Age 13 Utah State Guard 1943

My 32 years of Military and Public Service   Russ Bateman

We had just been to Church on Sunday December 7th, 1941.  Our Ward met in the old Elementary School Building.  As I arrived home, I heard a lot of excited talking about some place called "Pearl Harbor"  I never had any Idea what was all about and where was Pearl Harbor?  As a young lad of eleven years old, I didn't know much of what was around in the world and just what war was.  Not long after, we moved to Cedar City and my brother was drafted into the Army.  

I had been a Boy Scout and had worked up through Tenderfoot, 2nd  class and make first Class Scout.  I join an Air Air Scout group and found much interest in Air Craft.  Also in  Cedar city, I join the Civil Air Patrol as a Cadet.

The War gave me many opportunities that wouldn't have been available in peace time.  Two of my close friends, Durray Dally and Bud ( DeMar)  Bowman being close to 16 years of age, answered a call to join the Utah State Guard.  There had been call for all able bodied men to join the guard to train for protecting our country should there be an Japanese invasion. We were also to been involved in the defense of the Japanese "Balloon Invasion. "  I went along with my friends when they enlisted as they were close to being 16.  They handed me an application so at the prompting of my friends, I fill out the application and noting my true age of 13.  This started  my military and  associated military service that lasted until the present  (2005 -  62 years) were I am still an active member of the Air Force Military Affiliated Radio System (MARS)

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22 Jun 2005