V. J. Hajda in military uniform, 1943
Title
V. J. Hajda in military uniform, 1943
Subject
United States -- Texas -- Williamson County.
War (World War II).
War (World War II).
Description
Color photograph of V.J. Hajda in his U.S. Army uniform in 1943.
The following comes from an interview with V. J. Hajda in 2013:
Vaclov John "V. J." Hajda, from Granger, Texas, joined the United States Army in 1943. Of Czech descent, V. J. was in a meeting with other Czech men when they had been told that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor.
After V. J. joined the war, he was staged in Southampton, England. During the crossing of the English Channel, he recalled that Jeeps and tanks were all riding on top of each other. He landed in France on July 6, perhaps 100 miles inland.
V. J. recalled "eating apples left and right, because they were better than K rations." While in Belgium, it was so cold that the ground was frozen and it was nearly impossible to dig a fox hole.
V. J. participated in the Battle of the Bulge, and during the siege of Bastogne, he helped with the 101st Airborne Division. He served in the 30th division of the 119th infantry, LCO 3rd platoon. After crossing the Rhine River into Germany in February 1945, perhaps 15 or 20 miles in, V. J. was wounded by a shot in the arm. He went into shock and was given an IV. He was taken to a hospital in France for two weeks, then on to England for one month.
After making his way back to the United States by way of Boston, Massachusetts and a Modesto, California military hospital, V. J. was discharged in 1946.
The following comes from an interview with V. J. Hajda in 2013:
Vaclov John "V. J." Hajda, from Granger, Texas, joined the United States Army in 1943. Of Czech descent, V. J. was in a meeting with other Czech men when they had been told that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor.
After V. J. joined the war, he was staged in Southampton, England. During the crossing of the English Channel, he recalled that Jeeps and tanks were all riding on top of each other. He landed in France on July 6, perhaps 100 miles inland.
V. J. recalled "eating apples left and right, because they were better than K rations." While in Belgium, it was so cold that the ground was frozen and it was nearly impossible to dig a fox hole.
V. J. participated in the Battle of the Bulge, and during the siege of Bastogne, he helped with the 101st Airborne Division. He served in the 30th division of the 119th infantry, LCO 3rd platoon. After crossing the Rhine River into Germany in February 1945, perhaps 15 or 20 miles in, V. J. was wounded by a shot in the arm. He went into shock and was given an IV. He was taken to a hospital in France for two weeks, then on to England for one month.
After making his way back to the United States by way of Boston, Massachusetts and a Modesto, California military hospital, V. J. was discharged in 1946.
Date
1943
Rights
<p>All rights to the images are held by the respective holding institution. This image is posted for non-profit educational purposes, excluding printed publication. For permission to reproduce images and/or for copyright information, contact The Williamson Museum, 716 S. Austin Ave, Georgetown, TX 78626.</p>
<p><a href="http://williamsonmuseum.org" target="_blank">http://williamsonmuseum.org/</a></p>
<p><a href="http://williamsonmuseum.org" target="_blank">http://williamsonmuseum.org/</a></p>
Language
English
Type
Photograph
Original Format
Photograph
Files
