TSgt Caster Salemi, U.S. Army, World War II, Luzon, New Guinea

Caster Salemi was 19 years old when Japan attacked the U.S. at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He tried to enlist in the U.S. Navy but was rejected. After working in a facility producing Norden bombsights, he was finally drafted into the U.S. Army. While training in Paris, Texas, Salemi was assigned to the 251st Field Artillery Battalion in a communications role. He was part of a unit firing 105mm howitzers.

In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Salemi tells about arriving in New Guinea, which brought high temperatures, high humidity, and tropical diseases. 

Salemi then talks about his service in Luzon, Philippines, starting in January 1945 and  describes the “constant combat” against the Japanese, including one battle that lasted two months straight. He also recalls how relentless the Japanese were and how cruel they could be. He also shares how the Japanese disrupted his artillery communications efforts.

Finally, Salemi details the end of the war and how one of those tropical diseases sent him home earlier than expected – and right through a typhoon.

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Veterans Chronicles