Lifelong friends, veterans recall humor, horrors of World War II

YOUNGSTOWN — World War II combat veterans and lifelong friends Raymond E. Kinn of Austintown and Dr. William D. Jones of Columbiana remember humor as well as horror in their war experiences.

Kinn, 83, was wounded twice and received two Bronze Star medals for bravery as a member of the 1st Armored Division, 6th Armored Infantry, in Italy in 1944. He fought in major battles at Mount Porchia, Anzio and the Po Valley, where he won a battlefield commission from sergeant to lieutenant just 16 days before the war in Europe ended.

The action that led to one of Kinn’s Bronze Stars occurred on Sept. 2, 1944, near Orentano. His patrol was ordered forward to investigate enemy positions. Kinn and three others protected the flank of the patrol moving along a canal when a fire fight broke out.