Alton L. Orlomoski
At the age of 17, I enlisted in the Regular Army for 3 years. It was December 1946. After basic training, I went to Japan for two years, and was assigned to the First Cavalry Division stationed at Camp Drake. There, I was trained as a machine gunner and mortar gunner. In October 1947, I was selected to be a member of the “Honor Guard Co.” I lived in the Finance Building and pulled guard at the Dai Ichi Building. There, I met a lot of good men, especially George Miller of Kansas. While on duty, I talked to members of the 11th Airborne Division and finally decided I’d like to a paratrooper. In March 1948, I received my transfer and was assigned to the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment. After graduating from jump school, I was stationed at Camp Crawford near Sapporo on the island of Hokkaido, and served as a 81mm mortar gunner in a heavy weapons company. I returned to the States in 1949 and finished my enlistment. Although I served a relatively short time with the Honor Guard, I have always been proud of being a member of the sharpest outfit in the Far East Command.
Alton L. Orlomoski
Canterbury, CT