Sidney Manwaring is an army air-core veteran. We had the pleasure of interviewing him on March 28, 2001. Sidney is currently eighty-two years old. He was born on March 1, 1922. Sidney Manwaring dropped out of school at the age of 18. Sidney Manwaring gave up his life, friends and time to help his country that was in need.
Before the war Sidney Manwaring lived in Elmira with his parents. But when he turned 18 he quit school. He went to school at Southside high school. He originally lived on Hickory Grove in Horseheads. He now regrets quitting school because he thinks education is very important. The reason he quit school was to join the service. He did not like living with his parents, did not like people taking care of him, so he went out and enlisted. During his days before the war started, in 1936 he was sent to guard the king and queen of England and at one point he thought he saw King Edward. When Pearl Harbor was attacked Sidney Manwaring was sleeping. He could feel the ground shacking from his bunk. He immediately left his bunk. But soon had to return because he forgot his glasses and boots. This was a shocking experience that took him by surprise and as well of the rest of the world.
He piloted airplanes and in1943 he joined the 593-jasko amphibious assault team. The most him and his fleet ever stayed on one island and in one area were twenty days. He was involved in five battles, they are the Achiatic pacific battle, one national defense, Pellinol islands (which was his first real battle), Pearl Harbor and for the Philippines. Sidney got many battle stars. He got a special hat to put these on. His hat said ‘Pearl Harbor Survivor’. When the Atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, he said he could feel the earth shake. When pearl Harbor was bombed, He went to fight with his 45-caliber pistol, but had no ammunition.
Life after was for Sidney Manwaring was normal. When he was brought back to the United States and Angel island the first thing he did was drink and ice cold glass of milk. He hadn’t had any since he left for war. When he got back to his army base he had a choice to sign up for four more years in the army, get released and/or join the reserves. He didn’t no what to do. So he went home to check things out for 50 days. He decided to get released. But he did stay in the reserves. Shortly after he got back home and settled he got married.
For Sidney Manwaring this war was very scary, (but gave you great pride to know that you helped your country). The only thing Sidney really learned from war is that it is a terrible thing and you should avoid fighting if you can. He said ‘ you are proud to be part of war, but it is nothing to brag about’. He said ‘ war is no good!’ and that killing is a bad thing. He said that you should never forget what tragedy it brought to be and that many people died. He hopes if people remember the war and what happened than another world war will never happen.
Sidney Manwaring-2001-