Mr. Joseph Cumming, a retired 74-year-old man, he was in the army infantry in the

Pacific. He was born on February 20, 1927, Mr. Joseph Cumming grew up in New Galas,

Arizona. He was almost 15 when the United States entered WWII. Mr. Cumming was 18

when he went into training in 1945. Also while he was this age there was a demand for

field units. After basic training he got orders to ship out to the Pacific. He was not in the

navy. A lot more happened to him during WWII such as, he got called up on active duty.

He also earned many medals for good conduct WWII victory, occupation of Japan, and

being on active duty, He also earned honorable discharge. But that is not all that happened.

     Before the war Mr. Cumming had lived with his family. He was about 15 when the war came to the United States. On December 7, 1941, Mr.

Cumming came home after church and heard over the radio that Pearl Harbor had been bombed. “I never thought I would end up in WWII,” said Mr.

Cumming, but later he was drafted for the war and started basic training in 1945.

    When he was 15 he was still in school until he was 18. Mr. Cumming went into the infantry basic training. He was at sea for weeks. Finally he was

in the Philippines. Mr. Cumming went into Japan. “The temperature change was from very hot to cold, and well I could not stop shaking,” Explained

Mr. Cumming. He explained to us that when he got to Japan he had a headache, so his Sargent told him to take a couple shots of whiskey and go to

bed.  He did and woke up three days later feeling much better. On his way back to Arizona on a ship there was an outbreak of polio, that in tern

they had to stay on the ship for another week. “Although we were fighting against the Japanese, they were the kindest people.” Mr. Cumming said.

He explained that he could not believe how we ever got in a war with them.

    When Mr. Cumming returned home after training in 1950 he had gotten an honorable mention. In conclusion we had found out that Mr. Cumming was very

happy that the war had ended. He knew much about the war and was a very kind man.