This time line is arranged in a table of three columns. The first column contains entries from Grandpa Hurley's Army personnel files; the second column contins miscellaneous notes; and the third column features important dates in the chronolgy of the War. Entries in the third column are from Bergrud, pp. 677-7, unless otherwise noted.
Date | Entry from Army records | Other event | WWII chronology | |
---|---|---|---|---|
December 7, 1941 | Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor. | |||
December 1941 - April 1942 | Japan seizes Southeast Asia and the Philippines. | |||
January 14, 1942 | Japan invades Rabaul and Kavieng. | |||
February 12, 1942 | Enlistment, Fort Snelling, MN | |||
Febraury 12, 1942 | Appointment to rank of Private | |||
February 13, 1942 | Smallpox vaccination | |||
February 13, 1942 | First typhoid vaccination series | |||
February 13, 1942 | GCJ-I 136 | |||
February 13, 1942 | AGCT-1a, I-136 The Army General Classification Test was devised in order to identify soldiers of high ability for certain duties; it had some correlation with an IQ test. "The ASTP [Army Specialized Training Program]... required an Army General Classification Test score of 135 or better, and at least two years of college training;" this program was considered an "extremely intensive and very difficult course." (Thompson and Harris, p. 521) | |||
14 Feb 1942 | Articles of War read to soldier
The Articles of War were the Army's rules for a soldier's life: they would be read publicly at intervals throughout his enlistment. And for Bill Hurley, because he was in the Army of the United States, which was composed of drafted men and not "career soldiers," that meant the duration of the war plus six months. | |||
February 20, 1942 | First typhoid vaccination series | |||
February 21, 1942 | Detached from Reception Center, Ft. Snelling, Minn. | |||
February 23, 1942 | Attached to Co C - 2nd Ord
Tng Bn, ORTC, APG, Md Ordnance Repl Tng Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD | |||
February 27, 1942 | War Dept. Circular #7 read and explained | |||
February 28, 1942 | First typhoid vaccination series | |||
March 1, 1942 | The 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy) activated at Salt Lake AB | |||
March 9, 1942 | Japan seizes Lae, beginning operations from New Guinea. Air offensive against Port Moresby begins soon thereafter. | |||
April 4, 1942 | Detached from Co C - 2nd Ord Tng Bn, ORTC, APG, Md | |||
April 4, 1942 | Attached to Co D - 5th Ord Tng Bn, APG, MD | |||
April 4, 1942 | First typhoid vaccination series completed | |||
April 24, 1942 | Married (civil ceremony) in New York, NY. | |||
April 27, 1942 | Married (church ceremony). | |||
April 28, 1942 | Detached from Co D - 5th Ord Tng Bn, APG, MD | |||
May 1, 1942 | Assigned to 424 Ord Co Avn (B), Army Air Base, Salt Lake City, UT | |||
May 8, 1942 | Battle of the Coral Sea: Carrier battle forces Japan to cancel invasion of Port Moresby. Japanese seize Tulagi in Solomons and begin building field at Guadalcanal. | |||
May 12, 1942 | Assigned to 423 Ord Co Avn (B), Army Air Base, Salt Lake City, UT | |||
May 12, 1942 | Soldier is favorably recommended for Good Conduct Medal upon transfer | |||
20 May 1942 | Began furlough (a short leave) | |||
June 4, 1942 | Rejoined unit (furlough ended) | U.S. Navy wins major victory at the Battle of Midway. | ||
June 10, 1942 | The 305th Bombardment Group moves from Salt Lake AB to Geiger Field | |||
June 15, 1942 | Assigned to 424 Ord Co Avn (B), Geiger Field, Wash. | |||
July 6, 1942 | Promotion to rank of
Corporal (T) The "(T)" denotes that this is a "Technical" rank; these ranks are now called "Specialists." | |||
June 31, 1942 | The 305th Bombardment Group moves from Geiger Field to Muroc Lake AB | |||
July 21, 1942 | Assigned to 32d B. Hq.
