Old Man from the Repple Depple

About the Book

This is the story of PFC Raymond Oblinger, an American replacement soldier in the U.S. Army in WWII. Part One takes the reader through the vigorous infantry training in the US, across the Atlantic and into the well-organized replacement system and ultimately into a cold, damp foxhole in France where Ray experienced his baptism of fire in the form of incoming enemy mortar fire.

Part Two covers Ray’s next 5 months in combat with the US 26th Infantry Division in the campaigns of Lorraine in northern France, the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), and the Rhineland. Part Three moves through the US Army’s medical care in Europe, and the vast demobilization process. Ray and the reader are finally brought homeward bound and given an Honorable Discharge where Life After Olive Drab is lived until Ray’s death in 1985. The reader will experience not only the horrors and hardships of war, but also the occasional humor in it.

About the Author

Thomas E. Oblinger was born March 28, 1945, grew up in East Detroit, Michigan and graduated from East Detroit High School. After serving 2 years in the US Army as an MP, he married Holly Ann in 1971. Never having attended college, Tom spent 12 years selling life, health, auto and home insurance, while taking courses in business insurance and estate planning, but specialized in family insurance needs. In 1982 he left the insurance business and has worked in home improvement ever since. Tom and Holly have one daughter, Anna Marie, born in 1989. Tom’s interest in writing was actually borne out of 12 years of reading and research in WWII history.