Artillery Veteran Summarizes His Service During World War II | WW2 Veteran Interview

Ted Covington discusses his time in ROTC at the University of Florida during the beginning of World War II. In June of 1942, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army and volunteered for duty in the 1st Cavalry. Ted would train with horses in the swamps of Louisiana before trading in the horses for mechanized vehicles and modern artillery guns.
The 1st Cavalry would become General MacArthur's point Division during the advance through the islands of the Pacific Theater. Ted would command an artillery battery during the campaign.
During his time in the Pacific, Ted would witness General MacArthur's return to the Philippines, the liberation of Santo Thomas University, and the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri.
After the war, Ted returned to the University of Florida in time to watch the Georgia Bulldogs play the Florida Gators in football.
See more videos featuring Ted Covington here:
• Artillery Veteran Summ...
About the Veteran: Major Edmund 'Ted' Covington, Jr. served with the US Army in the 1st Cavalry Division, 61st Field Artillery Battalion, during World War II. He was stationed in the Pacific Theater fighting the Japanese Army during the war. His service spanned many campaigns including New Guinea, the Admiralty Islands, Leyte, the Philippines, and the Army of Occupation in Japan. He would earn 2 Bronze Stars with Oakleaf Cluster as well as 2 Air Medals during his service.
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[@ZacheryR-fg1qp]

My grandfather probably served along side with him. Minor R. Ross was his name. He passed away in 2004 so i haven't been able to get much information as i was little at the time but i recently learned he was part of the 61st field artillery battalion from a old photo i found with his service number written on it. My family mentioned similar experiences he had during the war from extensive shelling and he got involved in alot of intense combat on few of the islands helping the infantry. He was run over by a sherman tank that didn't see him in his fox hole. Helped with air craft mechanics when they weren't doing anything and he learned Japanese very well and was used as a interpreter in his squad. He was the 3rd man off his ship into japan and during the occupation he was made a MP at MacArthurs Tokyo headquarters. He apparently was stationed there for several years after 1945 and was part of alot of the rebuilding of the country and was liked by most of the local Japanese do to his very good understanding of their culture and language. My dad mentioned alot of the old artillery shell casings and Japanese souvenirs he brought home but they were all lost in a house fire in the 60s. The only thing i have left from him is a old photo with him and his buddy standing in from of MacArthurs building in their MP uniforms in 1946.
Update: found that he was for sure in the 1st Calvary division, Company A, 61st field artillery battalion. PFC and was in the Philippines near cabantuan and gapan in april 1945.