Joseph Madara Sr WWII

The Forgotten Theater of World War II

China - Burma - India Theater

Jul 1942 - Hartford, CT - Battery G 79th CA (AA)-1st Platoon - Joe Madara, back row, left

Joseph H Madara Sr - World War II History

My father, Joseph H Madara Sr, enlisted in the Army of the United States on June 27, 1941, five and one half months before Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, which caused the US to enter World War II. On May 10, 1943 he departed for India, as part of the CBI, or China-Burma-India Theater, where he remained until the end of the war.

Of the 12,300,000 Americans who took up arms during WWII, only about 250,000 (2%) served in the CBI Theater, also known as The Forgotten Theater of World War II.

CBI campaign patch

Citizens' Military Training Camps
1935-1938

My father's military career began in 1935, at the age of 18, when he attended the Citizens' Military Training Camps (CMTC) program at Fort Hoyle, Maryland, specializing in Field Artillery and the Cavalry.

The CMTC were US government authorized military training programs held annually each summer during the years 1921 to 1940. The program was divided into three four-week courses designated “Red,” “White.” and “Blue.” The RED Course consisted of preliminary and practical military training (school of the soldier). The WHITE Course consisted of intermediate military training (small unit tactics, marksmanship, basic aspects of the arm or service of the camp). The BLUE Course consisted of advanced military training (leadership, officership, and advanced aspects of the arm or service of the camp).

RED - 1935 - Field Artillery - Fort Hoyle, MD

WHITE - 1936 - Cavalry - Fort Myer, VA

BLUE - 1937 - Cavalry - Fort Myer, VA

After completing the WHITE course, Joe was eligible to purchase a US War Department issued Remington 30 cal rifle with 60 cartridges, for the whopping price of $16.73!

When Joe began his final (BLUE) course, he was promoted to Corporal, Troop "F", Third Cavalry, CMTC. (Yes, my father was a Corporal in F-Troop!)

1936 - Joe @ CMTC - 2nd from right?

14 Nov 1936 - Purchased Reminton 30 cal rifle

7 Jul 1937 - Promoted to Corporal, Troop "F", Third Cavalry, CMTC

CMTC Sharpshooter & Pistol Shot 1st Class bars

In January 1938, he furthered his civilian military training by completing two Army Extension Courses, including Organization of the Army and Organization of the Cavalry.

7 Jan 1938 - Organization of the Army

28 Jan 1938 - Organization of the Cavalry

On 16 October 1940, Joe registered with the Selective Service,
and on 12 May 1941, he was Classified as 1A.

16 Oct 1940 - Registration Certificate

12 May 1941 - Classified 1A

Training in Anti-Aircraft Artillery Weapons
1941-1943

Camp Wallace, Galvaston County, Texas
June - Nov, 1941

On June 27, 1941, Joe was inducted into the US Army as a Private, and assigned to Camp Wallace, in Texas where he went through basic training in Anti-Aircraft Artillery Weapons. It was during this time that Battery A 28th CATB (Coast Artillery Training Battalion) was formed. The Coast Artillery Corps were responsible for manning coastal artillery positions and protecting harbors from potential naval attacks.

Camp Wallace, Galveston County, Texas, was designed as a training center for anti-aircraft units in World War II. Construction began in November 1940, and was formally opened on February 1, 1941. The Camp was named for Col. Elmer J. Wallace of the 59th Coast Artillery, who was fatally wounded in the Meuse-Argonne offensive of 1918. On April 15, 1944, the camp was officially transferred to the United States Navy as a naval training and distribution center, and it was used as a boot camp. After the war, it became the Naval Personnel Separation Center. The camp was declared surplus in 1946.

Photo by Jim Evans, 17 Apr 2008

3 Sep 1941 - Joe @ Camp Wallace, TX - Battery A 28 C.A.T.B.

1941 - Camp Wallace, TX - 2nd Platoon Barracks

1941 - Camp Wallace, TX - "Airing out our beds & bedding, a Friday stunt"

1941 - Joe @ Camp Wallace, TX

1941 - Hitch-hiking from Camp Wallace, TX to Houston, a 40 mile trek

1941 - Pvt Joseph Madara - Tremont, PA

1941 - Ralph & Joseph - Tremont, PA

Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas
Nov 1941 - May 1942

By November 1941, we find Joe reassigned to Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX, for additional training in anti-aircraft artillery.