& A.B. Sq., D.M. Field, Tucson, Ariz. "The 32d Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron, Davis-Monthan Field, Tucson, Arizona. The 32d was the base operating unit at Davis-Monthan between 13 June 1942 and 25 March 1944... During the war, Davis-Monthan was a bomber unit training base, initially for B-24 Liberator units under the Fourth Air Force and effective 8 February 1943, for B-29 Superfortress units under the Second Air Force. Basically, a bombardment group and its assigned squadrons would be activated at the base, trained personnel would be assigned, and then they would undergo operational training as a unit. When their training was complete, they would ship out to an overseas theater... The 32d Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron was the highest level permanent unit on the base. They provided all of the services needed for the base, i.e., security, food, plumbing, carpentry, maintenance of buildings and facilities, etc." - Jack McKillop | Imperial Japanese Army lands at Buna and advances toward Port Moresby. | ||
August 1, 1942 | Articles of War read to soldier | |||
August 4, 1942 | Attended sex morality lecture | |||
August 7, 1942 | U.S. forces land at Guadalcanal; fierce Japanese air attack fails with heavy loss. | |||
August 7, 1942 | Fifth Air Force formed in New Guinea under the command of George Kenney. | |||
August 21, 1942 | Marines defeat first attack on Guadalcanal perimeter; Henderson Field receives first combat planes. | |||
September 1, 1942 | Japanese landing defeated at Milne Bay. | |||
September 12, 1942 | Marines defeat second attack at Guadalcanal in the Battle of Bloody Ridge. | |||
September 20, 1942 | Japanese army withdraws from outside Port Moresby. | |||
October 22-25, 1942 | Marines defeat main Japanese assault against Henderson Field. Japanese air offensive reaches maximum effort. | |||
November 8, 1942 | Australians defeat Japanese at Oivi-Gorari on Kokoda Trail. | |||
November 13-15, 1942 | The naval Battle of Guadalcanal; Japanese attempt to land new army fails; Cactus Air Force destroys enemy troop convoy. | |||
November 18, 1942 | Australian and U.S. troops begin siege of Japanese fortified zone at Buna-Gona-Sanananda. | |||
December 18, 1942 | U.S. forces begin offensive on Guadalcanal. | |||
January 13, 1943 | Thirteenth Air Force formed for operations in Solomons under Nathan Twining. | |||
January 15, 1943 | Began furlough | |||
January 23, 1943 | Australian and U.S. forces complete destruction of Japanese position at Buna. | |||
January 24, 1943 | Rejoined unit (furlough ended) | |||
February 1, 1943 | Promotion to rank of Sergeant (T) | Australians break seige of Wau. | ||
February 8, 1943 | United States declares Guadalcanal secure. | |||
March 2, 1943 | Battle of the Bismarck Sea; Allied airpower destroys Japanese troop convoy heading for New Guinea. | |||
March 6, 1943 | Smallpox vaccination | |||
March 6, 1943 | Second typhoid vaccination series | |||
March 20, 1943 | Second typhoid vaccination series | |||
March 27, 1943 | Second typhoid vaccination series | |||
March 27, 1942 | Tetanus (S Type) vaccination | |||
March 30, 1943 | Yellow fever vaccination 05CC Lab 382 | |||
April 29, 1943 | Articles of War read to soldier | |||
July 10, 1943 | Transferred to Hq. 1st Bomb Comd., Biggs Field, Texas | |||
July 10, 1943 | Assigned to Hq XX Bomb
Comd. B, Biggs Fld, Tex Headquarters of XX Bomber Command, Biggs Field, TX This may look contradictory, but there's a difference between being assigned, attached, or transferred to a unit. The transfer to I Bomber Command is the permanent or "home" unit overall, and the assignment to the XX was where he would actually travel to and work. That is, Bill Hurley was a member of the 1st Bomb Command, but he was temporarily serving at the headquarters of the XX Bomb Command. "There were two XX Bomber Commands during the war; both were assigned to the Second Air Force. The first one was activated as the I Bomber Command in El Paso, TX, on 1 May 1943; it was redesignated XX Bomber Command in August 1943 and disbanded on 6 October 1943. The second XX Bomber Command was activated at Smoky Hill AAFld, KS, on 20 November 1943 and left for India in February 1944 to control all B-29 units in that theater." (Jack McKillop) | |||
