W.T. VERNON SANDERS

Interview with W. T. Vernon Sanders


World War II Veteran

By Kimsey M. "Mac" Fowler

July 25, 2000



Mr. Vernon Sanders was born July 12, 1921 on Moore Street in Dublin, GA. He attended New Bethel Grammar School and graduated from Dublin High School in 1941. After graduation, he was employed by an Air Conditioning Company in Raleigh, North Carolina. His company was installing air conditioning in Durham Life Insurance Company building, located between the Post Office and the Sir Walter Hotel in Durham, N.C.



When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Sunday, December 7, 1941, Mr. Sanders was off and heard the news on the radio. He was drafted December 18, 1942 and reported to Fort McPherson, GA. His Dad was farming in Laurens County and suffered a stroke. Vernon was reclassified to limited service, assigned to mail and office clerk. He obtained an early discharge March 16, 1944 at Ft. Baker, CA to come back and continue his Dad's farm operation.



He was sent to Ft. Ord, CA from Ft. McPherson for basic training. His outfit was rushed through basic training because they were needed overseas. During training, Vernon's outfit went to the Catalina Islands in the Pacific to practice engineering skills. Upon completion of basic training, he was assigned to the 50th Combat Engineering Company, which was part of the 6th Coastal Artillery Battery. As strange as it might sound, at this time, he was stationed under the Golden Gate Bridge. He remembers everyone having a Password to get in and out of the post



Vernon developed pneumonia and was hospitalized at Ft. Ord, when his outfit was shipped overseas. He missed that trip, making his discharge easier.



One thing that Vernon related was that while a target being pulled by boats was being shot at with 3" shells, the cable pulling the target was shot and severed during practice.



Vernon stated that he enjoyed being stationed in California and realizes it has changed now.



Vernon returned home by train after being discharged in 1944.



William Thomas Vernon Sanders parents were William Walter Sanders and Lillian Vasti Pope.



Vernon married Jacquelyn Lula Goodman, December 21, 1946, daughter of Walker Talmadge Goodman and Bessie Mae Davis Whittle Goodman.



Vernon and Jackie had four children:

Ernie Vernon Sanders

Darenda Joy Sanders

Kevin Walker Sanders

Keith Walter Sanders

(Kevin and Keith were twins)



He has six grandchildren.



Vernon Sanders related that his grandfather, Thomas Brown Sanders, fought and lost a leg in the Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia during the Civil War.