Call to Quarters - Fork Union Military Academy

as they ultimately were assigned together toCompany I in the Third Battalion of the 506th.Shames describes the training they went throughas “almost inhumane” as the men were winnowedfrom almost 7,000 recruits down to about 2,500tough, hardened fighting men. Anyone whostopped running on the regular morning runs3-1/2 miles up (and 3-1/2 miles down) CurraheeMountain was removed from the unit. Anyonewho was unable to qualify at the “expert” levelwith their rifle, machine gun, or mortar waseliminated. When the regiment was sent to thelarge rifle ranges at Clemson University to finishperfecting their marksmanship skills, no truckswere on hand to transport them. They marchedthe 48 miles from Toccoa to Clemson. Anyonewho fell out during the long march was removedfrom the unit.During this arduous training, a strong bondwas formed between five friends in I Company,Shames reports. Joe Madona, Joe Beyerle, JamesRecruiting posters like this one encouragedmen between the ages of 18 and 32 to join theArmy paratroopers.Japhet, Ed Shames, and George Retan becamefast friends, with George as kind of their leader.Retan seemed to know the ropes and helpedthem all through the training regimen, Shamesrecalls, displaying a level of leadership andexperience that Shames now credits to Retan’sbackground as a FUMA cadet. “He must havelearned that here,”Shames says. “I justtried to follow hislead.”Retan’s leadershipabilities were noticedby his commandingofficers, and Retanwas soon promotedto Sergeant andplaced in charge of asquad.In December of1942, the regimentwas to travel to FortBenning for parachutejump school.First Battalion traveledby train fromToccoa to Benning.Second Battalionmarched 102 milesto Atlanta in three days and then took a train toBenning. Third Battalion, Retan’s battalion, tookthe train to Atlanta, and then marched 136 milesin four days to arrive at Fort Benning, smashinga record for long distance marching previouslyset by the Imperial Japanese Army. The 506thPIR was attracting attention as an elite airborneunit like none before.More specialized training continued for the regimentand by February of 1943, Ed Shames hadalso been promoted to Staff Sergeant and movedto Headquarters Staff, but he still remained closewith his buddies in I Company.On September 5, 1943, the regiment boardedthe troop ship Samaria and sailed for England.The 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment wassoon to become one of the most renowned unitsof the 101st Airborne Division. George Retanand his buddies were going to war.Retan was promotedto Sergeant withinmonths of his enlistmentin the 506thParachute InfantryRegiment.www.forkunion.com 51