Orville Gayle Manion
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Orville Gayle Manion served in World War II in the U.S. Army. He was inducted into the Infantry on July 27, 1942, in Spokane, Washington.
He was assigned to the 8th Army, Detached Enlisted Men’s List (DEML), which included service members who had a physical disability but were able to serve. He served for 3 ½ years, and was discharged on January 3, 1946.
His assignments included 4 ½ months serving as a member of the staff of the Reception Center, Fort Douglas, Utah; 19 months at Post Headquarters, Vancouver Barracks, Washington; 3 months in the Adjutant General Section, 8th Army Area Command, Hawaii; and 16 months in the Adjutant General Section, 8th Army Area Command, Leyte, Philippines. His rank was Master Sergeant.
Mr. Manion was decorated with 5 service medals, 3 Battle Stars for the 8th Army’s campaign in New Guinea and the Philippines.
Mr. Manion was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, in 1920, the son of Orville Monroe Manion and Martha Eva Manion.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall Veteran History Form; veteran’s account (see below)
"When I was in Yellowstone Park and just four years old, a heavy, rough-sawn teeter-totter beam came down with a crash on my left arm and smashed my elbow into many pieces. In those primitive days of 1924 there was no doctor in Yellowstone and none in the Boise Valley who knew how to repair the damage. My father, a schoolteacher, did not have money to take me to Salt Lake City.
"In subsequent years, when my father was asked about my bashed arm, with bone locked elbow at 45 degrees and obvious atrophy, he usually just said, “Now ain’t it a shame! Ain’t it a shame!”
"You can imagine that in my younger years I had very little self-esteem, confidence, or physical competence. I was a cripple (and still am).
"You cannot imagine that, just after I completed a bachelor’s degree in education I was drafted and inducted into the U.S. Army Infantry on July 27, 1942, at Spokane, Washington. “Really? Really? You, a cripple, were drafted and inducted into the U.S. Army?” Oh, I was so excited and pleased to be in the Army. “This is a man’s job (or woman’s now) and my chance to serve substantially and become a real he-man and worthy citizen.”
"How and why did my induction happen? Well, by early 1942 most of the divisions and Special Forces of the United States had been assigned to Europe, while plans for defeating Japan needed more troops than could be available. So instead of being assigned to Infantry or other standard units, I and many other handicapped persons were inducted and assigned to DEML (Detached Enlisted Men’s List).
"Most people and veterans I talk to never knew or heard of DEMLs. One I knew in the Philippines had only one eye; but he was a damned fine chef and no one wanted to lose him. However, a two-star general from our unit wanted me to be sent back to the States because I couldn’t do a respectable dress-right-dress. We DEMLers did the same work, wored the same uniforms, had the same food, bunks, and promotions or demotions, and I wore the same shoulder patch (8th Army) and medals as regular soldiers.
"In my 3 ½ years in the Army, I worked hard and tried my very best to be a good soldier and leader of others. And I did it! As an enlisted man (though crippled), I went from bottom to top (from Private to Master Sergeant). I didn’t buy it or inherit it—I earned it, using hard work, training, experience, and role models for guides. During my last year in the Philippines, I supervised 37 men as Master Sergeant, Adjutant General’s section of the 8th Army Area Command, on Leyte Island.
"After the war with Japan was over, I returned to my home state and completed a master’s degree and two years of teaching English at the University of Idaho. Then, in 1953, I completed a Ph.D. degree and four years of teaching at the University of Michigan.
"Finally, because of previous experiences in the Army and in teaching, I was employed for 30 years at the University of Wisconsin Superior: first as chairman of English and Communication departments, then the last 11 years before retirement as Dean, College of Fine and Applied Arts, and then Dean, Center of Continuing Education.
"I am now 91 years old. I look back more than I look forward. I must say that I am so proud of my wonderful wife of 65 years, Louise, and my three unbeatable daughters, Mary, Patty, and Bonnie, all of whom pushed me and guided me in my life’s endeavors. I could have not achieved very much on my own. I needed their love and guidance. My goodness! But it’s been a wonderful life journey with them. Respectfully, I can say I am so proud of my U.S. Army experiences, training, and accomplishments. Without the Army beginnings I would not have achieved much I the 65 years which followed. Certainly I could not have reached the Ph.D. without the taxpayer’s GI bill.
"This is “my story.”"
"P.S. I left out all of my failures. Ah ha!"