Established by the War Department in September 1849 as the "Military Post of El Paso," the fort was renamed Fort Bliss on March 8, 1854. It has served as protection against Indian raids, was surrendered during the Civil War to the Confederates who abandoned and burned it in 1862, was the base for General Pershing and his expedition into Mexico in search of Pancho Villa in 1916, and a Cavalry Post during WWI. During WWII, Fort Bliss focused on training anti-aircraft artillery battalions (AAA), and in September 1940, the Coast Artillery's anti-aircraft training center was established. Today the fort is the 2nd largest US Army base (in land area).

Nov 1941 - Joe in Juarez, Mexico

Cigarettes from Mexico

1941 - Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX

Nov 1941 - Fort Bliss, TX - Dad on horseback

1941 - Fort Bliss, TX

Nov 1941 - Fort Bliss, TX - Joe, back row, far left.

1941 - Fort Bliss, TX

1941 - Fort Bliss - Battery "G" 79th Coast Artillery (AA)

1941 - Fort Bliss

On December 7, 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, which caused the United States to enter WWII.

In a letter that Joe received from Dot & Doris, dated Dec 16, 1941, it indicates that his furlough for the upcoming holidays had been cancelled because of the outbreak of war. A note on U.S.O. Salvation Army letterhead shows the schedule for the planned trip home for the holidays, from El Paso to Harrisburg, PA, which would take a total 54 hours, 45 minutes by train. I don't know if Dad ever got home for Christmas, or if it was the first Christmas in his life where he wasn't home for the holidays. He did receive several Christmas Cards from friends and family.

Train Schedule - El Paso to Harrisburg, and back

Page 4 -- Page 1 - Dot & Doris letter

Page 2 -- Page 3 - Dot & Doris letter

Uncle Chas, Aunt Jennie & Emma (Ney) - Tremont, PA

"Sis" (Betty) - Harrisburg, PA

Mr & Mrs R.V. Harris and Lucille - Galveston, TX

Dot & Doris Kehler - Tremont, PA

On December 27, 1941 Joe was promoted to Private First Class, Battery "G", 79th Coast Artillery (AA)

On January 18, 1942 Dad made a recorded message for his family back home (probably because he didn't get home for Christmas).

Knowing that he would soon be going into battle, on March 1, 1942 Joe purchased a $3000.00 Veterans' Administration life insurance policy, naming his mother as beneficiary.

1 Mar 1942 - Life Insurance Policy $3000.00

Bradley Field, Windsor Locks, Connecticut
and Manchester, Connecticut
May-October 1942

May 1942 - Bradley Field Hosp - Joe, up front, kneeling

We next find my dad, in May 1942, at the Bradley Field Hospital in Windsor Locks, CT. There are no records as to why he spent time at the hospital.

Bradley Field, constructed by the US government in 1941 as a fighter air base, was a vital part of the East Coast's defense efforts during the war. It served as a training ground for pilots, a staging point for deploying troops, and a prison camp for German POWs. After the war Bradley Field was deeded to the state and open to the public in 1946 as Bradley International Airport.

Most of Joe's time at Bradley Field & Manchester was spent training with Battery "G", 79th Coast Artillery, along various coasts in the New England area, including Cape Cod, MA and Newberry Pointe, Rye, NH.

Advancing up the rank, Joe was promoted on June 27, 1942 to Technician Gr 5, Battery "G", 79th Coast Artillery (AA), at Manchester, CT.

1942 - Pennbrook

27 Jun 1942 - Promoted to Technician Gr 5

July 1942 - Hartford, CT - Btry G 79th CA(AA) 1st Platoon - Joe, back row, far left

27 Jul 1942 - Training on Cape Cod, MA

Continuing up the ladder, on September 20, 1942, Joe was promoted to Sergeant, Chief of Section 539, Battery "G", 79th CA (AA), at Manchester, CT.

20 Sep 1942 - Promoted to Sgt. (Chief of Section 539)

On October 11, 1942, Joe and his squad travelled 150 miles to Newberry Pointe, Rye, New Hampshire, so they could train with live anti-aircraft artillery weapons along the coast.

