King High Remembers
Merl Cornelius
Merl was born in Kansas and moved to California when he was nineteen. Jobs
going toward the war effort were everywhere and for everybody.
Merl Cornelius joined the United States Army because the bombing of Pearl
Harbor claimed thousands of Americans. General Patton sent out an emergency that the
army needed three thousand experienced personal that did not have time to be trained.
They needed mechanics, welders, and construction personal immediately. He was the
youngest man at the age of twenty. The average age of these men was thirty six, and the
average age of a regular army unit was twenty three.
The first days of service were very strange. Everyone was unsure of what to do.
There were no plans, no bathrooms or even toilet paper. It appeared the Army had
forgotten about the four thousand men in the cotton fields at Fort SuttonNorth Carolina.
The men were confused, they had a purpose, but couldn’t find it out there alone.
For an entire month, they did not have uniforms, or shoes. He had enlisted as already
trained, and therefore, received no special training. Merl helped prepare Patton’s tanks
for the North Africa landing.
Merl was also sent to North Africa and was stationed at CampOran where he
oversaw two thousand Italian prisoners of war. Barbed wire surrounded the entire camp.
A few things that were interesting about the camp is that there was only one women.
When she was discovered, she was taken somewhere and never heard from again.
Another funny story, maybe a little inappropriate too, was that there were the Italians
were having sex through the barbed wire fence with Arabic women. This was absolutely
hilarious!
Another one of Merl Cornelius’ duties was to investigate the German
underground factories and caves. There were whole cities underground! The first floor
consisted of motors. The second had machinery. The third and forth floors had parts,and
the fifth floor down was a hospital. The hospital is where it happened,but there were
not enough flashlights for the men. One time, Merl stated that he was that he was in
one of these factories, with his flashlight and his rifle. It appeared to be empty, but then
he heard a noise. He was trying to hold his light and his rifle steady, but being scared and
with his adrenaline pumping, they were both shaky. The sound was made by a Russian,
who convinced Merl he was not a German before he could shoot him.
This man has seen his fair share of combat. He was bombed in North Africa and
strafed in France. Strafing is the act of a plane swooping down and firing its machine
guns. He helped capture Germans in Marseille, France. He built and ran a two thousand
man German P.W. camp.
A funny story about that night he was strafed in France was about a man named
Robert Tingdall. When the bullets started flying, everyone was diving into their foxholes.
However, Robert, in the confusion, accidentally dove into the Latrine, “the temporary shit
house”. Everyone had a good laugh about it after all the mayhem was over and he was
safe.
Merl actually got to know General George Patton. Not only that, he knew him
well. Patton was an honorable General because he would not send troops anywhere
without going there himself. Even though Patton couldn’t read or write, and had others
help him through the military academy, he was still able to accomplish his mission.
General Eisenhower was jealous of Patton.
According to Merl, and many other veterans as well, the bond you share with your
fellow soldiers is closer than brothers and sisters. There is no other country like this, and
we should be prepared to die for it, if necessary. We take for granted what is given to us.
We need to protect it because it can all be taken away. It is up to the young people of
today to serve this country, to keep it free. Not only to protect it, but to make you a better
person inside, like it did to Merl. He believes “Entering the war makes you stand up and
be a man”
Merl also stated his opinion on the war today in Iraq. He wishes that we
were not there, but since we are, we should support it one hundred percent! This is what
everyone should feel like.
Merl (Bus) Cornelius spent thirty nine months in the service. He was able to keep
in touch with loved ones, twelve thousand miles away by letter. He entered the war
alone. He made friends that became closer than brothers, who are unfortunately no longer
with us. He no longer attends reunions for this reason. He belongs to the FREEDOM
COMMITTEE OF ORANGECOUNTY.
After the war he wanted to go to college but didn’t, and pursued a career in
construction. The GI Bill of Rights could have paid for his education. He built high
rises. He made a trip back to Normandy after sixty years. He will be returning to King
High Remembers next year as well. We all hope to see him there. Maybe he’ll remember
me, because I will never forget him.