 |
Above: Oris Gentry
with his wife, Evelyn, and by himself. |
World War II veteran and
rural Culver resident Oris Gentry, a member of the 34th Infantry
Division, has written a number of poems and writings about his
experiences in the war, life in Indiana, and life in general. Mr. Gentry
also has done several oil paintings of local scenery.
His experiences as a Hoosier
WWII vet are an important part of history, and several of his WWII poems
are available on this site. |
Mr. Gentry
wrote this biographical sketch of himself for the library:
My name is Oris Gentry. My wife is Evelyn
Gentry. I was born in South Bend, Indiana on 32nd Street. When the
Depression came, we came back to the farm my grandfather had and lived
there for a time until we moved many places. I started making poems at
about 12 years old and continued until I was taken into the war. I
volunteered to go and I served with the 34th Infantry in Italy through 5
battle campaigns, and with other units of English and others, fought to
battles' end.
I came home on the U.S. Monticello onto a
train and then stopped at Winimac, Indiana. My folks were waiting there
for me -- what a nice get together. When I came home, I thanked my God;
when I was in the war I had many problems with sickness but I came out
each time.
At the time I went I could have stayed
home because dad was a farmer and farmers could stay home. Dad asked me
what I wanted to do. Many were in, so I told him, "I am no better than
they are, and I will go," and so I did.
I married Evelyn and we still are
together 56 years later. We have 2 sons who are very good to us and we
get together sometimes. I had a job at McCord's in Plymouth, Indiana ad
I held it for 24 yeas, and then moved to a factory called McGill's at
Culver, Indiana, and Evelyn worked there, too, until it closed. |
The
Poems:
Poems, Poems,
Poems
The George H.
Dern Victory Ship
Italy 1943
Note
The G.I.'s Who
Held the Line
Remember World
War
Thinking of
Days Past
To Evelyn |
The
War:
Oris
Gentry was a member of the 34th Infantry Division, whose roots go back
to the Civil War. His Division fought, during World War II, in Italy,
and Mr. Gentry himself received a number of medals, including the bronze
star. Below are images associated with his service in the war (At
left: Oris Gentry in uniform in 1943, the year he graduated high school
and entered the war).

Above: Oris Gentry's Lifetime Membership
Card in the 34th Infantry Association of WWII.

Above:
Mr. Gentry serving in the mountains of Italy during WWII.
Above:
Needlepoint wall hanging of the 34th Infantry's motto, "To the Last Man," first
adopted during the Civil War. The hanging was made by Mr. Gentry's
youngest son, Preston.

Above: samples of a few of
Mr. Gentry's wartime medals.

Above:
Mr. Gentry's Bronze Star Medal award certificate. |
The
Paintings:
Besides
poetry, Mr. Gentry also paints using oil paints. Below are samples of
his work.
  |