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Three War Veteran Forged Mom's Signature to Get into the Military

Julie Bercik

Story Created: Sep 21, 2009 at 4:14 PM CDT

Story Updated: Sep 21, 2009 at 7:34 PM CDT

Eugene Roper wasn't quite 17-years-old during World War II. But that didn't matter to him. He was determined to serve his country.
"I forged my mother's signature. After basic and airborne training I was assigned to the 11th Airborne Division in Japan. I got to the West Coast, Camp Stoneman, California. And my mother evidentally had called and a captain called me in."
"He said now don't tell me any stories. he said how did you get in the service? And I told him that I forged my mother's name to the document that allowed me to come in. So, I had been in about seven months and 20 days at that point. And they discharged me."
"And I immediately came back in. I was within just a few months of being 17 which they were taking some 17-year-olds back then. I did not serve in a combat zone during World War II. It allowed me to learn a lot about people. And I think I probably got some of the best instructions that I had received up to that point having been just a person coming into service off of a farm in North Georgia."
"Just as soon as I was eligible I went back and I went in the U.S. Army Air Corp. Coincidentally at the same time, works were in progress to bring the airforce into being. So they reviewed my records and they said we've determined that you have prior service. Would you like to transfer from the US Army Air Corp back to the regular army? And I said by all means."
"In early 1951 I had decided to get out of the service. And the day I was to pick up my discharge President Truman signed an order extending everybody because of the Korean War. Well, I figured the best way to get out of Fort Bragg would be to volunteer for Korea."
Roper served in the Vietnam War as well.