ATL Thoughts: Harold Eugene Shields Army Days

Harold Eugene Shields

The Army

Eugene served in the army for 15 months from November 16, 1945 to February 19, 1947. In his Separation Qualification Record it shows he was Private for 2 months as a Engineers Basic (521) and a Sargent for 13 months as a Military Police (677). He did 5 months 15 days of Continental Service and 9 months 29 days of Foreign Service.

Eugene reported to the Local Draft Board #15. On his draft card it is marked that he was Commissioned 11/16/45 – AFIS Ft. Douglas, Utah. He was single and his parents were Amos Kenneth Shields and Dorothea Louise Kinnomd Shields who lived at 17 B and C Row, Magna, Utah.

On the Separation Qualification Record under “Title-Description-Relayed Civilian Occupation” it state:

“Military Policeman;

Was stationed at Frankfurt, German, with the 381^st M P Service Battalion. Worked as railway guard, guarding American supplies. Carried a .45 caliber carbine, and automatic pistal.”

On Eugene’s Separation papers it is recorded under “Decorations and Citations”: Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal Germany. His place of separation was Fort Sheridan, Illinois.

When dad went into the Army World War II was at an end and he served in occupied Germany.

When I found dad’s US European Theater Hunting and Fishing License For Land Greater Hesse for the period of 1 April 1965 – 31 March 1947, I had to laugh. The man that loved to fish and hunt had a fishing and hunting license while in Germany serving in the Army. The License Number was F-5238. It was issued to Shields, Harold E. Pfc 39948338 Unit 381^st MP BN CO A Apo 757. One of the regulations I found interesting was “Full automatic weapons will not be used, nor will the carbine cal. 30 be used to hunt deer or larger game.” What you cannot use your machine gun to hunt deer. The other regulation I found interesting was: “Dead game will not be left in the forest, but will be turned over to Army messes.”