11 Oct 1942 - Somewhere in Massachusetts. Convoy halts for a 10 min break

11 Oct 1942 - Setting up the mess tent

11 Oct 1942 - Joe, at Newberry Pointe, Rye, NH

11 Oct 1942 - 40 mm "before" firing

11 Oct 1942 - Target hit by 40 mm, with crew - Joe, 2nd from right

11 Oct 1942 - Anti-Aircraft Artillery Weapons crew

11 Oct 1942 - Joe, at Newberry Pointe, Rye, NH

Camp Davis, Holly Ridge, North Carolina
Oct 1942 - May 1943

On October 15, 1942 my father reached his final anti-aircraft artillery training destination - Camp Davis, NC - as part of the 464th AA AW Battalion (Semimobile).

Construction of Camp Davis began in 1940 by the US Army, to be used as a Coast Artillery training facility. By 1942 the camp had expanded to include Seacoast Defense, Barrage Balloons and Anti-Aircraft training, eventually morphing into the nation's premier Anti-Aircraft Artillery Training Center. Camp Davis even used WASPs (Women's Airforce Service Pilots) who flew tow-target planes for anti-aircraft artillery gunnery practice! (Was my dad shooting at women?!) At least two were killed in flying accidents. On February 17, 1946 Camp Davis was closed.

On November 21, 1942 Sgt. Joseph H. Madara received a Certificate of Proficiency, having satisfactorily completed the Course of Instruction in Combat Intelligence, from the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Training Center, Specialists' School. He would spend the next 6 months training and preparing for being shipped overseas.

21 Nov 1942 - Certificate of Proficiency

Dec 1942 - Joe Madara @ Camp Davis - D-464 CA Bn (AA)

Greetings from Camp Davis, NC

Joe Madara Sr, taking a break, before all hell breaks loose.

20 Jan 1943 - Training at Fort Fisher, NC -Joe, standing left

21 Oct 1942 - Camp Davis - Pass

China - Burma - India Theater
1943-1945

Journey to an Unknown Land - CBI

Fearing the worst, on May 1, 1943, Joe bought an additional life insurance policy in the amount of $7000, with his mother named as beneficiary.

By May 9, 1943, Joe and his crew, the 464th CA Battalion (AA), transferred to New York, to the Port of Embarkation. There, they boarded a ship for the 6 weeks, and 4 days journey to India, arriving on June 23, 1943, where they would begin their service in the CBI theater.

1 May 1943 - $7000 Life Insurance Policy

The Journey to China-Burma-India

Departure - 9 May
New York - Brazil - 25 May ↔ 17 days
Brazil - Madagascar - 13 Jun ↔ 19 days
Madagascar - Sri Lanka - 18 Jun ↔ 5 days
Sri Lanka - India - 23 Jun ↔ 5 days
TOTAL TIME ON THE SHIP ↔ 46 DAYS

There is limited information about my father's time in the CBI, as it was an active war zone and missions were confidential. Records show that he took part in three campaigns: India-Burma, Central Burma, and China Defensive.

India-Burma Campaign

Joe arrived in India on June 23, 1943, most probably unloading at Chittagong, India, a.k.a. Chattogram, in what is today Bangladesh (Bangladesh won their independence from India on March 26, 1971).

There was already a well developed rail system, connecting the coast to the Assam Valley, so the soldiers and supplies were probably loaded on to train cars and transported to Assam, where they set up camp.

During World War II, India was a British colony, and the province of Assam (today the 2nd largest state in India) played a crucial role as a staging ground and supply route for the Allied forces fighting in the China-Burma-India Theater. The Allies were pivotal in repelling the Japanese advance. The region's proximity to Burma and its access to India's rail and road networks made it an ideal base for logistical operations.

Assam and Manipur became India's front line against Japan between 1942 and 1945, housing numerous British army units and US air squadrons. A large number of troops, including Indian, British, West African, Chinese, and American soldiers, were stationed in the region.

Ground Troop patch

10th Army Air Corps patch

As part of the Coastal Artillery Corp of the US Army, Joe worked alongside the 10th Army Air Corps, protecting the aviators as they flew missions over the China-Burma-India Theater.

