John Dockery was born on a farm in 1925. He graduated 8th grade and then began working on the farm. Later he used the GI Bill to finish High School and complete 2 years of college. At age 18 years, Dockery was drafted and began training as a paratrooper. He injured his back on a jump and was unable to finish training so he volunteered for the replacement infantry. Dockery arrived in England 11/16/1944 and within 2 weeks was on the front line. His first job was to be the company scout, which sent him out ahead of the unit to find the enemy's location. Dockery experienced sniper fire, sometimes bullets flew by his head pelting the branches inches away. On one scouting excursion, he topped a hill and received a barrage of enemy fire. Tanks fired at Dockery, the vibrations and noise levels so powerful, he bled from his ears and suffered permanent damage. As his unit continued fighting, they entered into the Battle of the Bulge. The temperatures during the worst of this fight are said to be 20 below zero. Dockery suffered frost bite on his feet so terrible he was sent to the hospital. Doctors told him he was going to lose his feet. Fate was on his side as, somehow Dockery was not put on the next flight out but on a ship headed back to a major hospital. During the sailing trip, Dockery began getting the feeling back in his feet. After 9 months in the hospital, he was discharged, feet saved and doing fine. More of the John Dockery story is contained in the documents attached.