Rod Serling
Rod Serling was an American screenwriter, playwright, TV producer, and narrator known for his live TV dramas of the 1950s and his science-fiction TV series, The Twilight Zone. Serling began his military career soon after graduation in 1943 at Camp Toccoa, GA in the Air Force. He eventually reached the rank of Technician Fourth Grade (T/4).
On April 25, 1944, Serling received his orders and saw that he was being sent west to California. On May 5, his division headed to the Pacific, landing in New Guinea, where it would be held in reserve for a few months. In November 1944, his division first saw combat, landing in the Philippines. The 11th Airborne Division would not be used as paratroopers, however, but as light infantry during the Battle of Leyte. They helped mop up after the five divisions that had gone ashore earlier. Serling was then transferred to the 511th's demolition platoon nicknamed "The Death Squad" due to its high casualty rate. Serling's time in Leyte shaped his writing and political views for the rest of his life. He saw death every day in the Philippines, by the hands of his enemies, his allies, or through freak accidents.
Serling returned from the successful mission in Leyte with two wounds, including one to his kneecap. Neither kept him from combat when General Douglas MacArthur deployed the paratroopers for their trained purposes on February 3, 1945. Colonel Haugen led the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment as it landed on Tagaytay Ridge, met the 188th Glider Infantry Regiment and marched into Manila. It met minimal resistance until it reached the city, where Vice Admiral Sanji Iwabuchi had arranged his 17,000 troops behind a maze of traps and guns and ordered them to fight to the death.
During the next month, Serling's unit battled block by block for control of Manila. When portions of the city were taken from Japanese control, local civilians sometimes showed their gratitude by throwing parties and hosting banquets.
During one of these parties, Serling and his comrades were fired upon, resulting in many soldier and civilian deaths. Serling, still a private after three years, caught the attention of Sergeant Lewis when he ran into the line of fire to rescue a performer who had been on stage when the artillery started firing. As it moved in on Iwabuchi's stronghold, Serling's Regiment had a 50% casualty rate with over 400 men killed. Serling was wounded, and shrapnel rounds killed three comrades. He was sent to New Guinea to recover but soon returned to Manila to finish "cleaning up."
Serling's final assignment was as part of the occupation force in Japan. During his military service, Private Serling was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and the Philippine Liberation Medal. The experiences left him with nightmares and flashbacks for the rest of his life. He said, "I was bitter about everything and at loose ends when I got out of the service. I think I turned to writing to get it off my chest."
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