Eino G. Nyquist
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Air Force
Eino G. Nyquist entered the Army Air Force on May 2, 1942, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Home at entry: Soudan, Minnesota.
He served as a Technical Sergeant and control tower operator with 309th Bomb Group and 130th Army Airways Communication System in ground combat Burma, and China. Attended basic training at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri. The first training was for radio operator-gunner at Fort Myers, Florida, after which he was sent to Columbia, South Carolina to join the 309th Bomb Group.
The Army discovered he was color blind and could not qualify for flying service. Trained as a control-tower operator. Arrived in Bombay, India, and was there when an ammunition ship blew up in the harbor. He and his fellow soldiers helped in the recovery efforts.
From Bombay, he traveled to Calcutta via narrow-gauge railway and then to Denjan, Burma to set up communications. From there he went to Kunming China, and then Luliang, in Southwest China, Yunnan Province. Stationed there until November 1945, as an air control tower operator, although the war was over in August 1945. Their purpose was to protect the Chinese coast from Japanese invasion. The Japanese did try to take the area and came within 40 miles from Luliang before they were stopped.
On October 28, 1945, started the journey home through India. On November 27th departed from Calcutta, India, on the troop ship HSS General Bliss, headed for the U.S. by way of the Indian Ocean, Suez Canal, the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic to New York. After making it though a terrible storm in the Atlantic, arrived in New York Harbor on December 26, 1945. The sight of the Statue of Liberty was awe-inspiring.
He was awarded the following: Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Army Meritorious Service Unit, and three overseas service bars.
Mr. Nyquist was honorably discharged on January 1, 1946, at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, page 361.
