John Dydynski - Ocala, FL 

(Click on pictures to enlarge)

John holding valued pictures and documents (Ocala Star Banner photo 1995)

John outside his barracks in his first dress uniform - note Garrison Belt worn at the time

John and 'buddies" in front of field hospital on maneuvers near Plattsburgh, New york.

After Basic Training  his unit, the 1st Medical Regiment, was sent by truck convoy to Camp Ord, California. John tells of the long trip to Camp Ord including tales of pitching tents at various Army bases, and Indian Reservations along to way. One of the stops was outside the Coors Brewery property at Golden, Colorado. The Coors people opened the brewery doors to the troops many of whom, being very dry from the trip, partook of too much free beer. John received training as a Surgical Technician at Camp Ord and Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco. While on 3 day furlough from Camp Ord John, now a Sergeant, was awakened in the morning of December 7, 1941 to be told of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The United States was now at war with both Germany and Japan and John wanted to take part in the action.

Back in Camp, John  requested overseas duty only to be told he had to remain behind to train others in operating room procedures. After additional requests John was granted permission to join the 316th Station Hospital being formed to go overseas. In September, 1943 his unit boarded the SS Mauretania bound for England. They arrived in Southhampton and were sent to the unit's hospital at Newton Abbot in Devonshire. Here they witnessed the training of U.S. troops in preparation for an invasion of Europe. During these amphibious training exercises John and other members of his unit rescued many G.I.s in danger of drowning while heading for shore after exiting there landing craft. In early June 1944 they knew something was about to happen as large convoys of troops in trucks and tanks passed by their hospital headed for the ships docked and anchored off shore. Antiaircraft balloons floated from cables over the ships. On June 6, 1944, D-Day, they could hear and see the bombardment at Normandy Beach less than 40 miles across the English Channel. The invasion of Europe had begun.

Torquay Hospital at Newton Abbot on the South Coast of England

John standing next to Blackout Hours Sign outside his headquarters in Devonshire, England

After the invasion, John's unit was moved to Prestwich Air Base in Scotland where they began receiving wounded from the invasion and later the Battle of the Bulge. These survivors had horrific tales to tell. One of the tales John remembers vividly was told by a G.I. whose unit was surrounded and being killed by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. This survivor said he fell wounded on top of the body of his buddy and played dead while the German soldiers stripped the bodies of his fellow dead G.I.s. A German saw the Mickey Mouse watch he had on his wrist uttered "Ach, Mickey Mouse". About that time American reinforcements arrived and drove the Germans off. 

Picture John took of famous boxer Sergeant Joe Lewis visiting patients at hospital at Prestwich Air Base, Scotland

 Wounded G.I.s boarding a USAAF C-47 for the trip home

The Old Guard is a prestigious body of soldiers who take part in ceremonial activities, including parades for visiting dignitaries, funerals at Arlington National Cemetery and at the U.S. Capitol. Among the highlights of John's tour of duty with The Old Guard during the late 1940s and early 50s was the assignment as honor guard for the funeral for General John J. Pershing who died at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, D.C., on 15 July 1948. General Pershing, famous for leading U.S. Army troops during World War I, had picked out his own gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery. President Truman presented the Presidential Baton to the 3rd United States Infantry Regiment, and named it "Honor Guard to the President" on April 10, 1952. John met and was photographed with many visiting dignitaries during this time period.

John and Dorothy's wedding picture

On May 18, 1946 John married Dorothy Bayuse in a ceremony in the chapel at Fort McNair. At the time there was a railroad strike on and John was helping guard the Union Station in Washington, D.C. All base personnel were restricted to their posts except the wedding party and so it was no surprise to see the chapel crowded with people wanting to get off post. The strike threatened to ruin John and Dorothy's honeymoon plans to travel to Niagara Falls but fortunately President Truman ended the strike by telling the strikers that the railroads would be taken over by the military if they didn't get back to work. 

John was the "model" for the new U.S. Army Gray/Green Uniform in 1950

John, above far right with rifle and bayonet serving as bodyguard for General Mac Arthur when the General was recalled from Korea in April 1951. This is when General Mac Arthur made his famous "Old Soldiers Never Die..." address to Congress