Verlis Finnestad
Verlis was born February 5, 1918 to Oliver
and Mary Finnestad in Ashton, Illinois. He had
married Lyola Finnestad on August 30, 1940,and
resided in Rochelle, Illinois. He entered the Army
on December 07, 1943 near Chicago at Fort
Sheridan. He along with 213 other men boarded a
westward troop train for Ft. Ord, California. They
were designated for basic training with the 4th Army.
Verlis, after basic training, along with many others
who had boarded that train in Chicago, spent
February through June as a large group in special
training as joint scouting and artillery by radio
communications. They were under the command of
1st Hqtrs. Special Troops, 3rd Corps.
July 4, 1944 found him and his group in a
special two day motor convoy down to Oceanside, California for final training as
communication teams in amphibious assaults. This was a time for classroom and
close personal practice of hitting the beach and employing their specialized trade.
They graduated on August 20, 1944.
Movement orders then came to be attached to the 97th Infantry Division at
Camp Luis Obispo. His JASCo unit (Joint Assault Signal Company) did more
simulated training-mostly in the field until they were transferred to the 86th Infantry
Division for more training. In December, 1944, orders were received for overseas
deployment.
On January 28, 1945, Verlis and his JASCo group boarded the USS
President Hayes for the Southwest Pacific. The ship was crowded, men slept in
sleeping racks seven high. These racks consisted of steel frames stacked one atop of
another with canvas stretched on each one. Hardly a comfortable place to sleep.
On February 10th they crossed the International Date Line and Verlis was initiated
into the “Domain of ;eptumus Rex”.
April 9, 1945 (“L-plus-8”) found Verlis’ JASCo group (27th Infantry
Division) landing on Okinawa. They were part of the bloody fighting in the Kakazu
Ridge Sector on the southern half of Okinawa. Okinawa was the bloodiest and the
last of the island campaign fighting towards the Japanese homeland. There were
160,500 casualties of which there were 38,000 American wounded and12,500 killed.
Verlis had seen mankind at his most vicious and dedicated ugliness of killing
each other. He saw things and events that he could never feel free to communicate
to anyone except a “brother in arms” who had been “there.”
June 21, 1945, the island was declared secure and Verlis and his JASCo
group sailed for Iliolo, Panay in the Visayas group of the Phillipine Islands.
September 2, 1945 marked the end of the war and V-J DAY. It was time to go
home.
Verlis was discharged on April 22, 1946 as a Sergeant at Camp McCoy,
Wisconsin. He returned home to be reunited with his wife and young daughter and
to regain his life as a civilian. He and his wife Lyola became permanent supporters
of Creston and its infrastructure. They were involved in the school system, the fire
department, and the village board. He was a life member of VFW Post 3878 in
Rochelle, and the American Legion in Lee. He managed the Creston Grain Elevator
until 1982. Verlis passed away of a massive heart attack on March 16, 1985.
Decorations
American Theater Service Ribbon
Good Conduct Medal
Asiatic Pacific Theater Service Ribbon
Phillippine Liberation Ribbon with 1 bronze star
Two overseas Bars