Ernest J. Salo
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Ernest J. Salo served as a Private and automotive serviceman.
He was awarded the World War II Victory Medal and was discharged on November 23, 1945 at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas.
He recalls; "I was farming in the Red River Valley until December 1944, when my brother-in-law, who was 4-F, took over the family farm. As I no longer felt I was producing to the war effort, I followed my two older brothers by enlisting in the infantry."
"I was inducted at Fort Snelling on April 20, 1945, and was sent to Camp Robinson..."I had two small sons and my wife was pregnant with our third child, a daughter, Sharon, who was born June 10, 1945. We called her our 'Freebie' as the government paid for her delivery."
"I came home on furlough in August 1945 and saw my daughter for the first time when she was three months old. That same daughter is typing this report 50 years later. The government decided no soldier with 3 children would be sent overseas."
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, 279.
