Rodney Harmon Lubben  

Birth date

December 28, 1927

Age they entered the service

Age 17 (April 12, 1945) 

Hometown

Grand Haven, Michigan (County of Ottowa) 

Branch of the service

United States Marine Corps 

Rank

Made a corporal in October 1948 

Name of their unit

4th Guard Company at headquarters 15th Naval District (Oct. 1945-August 1947) 

When they served

April 12, 1945 - April 11, 1949

Where did you serve?

Panama Canal Zone

Did you enlist or were you drafted?

Enlisted (Regular USMC) 4 year hitch

How did you feel about going to war?

I wanted to be in action against the Japs and kill as many as I could 

Did you have any family members that went to war. If so, did they survive?

 -not direct family in U.S. services

My father served for 5 years in the Dutch army during the Great War (WWI) 

Were you ever wounded? How and where?

 Never wounded except on the football field

Did you receive any medals? Which ones?

 Yes. 2 American Theater (medal) and World War II ribbons (medal)

 

 

Do you have a war story you would like to tell?

 On my way to Boot Camp our train was put on a siding while the funeral train of President Roosevelt went through Chattanooga, Tennessee. He had died at almost the same time I had been sworn in the day before.

What was your reaction when you found out the war was over?

 I stayed in camp while nearly everyone else was celebrating in some of the small North Carolina towns nearby. I had about 32 months still to serve on my 4 year hitch. 

The atom bombs dropped in the summer of 1945 caused the Japs to surrender rather suddenly. They didn’t know that we only had enough plutonium for two more bombs and those two wouldn’t be ready for 1 year.

What was the most frightening event of the war for you?

I had no really scary events but the Marines that trained me had many in places like Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, etc.

What was the most cherished memory of the war for you?

Memories of the many good friends that I made during those years, especially the men that served with me in the Panama Canal Zone.

 Do you have regrets about your service in World War II?

No. I earned my college education via the G.I. Bill (of rights) and I played a lot of baseball on Navy and Marine teams.

 How do you feel about America today?

I still love my country except that our government has been taken over by people who don’t have the interest in the U.S.A. and our people (in their hearts).

How do you feel about the war with Iraq?

The war with Iraq is a crime against all humanity, especially the people of Iraq and the U.S.A.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Yes. Study the Constitution of our country and learn our Bill of Rights by heart. Let’s get our Republic back!