William H. Price Jr. was born October 6, 1930 in Starkville Mississippi. Bill’s father was William H. Price Sr. and his mother was Veda Florence Carpenter. Although growing up in Rural Mississippi in the 1930’s was somewhat of a challenge, the family had numerous relatives that lived on local farms, including Bill’s Grandfather Robert Joshua Price and his Grandmother Leona Reese. The 1930’s for youngsters in rural areas was filled with outdoor and sporting activities. With 3 uncles and several close friends in town most of his time was spent hunting and fishing in and around Starkville, mostly in the Trimcane Swamp North of town.

Figure 1 William H. Price Senior, Veda Florence Carpenter Price, William H. Price Jr. circa mid 1930's

Through these adventures there was also a great deal of comradery between Bill and many of the older kids in town. When Bill was 11 In December 1941, the world changed. Starkville Mississippi is the home of Mississippi State University. Mississippi State at the time was very active in the war effort including the ROTC program. Many of the older boys in town went off to war leaving the younger boys behind. By 1942, casualties were very much a reality as evidenced by the Gold Star and Blue Star crocheted flags hanging in many local windows. Residents left behind engaged in relentless campaigns to raise materials for the war effort. Bill’s hunting and fishing skills did the family well during that period of rationing and intense anticipation about the war effort.

Figure 2 William Wilburn Carpenter

 and William H. Price Sr. fishing in 

Longview Mississippi. Bill Price Jr.

took the Picture

Growing up in Mississippi in the 1930’s the ever-present memory of one of Bill’s Uncles, Robert L. Price, killed in Action in France in October 1918 prevailed. Bill’s Grandfather had purchased his Dairy farm with the funds received from Robert’s death benefit. Robert was 17 when killed literally in the last weeks of World War I.

Figure 3 Robert Price and another friend from Oktibbeha County Mississippi taken in France in 1918. Robert was serving in Company M, 18th U.S. Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.

The Mississippi National Guard was called into Federal Service in November 1940. As the Guard deployed to assume federal duties the Governor Paul B. Johnson issued an executive order in early 1941 establishing the Mississippi State Guard.  The mission of the State Guard included:    

a. Adequate Reinforcements to the State Peace Officers in the case of domestic disturbances of a major character.

b. Immediate Relief to districts within the State which have been devastated by the elements

c.The safeguarding and protection of all vital installations within the State in case of a National Emergency

d. A force acting alone or in cooperation with Federal Forces to repel invasions.

Organizationally the State Guard consisted of an Infantry Brigade of 2,000 Officers and men. The organization included Companies A-M and supporting Headquarters units. There was a Medical Detachment formed in Starkville Mississippi, mainly due to the location of the University with a highly skilled staff in the ROTC Program. This unit would serve not only unit, but also typical Guard assistance and additionally, Soldiers wounded in WWII, Convalescing would enable them to be sent home to continue their treatment instead of remaining at Army Facilities to recover.  

So, with all the cool guys serving in the war, 12-year-old Bill Jr. was pretty much on his own during the early stages of the war. However, 1943, things began to change. Germans captured in North Africa were brought to POW camps throughout the country, including Mississippi. The German POWs were employed to support farmers and construction projects throughout the State. One major project was building and maintaining the levees along the Mississippi River. In 1943, Bill Jr. wrangled his way into the Medical Detachment of the State Guard in Starkville. His DD-214 indicates he had years of service prior to 1946 but fails to indicate the nature of the service. My aunt challenges the fact that their mother would have ever allowed him to join at the age of thirteen. His DD-214 says he was born in 1929, a full year earlier than his actual birth year of 1930. His DD-214 also lists his Name as William Harry Price. His real name was William Henry Price. His uncle, Harry McGhee Price had joined the Army Air Corps and undoubtedly some creative manipulation with the names let him escape the scrutiny that would have barred his enlistment. Bill still won’t talk much about how he pulled it off. At any rate, there he is in uniform walking up Main Street in Starkville Mississippi in front of the movie theater which had just opened the movie “Passport to Suez.” This movie came out in 1943.

Figure 4 Bill's Uncle Harry McGhee Price near Cambridge England during WW2. Harry was a mechanic in a B-17 Unit. Circa 1943

Figure 5 Another of Bill's Uncles, Jim Price served in the Navy in the 1930's

Figure 6 Bill Price Jr., Age 13 MS State Guard, 1943, Starkville Mississippi Note the theatre Marquee.

During the war he served as a Medic in the Medical Detachment. The nature of the job was that he would be sent out to support the line units deployed on guard missions. Most of the deployments were to either guard the German POW’s working on the levees, or to guard the levees from being dynamited by local farmers to prevent or induce flooding during the heavy rainy season. Bill indicates they were paid at the full deployed National Guard rate when sent out on missions, but otherwise were not paid. Bill’s attitude about it was the service was a natural thing. “I signed up because it got me out of classes during the 8 Grade” is about the most accurate response you will get. However, his best friend John Didlake was in the Marine Corps and engaged in heavy fighting in Guadalcanal which is most like a huge factor. One story he tells is that the German POWs who stayed a long time after the war. There were several hundred thousand German POWs in America. He remembers protecting the levees on the Mississippi River near Greenville. “I didn’t have any medic training, those country boys, many of whom had never worn shoes, would come in with athlete’s foot. I would get the gauze our and run it through their toes. They would get all relaxed enjoying the gauze. When the skin was red, we’d take a half canteen cup full of alcohol and dash it on their toes.” He still ponders why none of them ever came back twice.”

By 1946 Bill was a Senior in High School, still serving. His DD-214 reflects his enlistment in the Mississippi National Guard, at age 16, in 1947. This coincides with the disbandment of the State guard on June 30, 1947. Bill says, “they called us to a special meeting and told us we had just been mustered into the reformed Mississippi National Guard. This is confirmed by his DD-214.

Bill’s Grandfather, and Father were both in the construction industry. When he graduated High School there was simply no other choice for him but to enroll in the school of engineering at Mississippi State. This changed his fortune in the National Guard.

Figure 7 National Guard Survey Team of the 31st Dixie Division's 932md FA Battalion HQ in Starkville MS circa 1949-1950. Bill is 3 from the left