WWII veteran reflects on 80th anniversary

For four years, since December 1941, Americans held their breath, watching as the Allied and Axis powers fought around the globe during World War II.

In late summer 1945, they finally took a sigh of relief. Germany surrendered earlier in the year, and following the atomic bombs dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan agreed to an unconditional surrender.

On Sept. 2, 1945, Japan formally surrendered, marking the official end to a long and bloody war between most of the world superpowers. By the end, more than 70 countries were involved and an estimated 70-85 million deaths were counted between military personnel and civilians.

Today marks the 80th anniversary of this formal surrender. With less than 0.5% of American WWII veterans still alive (National WWII Museum), there are not many who still remember this time. However, Afton’s Dale Manship has plenty of memories to share.

Manship was only 12 years old when World War II broke out in 1939, and 14 years old when the United States joined following the attack of Pearl Harbor. Like many his age, he wasn’t sure if the war would still be happening by the time he turned 18.

In fact, Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945, just one week before Manship would graduate from high school. With his birthday only 17 days later, war in the Pacific Theater continued to rage.

On May 24, 1945, Manship’s 18th birthday, he officially registered with the Selective Service board and began attending U.S. Army basic training in June at Fort Riley in Kansas. While Manship was going through basic training, Japan surrendered. However, that didn’t mean those at Fort Riley were off the hook.

“It didn’t have a direct bearing on me at that time as to where I was going to be, because this happened in the summer of ‘45 and I was in basic training in Kansas, not ready to be sent anywhere yet at that time,” Manship said.

In November, Manship was transferred to Fort Knox in Kentucky, where he enjoyed a leisurely time playing basketball against other regiments until he was officially sent overseas.

“There were six regiments and they formed a league, and we played in what amounted to regimental league play,” Manship said. “We were in first place when they told some of us that were scheduled to be taken to Louisville to board a train to Camp Kelmor, New Jersey. We knew what that meant - we were going to be processed for overseas duty.”

Manship was sent to Germany in March 1946, although he wasn’t thrilled with his assignment.

“I was assigned to the USAREUR Gentlemen’s Department to teach,” Manship said. “I took the six weeks course at the USAREUR General School and was held over as a typing instructor. That’s where I spent all of my time, as a typing instructor at the general school.”

While Manship’s time in the service wasn’t as glamorous as many young men pictured, he feels lucky he was able to honor his country in a safe manner.

“I appreciate the fact that I had the opportunity to serve my country, voluntarily, but at a time when [there was] no danger,” Manship said. “I appreciate the fact that I was able to and had the good times, basically, the easy time, comparatively.”

By November 1946, with the war more than a year in the past, the country began to feel more secure in the world’s safety.

“At that time, they really believed that it was the war to end all wars and that they didn’t need as many people in the army as they had,” Manship said. “They made a decision to discharge all non-regular army personnel. I happened to be one of those. It ended my military service as a draftee.”

Once he returned stateside, Manship enrolled at Northwest Missouri State University. He married his high school sweetheart, Velma, and they left their hometown of Bolckow, Missouri.

Manship taught physical educaiton and industrial arts in Persia, Neola and Colfax before settling down at East Union in 1965. He and Velma have lived in Afton since then, aside from a brief trip down south, raising their children and retiring in Union County.

In 2017, Manship joined 13 other World War II veterans on an honor flight to Washington DC. He was the only one from Union County on the trip, although Manship said there were two others he knew of still living in Union County at the time.

“That was a pleasant experience,” Manship said. “They had it set up so that we boarded three buses in Washington DC and we toured a different army honor site, including one for World War II. I was so impressed.”

Now 98 years old, Manship still resides in Afton and enjoys teasing his wife like they’re still in high school. He still chats with fellow veterans about his time in the service, though most experienced conflict years after him.

As one of only about 45,000 American World War II veterans still alive, Manship has a unique story to tell.