Book 'Country Boy Gone Soldiering'
George H. Waple III - HQ Company, 331st Infantry Regiment
Copyright Edition 1998 softcover 'Country Boy Gone Soldiering' by George H. Waple III. The book is a Record of a young man's journey from obscurity in a poor Virginia farm community founded by his great grandfather, to a productive interesting life where he made significant contributions fighting America's Wars, Honoring its heroes, and supporting key leadership personalities and mission for the United States of America. This example is signed and personalized on title page by US Army Captain George H. Waple III.
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1st Sgt. George H. Waple III
First Sergeant
George H. Waple III
1st Sgt. George H. Waple III
As the youngest of eight children to Nancy B 'Nannie' Clarke and George Henry Waple II, George Henry Waple III was born on February 9, 1921 in Waple’s Mill, a community in the Drainsville section of Fairfax County, Virginia, founded by his great grandfather. The Waple family home was secure and livable, but amenities were scarce. His father, George Henri Waple II supported the family by farming, running the Waple’s Mill General Store and investing in farm property.
He entered the Army at the age of 17 and was assigned to the Third Cavalry at Fort Meyer, Verginia and developed a knack for leadership by observing Colonel Jonathan Wainright and Colonel George S. Patton, who both commanded the Third Cavalry. George Waple married Catherine Cottrell on February 16, 1942 in Arlington, Verginia. He left the Horse Cavalry in June of 1942 to join other cadre men in the newly activated 83rd infantry Division at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. He was promoted at 21 years old to Master Sergeant in November 1942 and functioned as the Regimental Communications Chief of Headquarters Company, 331st Infantry Regiment 83rd Division. He participated in the 83rd normal training cycle, the Tennessee Maneuvers 1943 and overseas preparation at Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky. He departed New York on the SS George Washington in March of 1944 arriving at Liverpool, England spring 1944. The landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy on D-Day plus twelve relieving the 101st Airborne near Carentan, France. He participated in the five European Campaigns and across Europe to the Elbe River to meet the Russians in May 1945.
At war's end, George returned to Fort Myer, Virginia in November 1945, he was assigned as the First Sergeant of the Ceremonial Detachment whose job was burials at Arlington Cemetery, guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Honor Guards and parades in the Washington DC area. This included duties at the White House (1946-1947) as Head Usher for affairs of state under President Truman. He was also President Truman’s Wreath Bearer at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier memorials on each Memorial Day.
On 5 April, 1948, the Ceremonial Company became Company A of the newly reactivated Third Infantry Regiment 'Old Guard'. George became a member of the Old Guard Association, and then in September 2008 he also became a member of the Tome Guard Honor Society for his contributions made at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for the period November 1945 to April 1948. He received a Tomb Guard Honor Society Pin at the 2008 reunion held at Fort Myer, Verginia Officers Club from the Regimental Commander.
On August 20, 1948, George was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army General Omar Bradley. He served in the capacity until January 12, 1952, when General Bradley commissioned him a Second Lieutenant. After attending school at Ft. Benning, GA, he was assigned to the Fifth Infantry Training Division in Indiantown Gap, Pa where he was promoted to First Lieutenant and became aide to Major general George B. Barth, Division Commander, Fifth Division.
In spring, 1953, he was assigned to the Third Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment of the Seventh Infantry Division in Korea. His combat experiences in the Korean War included participation in the war's last battle as the Chinese launched attacks across the Chowan Valley on the third Battalion from their positions on "Old Baldy" and "Pork Chop Hill." In summer, 1953, George was selected to become Aide de Camp to the Commanding General Seventh Infantry Division, Major General Lionel C. McGarr.
In February 1954 1st Lt. George H. Waple III was assigned to become the escort for Marilyn Monroe, for three days, while she was in the Seventh Division Sector visiting the troops in the Korean War.
In June, 1954 he accompanied General McGarr on his new assignment as Commanding General U.S. Army Caribbean, located in the Panama Canal Zone.
Promoted to Captain, he attended Advanced Infantry School in Fort Benning, Ga in September, 1956. He subsequently was assigned to the G-4 Section, Military District of Washington until August, 1958, when he was reassigned as Aide to Major General McGarr, Commandant at the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
His final assignment was as a Corrections Officers and Athletic Director in the U.S. Army Disciplinary Barracks. He retired from military service as a Captain in June, 1962, with 24 years of service.
Decorations include combat Infantry Badge with Star, the Bronze Star with two Oak leaf Clusters, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one silver star for five campaigns, the Army Commendation Medal with four Oak leaf Clusters, the Good Conduct Medal, the World War Two Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal (Korea) with twelve years of enlisted service, plus other applicable service medals.
After his retirement, George worked for John Hancock Insurance Company for two years. From 1964 until 1985 he served in a managerial position for the Chevrolet Agency, Farmingdale, Cadillac Agency, Red Bank, Flat Agency, Red Bank, and Chevrolet Agency, Asbury Park. For medical reasons he then retired.
George Henry Waple III passed away on July 10, 2010 at Monmouth Medical Center of natural causes.