Tommy J. Boyd
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Tommy J. Boyd
Mr. Boyd entered the Army on April 21, 1943.
He attended basic training in Fort Riley, Kansas. He volunteered for the "deep penetration" unit with the Third Battalion of the New Galahad-5307 Component Unit Provisional ("Merrill''s Marauders"). Participated in combat action Myitkyina, North Burma. He saw more than 100 consecutive days in frontline combat. Received skin grafts to treat Naga ulcers from leech bites at the 69th General Hospital in Assam, India.
In his words: "I do have several drawings of where and how we fought. These were done in the hospital. The GI in the next bunk was an art student. He claimed it was easier to learn to draw than it was to write. At first, they had to tape the pencils in my hands. The guys from our unit all recognized the places and what had happened there, so they must be accurate. The only thing that still bothers me is the shame I felt being safe and dry and fed back in the hospital while our outfit was still fighting. There were so few of us."
Returned to his unit and was reorganized into 475th Infantry Regiment. He returned to the 69th General Hospital and was evacuated to the continental U.S.
Mr. Boyd received a medical discharge on July 7, 1945, at Bushnel General Hospital, Utah.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, page 43.
