Doe enlisted in the military on December 4, 1941, in Camp Shelby, MS. He had a family history of military service; his father was a WW1 veteran and his grandfather was a soldier for the Confederacy in the Civil War.
Doe was a member of the 637th Tank Destroyer Battalion, Company A, and saw combat in the Philippines, in the struggle to take Manila. He was the machinegunner of an M-18 Hellcat, a top-of-the-line tank destroyer that had an incredible speed and was great at traversing the jungle terrain present in the Pacific.
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
Unit History Summary: Established December 19, 1941, at Camp Shelby, MS, from personnel of the 37th Infantry Division. Originally a Light Towed Battalion, they shipped from the San Francisco port of embarkation on May 12, 1942 and arrived in Australia on May 26, 1942. Arrived Fiji Islands on June 28, 1942. Unit was attached to the 11th Airborne Div., 1st Cavalry and 37th Infantry Div. Inactivated in Japan on Jan. 25, 1946.
Unit History Extended Timeline
Dec. 19, 1941 - The 637th TDB was officially activated at Camp Shelby and developed from the 37th Division Provisional Tank Destroyer Battalion. Training had started using 75mm artillery guns as the basic weapon then with the new Tank Destroyer designation; a transition was made to 37mm Anti Tank guns.
Feb. 1942 - 637th TDB left Camp Shelby and headed to Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania to train.
May 7, 1942 - 637th TDB departed from Indiantown Gap, travelling by train to San Francisco, CA. Troops were exercized on the hills of San Francisco until the time to depart for an unknown destination.
May 25, 1942 - The 637th boarded the ship Santa Clara and 18 days later landed at Auckland, NZ. The Santa Clara was in a convoy of 5 other ships and was accompanied by the heavy cruiser San Francisco and two destroyers.
June 19, 1942 - The TDB was transported from Auckland to Suva, Fiji Islands aboard the ship President Coolidge accompanied by the NZ cruiser Leander.
June 22, 1942 - Battalion arrives in Suva and transported by trucks to a temporary camp at Thuvu. A more permanent camp was established at Momi Bay. Pyramidal tents were the shelters provided for the troops while mess halls, kitchens, orderly rooms and supply, etc, were constructed of native materials. As the camp was being established, the firing companies were setting up defense positions.
1943 - Training was continuous during the period of time the 637th was in Fiji. Ranges were built for qualifications in the use of weapons; an obstacle course and other training aids devised; a special jungle training was included with trips into the jungles, living off the land. While in Fiji, the 637th was reorganized with some shifting of personnel, being split into 3 companies.
1944 - The 637th moved from Momi Bay to areas near Nandi.
Aug. 19, 1944 - The 637th embarked from Lautoka, Fiji, aboard a Navy ship which headed north to Espiritu Santo where the battalion disembarked and established a new camp. Extensive training was the order at Espiritu Santo. A special jungle school was held and then the new M18 Hellcat tank destroyers arrived along with a factory representative who instructed the dismantling and reassembly as well as proper operation of the vehicles.
Sept. 1944 - The battalion left Espiritu Santo by troop transport ship to Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. Troops and equipment were landed ashore at Empress Augusta Bay where an encampment was established net to the 145th Infantry. The 637th was now atached to IV Corps.
Nov-Dec 1944 - The 637th was divided into small units assigned to different ships for the trip and assault scheduled for the landing in the Philippines. Ships were loaded at intervals and then proceeded to their assigned rendezvous points to meet with convoys of ships headed for the Philippines.
Jan. 9, 1945 - Landings began on the shores of Lingayan Gulf and continued for several weeks as cargo transfer was required to reach the beaches. After a short period of times, units were reassembled and started their drive towards Manila. Reconnaissance Co. sent out platoons to seek and find enemy positions along the way, engaging in light skirmishes.
Jan. 27, 1945 - Engagement with enemy forces at Angeles and the first encounter with Japanese tanks in the area of Clark Field.
Feb. 4, 1945 - The battalion participated in the approach march on Manila, fought the battle north of the Pasig River, took part in the attack on the Intramuros and was in the final battles south of the Pasig. For these actions the battalion was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation.
Mar. 1945 - After the Manila campaign the battalion was part of XIV corps in the Batangas campaign assisting both the 1st Cavalry Division and the 11th Airborne division in the battles at Mount Macolod and Mount Malepunyo. Company B was attached to the 37th Division for the Baguio and Cagayan Valley campaigns and took part with the Division in all battles.