The Jungle Mission

On April 30, 1944, my father mailed to his father, Charles F Madara, a copy of Jungle Mission, which was written by James R Nagel, Capt CAC (Coastal Artillery Corp). On the top of the copy was written "Sgt Madara D - Unit Member." Because my dad hardly ever spoke about the war, and most of his war records were destroyed by a fire in the federal warehouse where they were stored, our family knew little about his time in the Army. Except for the Jungle Mission.

Click on the image to the right to read the PDF file of the Jungle Mission.

Jungle Mission - Page 1 - CLICK on image for PDF file and to read the whole mission

Merry Christmas, Mother

21 Nov 1944 - C.B.I. Greetings

21 Nov 1944 - Christmas Greetings

Dec 1944 - V-Mail service available to the soldiers

Dec 1944 - V-Mail Christmas Card

Central Burma & China Defensive Campaigns

On January 12, 1945 Joe entered the Central Burma & China Defensive Campaigns at Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar).

The Burma campaign was a series of battles fought in the British colony of Burma. It primarily involved forces of the Allies (mainly from the British Empire and the Republic of China, with support from the US), against the invading forces of the Empire of Japan.

In Central Burma during late 1944 and the first half of 1945, the capture of Rangoon by the Allies, and the concurrent Battle of Meiktila and Battle of Mandalay, were decisive engagements near the end of the Burma campaign. Collectively, they are sometimes referred to as the Battle of Central Burma. With Japan's troops, weapons, and ammunition greatly diminished, the enemy withdrew from the region, and the end of the CBI was within sight.

For more information about the campaigns that Joe served in,
please check out the information below.

View this short (4:13) YouTube video for more information on the CBI

CLICK on image for a downloadable PDF file

View this short (6:13) YouTube video for more information about Burma's history under British rule.

At some point between February 28 - March 11, 1945 Joe suffered burns on his face, which caused him to be hospitalized for a short time.

I always knew that Dad had been burned during WWII, as he had scarring on his face, but I was never told the details. I only know the time-line from a letter he wrote home to his mother dated March 12, 1945.

12 Mar 1945 - Joe's letter to Mother

Perhaps the only time my father discussed the war with me was when I was in 7th grade, and did a report on the "Burma Road" for history class.

Camp Angus, Chandernagore, India

By April 18, 1945, we find Joe back in India, at Camp Angus, in Chandernagore, about 20 miles from Calcutta (Kolkata). The camp acted as a depot for the soldiers who were waiting for their next orders.

14 Jun 1945 - Camp Angus, India - Pass - Front

14 Jun 1945 - Camp Angus, India - Pass - Back

29 Jun 1945 - Camp Angus, India - Tobacco Ration Certificate

My father was officially 'Inactivated" on July 10, 1945, and waited in queue at Camp Angus until the beginning of September, for his chance to finally, after 4+ years in service to his country, GO HOME!

On August 14, 1945, an announcement was made that Japan would officially surrender on September 2, 1945, ending the war in the China-Burma-India Theater!!!

1-15 Sept 1945 - Camp Angus, India - Mess Pass

3-4 Sep 1945 - Camp Angus, India - Enlisted Man's Pass

Chandernagore Now Silent After Nearby GI's Leave
By SGT. RICHARD COLLIER   Chota Roundup Special Writer
May 2, 1946
  CHANDERNAGORE - White sign on an open gate says "Far Eastern Transit Depot" but the silence gives it the lie. The silence is like the heat: it hangs heavily on the air, like bunting on a windless day, and as far as you can see there are only the long battalions of empty huts, raw weeds sprouting among the cinders.
  This is a ghost city, the ghost of the once mighty Camp Angus trooping depot, the last port of call for thousands of Statesbound GI's. Here they took their last look at the East and gave their verdict. It was maybe a fitting enough place to deliver it.
  Chandernagore, twenty miles from Calcutta along the sludgy mud-flats of the Hooghly, is a ghost city, too. Chandernagore, which translates to mean "City of Sandalwood," is one of La France's stakes in India, a stake which pays no dividends and lingers on for sentimental reasons only. Its story lies in its past and in the tale of its dissolution into the ugly Bengali landscape that hems it in.

