US Artillery

Virgil On The Quad 50; Europe, Circa 1944

My father, Virgil Simpson, was a cannoneer, then the gunner, on this antiaircraft weapon. The cannoneers changed out the ammo cans for the 4 guns, whenever they became empty. Before Larry Kreeger took over command of this weapon, Don Trites was in charge. Don told me, in a letter, that he liked for my father to be the gunner, because Virgil remained calm and collected under fire.