ASTP Experience
by James H. Burke
299th Engineer Combat Bn.
ASTP at Stanford University
I was one of about 600 18 year-olds from New York State sent to activate the 299th Engineer Combat Battalion at Camp White, Oregon in March, 1943. We did our basic as a unit and during the last week, I wound up in the hospital suffering a huge case of poison oak. Upon my first day of return to the 299th, I was sent to take some tests, and shortly after shipped off to Stanford to study Engineering. I was not in favor of the idea and had no interest in attending college. It was considered an honor so I went along as ordered.
Everything went along very well until a roommate asked me to double date with him. The girl was a High School Senior but drove her dad's big Cadillac Convertible. We spent many evenings sneaking out after lights out to meet the girls, and went to a nearby beach until the wee hours of the morning. I flunked out after the second semester but was able to return to the 299th, which was now in Florida training for D-Day. This and the entire Normandy Campaign was hazardous, but not as bad as Infantry. I became a POW in the Bulge, but still feel lucky because I beat the demise of ASTP by about three months, and served where I wanted to be.