Going Home!!!

Joe and his crew evacuated Camp Angus and the Calcutta (Kolkata) area sometime around the middle of September, travelling to Karachi, India (now Pakistan). I speculate that the soldiers made the trip via rail cars.

18 Sep 1945 - Karachi, India (Pakistran) - pass

On September 24, 1945, Joe departed Karachi, on the U.S.S. General J.H. McRae, leaving India and the war behind.

The U.S.S. General J.H. McRae was built for the war effort, and commissioned on August 8, 1944. For it's first year, she carried troops to the Pacific Theater. When the war ended, she transported over 36,000 troops home, including Joe, over 140,000 miles, through the end of 1945. She was decommissioned on February 27, 1946.

U.S.S. General J.H. McRae

The ship passed through the Suez Canal on October 1, 1945, into the Mediterranian Sea, forwarding on to the Atlantic Ocean, then finally back on American soil by October 15, 1945.

The journey home took about 21 days, which was less than half of the time that it took Joe and the crew to travel to China-Burma-India (64 days). On the way over to the CBI, I guess my father was, in fact, "on a slow boat to China!"

DEPART - Calcutta (Kolkata), India - Middle September
ARRIVE - Karachi, India (Pakistan)
DEPART - Karachi - 24 Sep 1945
ARRIVE - Suez - 1 Oct 1945
ARRIVE HOME - 15 Oct 1945

The Journey Home

October 1945 - Meal Ticket for trip home - front

October 1945 - Meal Ticket for trip home - back

The 4-page newsletter below was distributed to the soldiers aboard the U.S.S. General J.H. McRae, on 29 September 1945, or "17 Days to New York."

The newsletter contained up-to-date information about what was happening in Tokyo, Berlin, Washington & London, as well as the latest sports news, and "Tonight's Movie" (The Beautiful Cheat) show times. More importantly is page 4 - Geographical G-2, - which describes the journey through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

News from Tokyo & Berlin

News from Washington & London

Sports updates - show times

Journey thru the Red Sea

Honorably Discharged

Finally back on American soil, on October 20, 1945, at Fort Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, my father, Sergeant Joseph Harold Madara, Sr, was Honorably Discharged from the US Army, having spent 4 years, 3 months, 24 days in service to his Country.

Joe spent 1 year, 10 months, 18 days in "continental service," training in Coastal Anti-Aircraft Artillery Weapons, and advancing his rank to Sergeant. He also spent 2 years, 5 months, 6 days in "foreign service," fighting the Japanese in the CBI Theater.

For his service Joe was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars.

20 Oct 1945 - Honorable Discharge - front

20 Oct 1945 - Honorable Discharge - back

25 Oct 1945 - Classification - 1-C-Disc

Military Occupations: Chief of Section of 14 men

Description: Supervised emplacement of weapon, conduct of fire, and fire adjustment while engaging target. Supervised unlimbering of weapon and mounting piece on jacks. Had charge of assigning of men to task and supervising same.
Source: Separation Qualification Record

Separation Qualification Record - front

Separation Qualification Record - back

464th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Auto-Weapons Battalion (Semimobile)

Formed: 15 Oct 42 Camp Davis, NC as Sep CA Bn AA-AW (Redesignated from Coastal Artillery 28 Apr 44)
Inactivated: 10 Jul 45 Calcutta, India
Locations: Camp Davis, NC 15 Oct 42; New York Port of Embarkation 9 May 43; Brazil 25 May 43; Madagascar 13 Jun 43; Ceylon 18 Jun 43; India 23 Jun 43; Burma 12 Jan 45; India 18 Apr 45
Campaigns: India-Burma, Central Burma, China Defensive
Source: "World War II Order of Battle", Shelby L Stanton, 1984

Items Joe Carried into War

"Joseph had this in the Army with him - Mother" (inside cover)

Dog Tags

Notebook with addresses and inspirational quotes

Dad's pipe

Pocket photo album - Grandma, Pop-Pop & Geetzle

Grandma & Betty

Betty

Betty & "Babe"

Ralph

Photos from the C.B.I. Theater

The slideshow below contains photos from Joe's time in the CBI. Unfortunately, I do not know the names of any of Dad's crewmates, nor where some of the photos were taken. He rarely spoke about his time in World War II.