June 30, 1943 | U.S. forces invade New Georgia in Solomons. | |||
June 30, 1943 | U.S. and Australian forces move on Salamaua north of Buna. | |||
August 1943 | Allies launch devastating air offensive against Wewak. | |||
August 6, 1943 | Promotion to rank of Staff Sergeant (T) | |||
August 15, 1943 | U.S. forces invade Vella Lavella in the Solomons. | |||
September 3, 1943 | Began furlough | |||
September 4, 1943 | Australians land at Lae and Finschhafen. | |||
September 14, 1943 | Furlough ended | |||
September 19, 1943 | Attached to 304th TSS(Sp), MB, Fla Sq 1 A Technical School Squadron, Miami Beach, FL: this is the full name of the officer training program in Miami Beach, FL. | |||
October 2, 1943 | ASTP Test (4-5-43) 115 | |||
October 28, 1943 | Final physical exam, at 605 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, Fla | |||
October 12, 1943 | Fifth Air Force begins sustained assault against Rabaul. In December Marines, USN, and Thirteenth Air Force dominate offensive against Rabaul. | |||
November 1, 1943 | Americans land at Bougainville. | |||
November 8, 1943 | Articles of War read to soldier | |||
November 11, 1943 | Sol Qual Carbine M-1 Qual Marksman - Score 137 | |||
November 11, 1943 | Sol Fired 30 Rds Rifle Cal .30 for Familiarization | |||
December 1, 1943 | Sex Morality Lecture | |||
December 14, 1943 | Sulfadiazine vaccination | |||
December 24, 1943 | Physical Fitness Rating - 47 | |||
January, 1944 | Completed 4mos training AAF Administration: Specialized tng Intelligence AAF OCS, MB, Fla. | |||
January 7, 1944 | Detached from 304th TSS(Sp), MB, Fla | |||
January 7, 1944 | Discharged to accept
commission as 2LT, AUS Commissioned Second Lieutenant, Army of the United States. | |||
January 29, 1944 | First child, Mary Alison Hurley, born. | |||
February 17, 1944 | Japanese withdraw all active combat air units from Rabaul's garrison, effectively conceding South Pacific to Allies. | |||
February 28, 1944 | MacArthur seizes Admiralty Islands, isolating Rabaul's garrison and gaining major naval base. | |||
March 8, 1944 | Japanese launch futile attack on Torokina air base on Bougainville in the last large land battle in South Pacific. | |||
March 31, 1944 | Completed 2 Mos training Combat Intelligence AAF AirIntSch HbgPa This is the Air Intelligence School in Harrisburg, PA. | |||
April 15, 1944 | Assigned to 8th
AAF Radio Sq Mbl (J) Intel Evaluation Officer (rated by W H Mundorff, Major AC) Camp Pinedale, Calif | |||
April 18, 1944 | FOD I have no idea what this means. | |||
April 22, 1944 | Following fierce air offensive, Allies seize Hollandia. [Bill would pass through Hollandia on 11 December.] Wewak bypassed. Large portion of Japanese army on New Guinea isolated and neutralized. | |||
May 20, 1944 | Completed course in Map & Aerial Photography Reading | |||
May 29, 1944 | Detached from 8th AAF Radio Sq Mbl (J) | |||
May 30, 1944 | Assigned to 7th AAF Rad SQ
Mbl (J) Intel Eval Officer (rated by Charles Minder, Maj, AC) Camp Pinedale, California | |||
June 18-19, 1944 | Battle of the Philippine Sea: U.S. Pacific Fleet destroys remnants of Japanese carrier strength. U.S. forces capture Saipan. | |||
June 27, 1944 | Completed course in Personal Adjustment Problems | |||
July 30, 1944 | Allies complete occupation of New Guinea, trapping more than 200,000 enemy personnel. | |||
September 1, 1944 | Malaria Control Trng comp | |||
September 8, 1944 | Provisions of WD Cir 44
complied with War Department Circular 44 described the service requirements (location and duration) which entitled a soldier to receive a particular decoration. | |||
