Carl E. Rautio
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Photo: Carl Rautio on the River Walk, San Antonio, Texas, 1946
Carl Rautio served in World War II in the European Theater and in the United States. He served as a sharpshooter in the U.S. Army from September 27, 1944, until June 22, 1946.
He was decorated with the following: Good Conduct Ribbon, American Theater Campaign Ribbon, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon, Army of Occupation Ribbon (Germany), and the Victory Ribbon.
Mr. Rautio was born on December 1, 192_, the son of Jacob and Nana Rautio, in Oulu, Wisconsin. He graduated from high school in 1943.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall Veteran History Form; veteran’s account (see below)
"After induction, I entered basic infantry training for 15 weeks at Camp Fannin, Texas. After a delay en route at home, I reported to Fort Meade, Maryland, for orientation and equipment. On to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey (New York PDE). While there, I came down with sinusitis and pneumonia, spent 21 days in the hospital.
"Meanwhile, my group shipped out, along with all my equipment and personal stuff. I was then sent back to Fort Meade for re-equipment and made ready to go to Italy, then to Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia, shipped out from Newport News, Virginia, to Italy, landing there on April 15, 1945. After a few days near Caserta near the Volturno River, I was sent north for additional training for the 10th Mountain Division. This lasted for 2 weeks, 1 week with mules learning how to load equipment on a mule, etc., 1 week climbing mountains, rappelling over cliffs, etc.
"On April 28, 1945, Gen. Kesselring, the German Commander of German forces in Italy, surrendered, ending combat there. We were then sent to Marina de Pisa (port of Pisa) on the Mediterranean for a time (very enjoyable), then put on a B-17 bomber that had been made into a troop transport (bomb racks replaced with wooden benches and seat belts) for a flight to Port-Lyautey, Africa, from there on to Dakar, Africa, on to Brazil, to British Guyana (now Belize), to Puerto Rico, to West Palm Beach, Fla.
"On this trip we flew in B-17s, C-54s and C-47s and one other that I don’t remember what it was. This was in July of 1945. We were given 30 days R&R at home. I was then to report to Camp Polk to get ready for the invasion of the home island of Japan. While I was at home on my R&R, the atom bomb was dropped on Japan, ending that war. From Camp Polk, I was sent to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and assigned to the Medical Detachment, W.D.P.C., as a clerk general (I believe my MOS was changed to D55). I spent the rest of my Army career there until my discharge on June 22, 1946."
