My family lived north of birthplace for several years then moved north of Wyanet in 1928, to the Anderson farm. I went to a one room schoolhouse called the Maple Grove School for 8 years. When I completed grade school I then went to Wyanet High School for four years, graduating in 1940. Worked for my dad on the farm until February 1943, when I was drafted into the Army. I took basic training at Camp Robinson in Little Rock, Arkansas, and then went to Ft. Lewis, Washington at Tacoma where joined the 44th Infantry Division-324 Regiment-as a machine gunner. Our unit went to Louisiana for maneuvers and training. From there we went to Camp Phillip, Kansas (Salina) where I transferred to the Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, as a member of the Intelligence and Reconnaisance Squad.
I went overseas by ship, first to England, and then landed in Normandy on about D-Day plus three. I fought through eastern France, Germany, Austria and Italy during my time in the European theater, facing a lot of close combat as we moved deeper into German-held territory. I received Bronze Star for gallantry in action for something I did on March 11, 1945. The citation on my award reads: "For heroic action on the 11th of March, 1945, in eastern France. When his patrol leader was wounded in a fire fight deep in enemy territory, Private Eckberg, though only 20 yards away from an enemy position, moved to his assistance and helped carry him a distance of over a mile to our lines...."
After the end of the war in Europe I came home on the Queen Elizabeth, and then when Japan surrendered to end the war in the far East, I got 30 day furlough. After that I was discharged in November, 1945 at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas.
After the war I came home to Wyanet and worked on a farm for a while, and then I took a job with G.B.H. of Walnut, building houses. On March 17, 1946 I got married to my high school sweetheart, Gertrude Raker in Wyanet. My brother Lester was my best man. To our marriage came four children--Karen (Johnson), Ronald, Julie (Hubbell) and Angie (Davis).
I started farming in 1950 on a 160 acre farm southeast of Walnut, Illinois. For 18 years I grew corn and oats, and raised 600 head hogs a year. I quit farming in 1968 and went to work for an International Harvester dealer for the next 16 years, retiring in 1984 and moved to Walnut where my wife and I reside today.
July 2001
To look at pictures in the Harold Eckberg family album, click on the button below.
View My Guestbook