September 15, 1944 | "MacArthur's army units assaulted Morotai on September 15, completely bypassing the large Japanese garrison on Halmahera.... leaving some 25,000 Japanese soldiers stranded on Halmahera while the Americans built airfields to support the invasion of the Philippines on Morotai..." ("A World at Arms," p. 657.) Bill Hurley would arrive in Morotai on 15 January, 1945. | |||
October 20, 1944 | Favorable Loyalty Check for position of trust and cryptographic duties, local FBI, Service Command Intelligence and home town police checks -- Results filed in 9th SC. | U.S. forces land at Leyte in the Philippines, triggering the naval Battle of Leyte Gulf on October 23; U.S. Pacific Fleet destroys Japanese surface fleet. [Grandpa Hurley arrived on Leyte on 15 June 1945.] | ||
11 Nov 1944 | Departed from U.S. for foreign service | |||
December 1, 1944 | Arrived Finschhafen | |||
December 9, 1944 | Left Finschhafen | |||
December 11, 1944 | Arrived Hollandia | |||
December 31, 1944 | Detached from 7th AAF Rad SQ Mbl (J) | |||
January 1, 1945 | Attached to 7th AAF Radio Sq
Mobile Intel Eval Officer (no rating required) APO 72 An APO is an Army Post Office; APO 72 served the Philippines. | |||
January 9, 1945 | U.S. forces invade Luzon, main island in the Philippines. | |||
January 14, 1945 | Departed Hollandia | |||
January 15, 1944 | Arrived Morotai | |||
February 10, 1945 | U.S. forces land on Iwo Jima; the island is secured on March 25 after heavy losses. | |||
April 1, 1945 | U.S. forces land on Okinawa; the most violent battle of the Pacific war ends on June 21. | |||
April 3, 1945 | Arrived Port Au Prince, Palawan | |||
April 29, 1945 | Detached from 7th AAF Radio Sq Mobile | |||
April 30, 1945 | Attached to Central
Bureau Student O (Rad Intel) (no rating required) APO 923 APO 923 served Australia. | |||
June 8, 1945 | Completed six weeks
training General Intelligence Central Bureau, APO 923 | |||
June 15, 1945 | Arrived Leyte, P.I. | |||
June 18, 1945 | Detached from Central Bureau | |||
June 19, 1945 | Attached to 7th AAF Radio
Sq Mobile Intel Eval O (rated by Charles Minder, Maj, A.C.) APO 72 |
|||
June 30, 1945 | Detached from 7th AAF Radio Sq Mobile | |||
July 1, 1945 | Attached to 7th AAF Radio
Sq Mobile Intel Evaluation O (rated by Charles Minder, Maj, A.C.) APO 72 | Austrlians occupy Balikpapan on Borneo, the last large Allied operation of the Pacific war. | ||
August 6, 1945 | U.S. atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Nagasaki hit on August 9. | |||
August 15, 1945 | Japan agrees to accept Allied terms, ending hostilities. | |||
September 1, 1945 | Japan signs surrendur on deck of USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, ending World War II. | |||
September 18, 1945 | Detached from 7th AAF Radio Sq Mobile | |||
September 19, 1945 | Attached to 7th AAF Radio Sq
Mobile Intelligence Evaluation Officer (no rating required) APO 72 | |||
October 16, 1945 | Detached from 7th AAF Radio Sq Mobile | |||
October 17, 1945 | Attached to 7th AAF Radio Sq
Mobile Intelligence Evaluation Officer (no rating required) APO 72 | |||
October 19, 1945 | Detached from 7th AAF Radio Sq Mobile | |||
October 19, 1945 | Attached to 6th Photo Tech
Sq APO 719 APO 719 served Indonesia, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New Hebrides, the Philippines, and Ryuku. | |||
October 30, 1945 | Detached from 6th Photo Tech Sq | |||
December 27, 1945 | Appointed First Lieutenant, Air Corps, AUS (postdated from 1 Oct 1946) | |||
December 29, 1945 | Begins terminal leave | |||
January 7, 1946 | Ends terminal leave | |||
January 17, 1946 | Separated from active service, Camp McCoy, WI | |||
October 1, 1946 | Appointed First Lieutenant, Air Corps, AUS | |||
October 9, 1952 | Refused indefinite Air Force Reserve Officer appointment | |||
April 1, 1953 | Commission expired |
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