Eugene Carroll Taplin
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
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TAPLIN, Eugene Carroll
Eugene Carroll Taplin was born on July 7th 1924 to George B. & Martha Elizabeth [Hamilton] Taplin in Silver Lake/Fairmont, Minnesota.
Mr. Taplin joined the U.S. Army in November 28th 1944 at Ft. Snelling in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While WWII was raging, he was sent to Camp Fannin, Texas, for basic training. There he fractured his foot and consequently, instead of going on his original assignment in Europe, he was reassigned to a unit that was bound for service in the Pacific Theater after he had recovered. He rose to the rank of Corporal (CPL).
CPL Taplin served II in the Pacific Theater and was assigned to the 12th Cavalry, C Troop stationed in the Philippine Islands, Luzon. He served in Occupied Japan from August 1945 until November 1946. Mr. Taplin was in charge of Athletics and Recreation in Tokyo, Occupied Japan.
He was honorably discharged in November 1946. After the war he returned home and married Hazel June [Lincoln] on June 18th 1950 and they started a family.
Mr. Taplin died on October 1st 2012 at 88 years of age in Alexandria, Minnesota. He is buried at Center Chain Cemetery in Martin County, Minnesota.
Source(s):
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
Page 1 WWII Draft Registration Cards - Fold3
Eugene Carroll Taplin (1924-2012) - Find a Grave Memorial
U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 - Ancestry.com
Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account (below)
“I was sixteen years old when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941. My family knew I would have to go into the service when I turned eighteen. I was the last of nine children, all the rest married with families of their own. I lived on a small farm with my elderly parents, and Dad wanted me to be there to take care of them. Dad and another large farm owner next door got me a deferment so that I could help on the local farms during the spring, summer, and fall months. In winter, I helped with a state program that sieved rough fish from the lakes.
“When my father died on September 1, 1944, I didn’t put in for another deferment and was drafted in November 1944. I trained in Camp Fannin, Texas. I was heading for Europe at the time of the Battle of the Bulge. In training, I got a fracture in my foot, and when I got out of the hospital, I was put in a different troop that was training to go to Manila in the Philippines.
“Fighting was still going on in the islands north of where we were, so we were sent south and started training to invade Japan. We were all trained and ready when the atomic bombs were dropped and the war was over. Our outfit, the 12th Cavalry, was at the harbor when the armistice was signed, and we were the first troops in Tokyo. Japan was so badly bombed that there was nothing for us to do except clean up. We cleaned up a great area and were ready to settle down there, but they gave that spot to the Air Force and moved us to another place. The authorities wanted some entertainment for the troops and asked for GIs who knew how to box. I had been in the Golden Gloves, so I volunteered. We didn’t have to do any other work since we entertained the troupes. I got a cracked rib and ended up in the hospital. The doctor said that I should not box for a while, so I was put in charge of the sports equipment. The man who was in charge there was transferred to another place, and I was then put in charge of Athletics and Recreation. A 2nd Lieutenant was in charge of me, but he was really enjoying Japan, and I seldom saw him. I did all of the work, with many Japanese workers helping me. I had a very good interpreter and a book of instructions on sports. [The complex] included: a race track; baseball diamond; pole vault, high jump, and broad jump pits; volleyball court; swimming pool; and basketball [court]. The Red Cross shared my gymnasium to start with, until my Japanese workers built a building for them on the same grounds.
“After everything was built and operating nicely, the Red Cross ladies spoke to my captain (who had been a 2nd lieutenant). They told him that ‘Taplin did the work, but he [the 2nd Lt., Mr. Taplin’s superior] got all the promotions.’ So I, a private, was sent to get a promotion to corporal. I was told that so many non-commissioned officers were sent to our outfit when their troops went home on points, that they couldn’t give me what I had earned, and that was staff sergeant. They said that if I would stay in for six more months, I would be upgraded, but I didn’t. I went home in November 1946.
“Our outfit was due to invade Japan first, and we were sure it would be a very hard battle. Most of us felt that we wouldn’t live through it. I was concerned for my safety and felt if the Lord allowed me to live and get back to the USA, I would make a Christian home and do what I could for the Lord. I didn’t have a high school education, so when I got back to Minnesota, I took correspondent work and finally got my high school diploma at the age of 29. I graduated from Bible College in 1953 and went to more years of schooling to get my BTh degree. I preached for 45 years and also drove a school bus for 38 years, until I was 81 years old. I am 87 now and still preach when needed. I was married for 57 years to a great wife who died 4 ½ years ago. We had 3 children; one son is a teacher, one son is a preacher, and our daughter is a dentist. I have 10 grandchildren, and 9 of them have been home schooled. The Lord has been good to me!”