May 1945 - At the close of the Luzon campaigns the battalion was assembled at Muntinlupa, south of Manila, for reequipment, replacements and renewed training. A Tank Destroyer cadre of approximately 550 replacements from Fort Hood, Texas provided replacements. The battalion was assigned to the Sixth Army and sailed for Japan in September as part of the occupation forces. The original members of the battalion had returned to the United States by the end of 1945.
Dec. 19, 1941 - The 637th TDB was officially activated at Camp Shelby and developed from the 37th Division Provisional Tank Destroyer Battalion. Training had started using 75mm artillery guns as the basic weapon then with the new Tank Destroyer designation; a transition was made to 37mm Anti Tank guns.
Feb. 1942 - 637th TDB left Camp Shelby and headed to Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania to train.
May 7, 1942 - 637th TDB departed from Indiantown Gap, travelling by train to San Francisco, CA. Troops were exercized on the hills of San Francisco until the time to depart for an unknown destination.
May 25, 1942 - The 637th boarded the ship Santa Clara and 18 days later landed at Auckland, NZ. The Santa Clara was in a convoy of 5 other ships and was accompanied by the heavy cruiser San Francisco and two destroyers.
June 19, 1942 - The TDB was transported from Auckland to Suva, Fiji Islands aboard the ship President Coolidge accompanied by the NZ cruiser Leander.
June 22, 1942 - Battalion arrives in Suva and transported by trucks to a temporary camp at Thuvu. A more permanent camp was established at Momi Bay. Pyramidal tents were the shelters provided for the troops while mess halls, kitchens, orderly rooms and supply, etc, were constructed of native materials. As the camp was being established, the firing companies were setting up defense positions.
1943 - Training was continuous during the period of time the 637th was in Fiji. Ranges were built for qualifications in the use of weapons; an obstacle course and other training aids devised; a special jungle training was included with trips into the jungles, living off the land. While in Fiji, the 637th was reorganized with some shifting of personnel, being split into 3 companies.
1944 - The 637th moved from Momi Bay to areas near Nandi.
Aug. 19, 1944 - The 637th embarked from Lautoka, Fiji, aboard a Navy ship which headed north to Espiritu Santo where the battalion disembarked and established a new camp. Extensive training was the order at Espiritu Santo. A special jungle school was held and then the new M18 Hellcat tank destroyers arrived along with a factory representative who instructed the dismantling and reassembly as well as proper operation of the vehicles.
Sept. 1944 - The battalion left Espiritu Santo by troop transport ship to Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. Troops and equipment were landed ashore at Empress Augusta Bay where an encampment was established net to the 145th Infantry. The 637th was now atached to IV Corps.
Nov-Dec 1944 - The 637th was divided into small units assigned to different ships for the trip and assault scheduled for the landing in the Philippines. Ships were loaded at intervals and then proceeded to their assigned rendezvous points to meet with convoys of ships headed for the Philippines.
Jan. 9, 1945 - Landings began on the shores of Lingayan Gulf and continued for several weeks as cargo transfer was required to reach the beaches. After a short period of times, units were reassembled and started their drive towards Manila. Reconnaissance Co. sent out platoons to seek and find enemy positions along the way, engaging in light skirmishes.
Jan. 27, 1945 - Engagement with enemy forces at Angeles and the first encounter with Japanese tanks in the area of Clark Field.
Feb. 4, 1945 - The battalion participated in the approach march on Manila, fought the battle north of the Pasig River, took part in the attack on the Intramuros and was in the final battles south of the Pasig. For these actions the battalion was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation.
Mar. 1945 - After the Manila campaign the battalion was part of XIV corps in the Batangas campaign assisting both the 1st Cavalry Division and the 11th Airborne division in the battles at Mount Macolod and Mount Malepunyo. Company B was attached to the 37th Division for the Baguio and Cagayan Valley campaigns and took part with the Division in all battles.
May 1945 - At the close of the Luzon campaigns the battalion was assembled at Muntinlupa, south of Manila, for reequipment, replacements and renewed training. A Tank Destroyer cadre of approximately 550 replacements from Fort Hood, Texas provided replacements. The battalion was assigned to the Sixth Army and sailed for Japan in September as part of the occupation forces. The original members of the battalion had returned to the United States by the end of 1945.