Day has come and gone.
I did not need to register, but I did."

He added:  "It provided me with a
darn good identification card."

 

 

The autumn of 1940
was busy for John Edward.

In addition to classes,
Drum Major for the band,
and grading papers for his Student Assistant job,

there were girls to meet, and intramural football and baseball.
And then writing home about it.

Underscored in this clipping:

In the eighth, John Binnion

walked, went to second

on Drew Verheyen's single,

and scored on Hammeck's blow.

There were also drills with the Texas National Guard.

 "We went to drill two nights a month (with pay, which helped my college budget)
and before long I was classified as a truck driver for 2-1/2 ton Army trucks."
--John Edward, ca 1998

Then word came that the 36th Division of the 111th Quartermaster Regiment
would be activated on November 25.

 

"Those of us in school dropped our courses,
got our affairs in order,
and planned for the Activation Orders."
--John Edward, ca 1998

 

Below is part of his November 16 letter home.

 

As John Edward wrote:

Some stuff, no? 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Click here for the next post in which

John Edward begins training at Camp Mabry, Austin.