Some Items Joe Brought Back Home

"Trophies of War"

Captured Japanese rifle allowed as trophy.

LEFT: April 24, 1945 - Enemy Equipment Intelligence Service requisition form for a captured Japanese Model 38 6.5 mm rifle which Dad brought back with him. His son, Joseph Madara Jr, is currently in possesion of the rifle

RIGHT: July 24, 1945 - Replacement Depot #2 - Certificate to allow Joe to bring home 76 brass cartridge cases as "trophies"

Replacement Depot #2 Certificate

Joe the Numismatist

As Joe travelled around the world during his 4-year stint in the Army, he collected coins from places he had been, and from foreign soldiers he had met. He returned with coins from 15 different countries, and a "Tax Token" from Mississippi!

Australia
Belgium
Ceylon
China
France
Germany
Great Britain
Hong Kong
India
Italy
Mexico
Morocco
Nepal
New Zealand
South Africa

Joe also returned with an envelope full of paper money that he collected. When Japan invaded the British Colony of Burma in 1942, Japan issued "Occupied Burma" currency, which was used through 1945. With the withdrawal and surrender of Japan, Burma's economy collapsed, and Indian Rupees were stamped with "Military Administration of Burma. Legal tender in Burma only." Joe also picked up some Chinese Gold Units and Yuan, as well as bills from Phillippines, Belgium & Ceylon.

Japanese Occupied Burma Currency

Indian Rupee & stamped Military Administration tender

Chinese Gold Units and Yuan

Phillippines, Belgium & Ceylon

Other Stuff he brought home....

Ashtrays made by Indian artists

1944 - Silk Map No. 31, North Burma

1944 - Silk Map No. 30, South Burma

Joe's army dress shirt

Joe's jungle t-shirt

Ivory elephant necklace sent to Betty from India

US Propaganda Leaflet Dropped on the Japanese Troops
(with translation)

Leaflet - front

With the photo of the battle in mind!
It's time for everyone to reatreat!!!
Waiting for friendly aircraft is a futile end!
Time to crouch and endure the dampness of the trenches!!
Remember it and take a look!!
When you recall one after another how your war comrades were now well fed, had clean clothes and were being kindly treated by Chinese and American soldiers, your comrades are now enjoying happy days in quiet barracks in America, Australia and China, far from the sound of gunfire.
I tried hard not to forget, but now it's too late.
I can't remember anything.
CAPTION ON PHOTO:
A group of Japanese soldiers has flown into our rear lines.

Leaflet - back

SEEING IS BELIEVING!!!
The blindfolds in the photograph are to conceal the identity of the Japanese soldiers.

Leaflet - inside

UPPER LEFT - The soldiers of the 6th Regiment Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company and the soldiers of the 114th Regiment are getting by on rice, vegetables, tea, etc. If they with, Japanese soldiers can receive rations of rice, vegetables, fish, etc. and cook their own food.
UPPER RIGHT - Fellow Imperial Soldiers! The soldiers who are serving in the war are your comrades. They fought bravely in North Burma, but they avoided a hopeless battle when their unit was surrounded and left to die in vain. Now they are being treated by the generous and respectable Chinese and American soldiers. Instead of exposing their bodies to the jungle, they are living a safe life in our rear and are being treated the same as the Chinese and American soldiers. We will all keep our identities secret, and in accordance with international law, the officers will be camped separately.
BOTTOM LEFT - A corporal from the 56th Regiment won the first game after dinner. Shogi and Go are a popular one-day event for soldiers.
BOTTOM MIDDLE - The XXth Division Chief from the 3rd Battalion, 56th Regiment, 18th Division, is fascinated by the radio, which he has heard for the first time since coming to Burma. The training room at the camp is equipped with newspapers, magazines, radio, and other equipment.
BOTTOM RIGHT - This is a photo of Sergeant XXXX of the 6th Division receiving cigarettes from a Chinese soldier who has become a good friend of his. Cigarettes are distributed for free once a week.

C.B.I. Roundup