Freedom is Not Free
By Bruce Boyer
“Freedom is not free nor a birthright, but won by human sacrifice, suffering, and pain.” Those were the words of local World War II hero William H. “Doc” Long. For our nation’s freedom he sacrificed, suffered, and experienced pain on the battlefield in France.
As a 19 year old, Doc Long answered the nation’s call and entered the US Army for the liberation of Europe. He served in the 79th Infantry Division as a front-line foot soldier, Company G, 315th Regiment. The 79th was led by General George S. Patton. Doc Long would spend approximately 100 days on the front line in France. Although every day had its dangerous challenges, his most dramatic story is on the march towards the Vosges Mountains. The goal was to traverse the Saverne Gap to reach the Rhine River, so the Allies could re-take the French capital of Paris. On one occasion, the 79th Infantry Division advanced 180 miles in 72 hours, making it the “fastest opposed march of any infantry division in the history of warfare.”
It was not an easy task. The winter of 1944 was the coldest experienced in 50 years. As a member of the infantry, soldiers slept on the ground, ate sparsely provided meals packaged in small cardboard boxes, and had the luxury of showering and a fresh change of clothes every 6-8 weeks. Perhaps the most telling statistic is infantry members comprised 14% of the US Armed Forces deployed in WWII, but suffered 80% of the casualties.
Winning the war was critical to the cause of freedom and democracy. The Axis forces of Germany, Japan, and Italy had the upper hand and it would take the “Grace of God” to defeat them. It would require commitment and courage from the soldiers to win. “If we were not as committed we would be living under a dictatorship, in a police state today,” said Doc Long. He continued saying, “We had two things to face each day – one being the enemy and the other being death.”
Corporal Doc Long’s commitment was severely tested on November 13, 1944, at 3 PM. His infantry squad was marching towards the Vosges Mountains with a French tank providing cover. As they neared the village of Ancerviller they were under small arms fire. As the tank reached the crest of a hill, Doc spotted the path of a bazooka shell targeting the tank. He was able to alert the tank and it turned in that direction just in time to take a hit, but suffered only minimal damage. At the same time Doc was hit in the right shoulder, severing his nerves and artery. He fell to the ground in great pain. Many of the other soldiers following the tank were hit and lay wounded or dead by shrapnel. As the tank retreated for better positioning, Doc Long was on the ground directly in the path of the oncoming tank tracks. Doc’s right arm was incapacitated by the first hit but he was able to push his body free of the retreating tank with his left arm. Then, as he lay on the ground catching fire from both sides, Doc was wounded a second time, this time by a mortar shell, damaging his other shoulder and arm.
Darkness, frigid temperatures, blistering cold winds, and snowfall settled in as both armies waited for daylight to assess the damage. Severely wounded, Doc Long laid on the frozen battlefield for the next 18 hours. He kept pressure on his severed artery and nerve as he drifted in and out of consciousness. When conscious he constantly prayed for God’s mercy. He could hear fellow wounded infantrymen calling for help that would not come. Gradually, those cries lessened as many succumbed to their injuries. During the night he also recited the 23rd Psalm, “Yea though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thou rod and staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
At 9 AM the following morning Doc Long was picked up and placed on the top of a tank, which took him to a medical aid tent, dodging small arms fire along the way. Doc was moved three more times as doctors tried to determine if his right arm could be saved. After nearly a month of deteriorating health, emergency surgery was performed to suture the nerve and artery allowing him to keep his now paralyzed right arm and hand. He spent 25 more months recovering, long after the end of the war.
His strong Christian faith played a major role in his survival. Doc said the “angel of death” passed over him five times during the 18 hours his life was hanging by a thread on the snowy battlefield. The first four brushes with death included being hit two different times and the near death experience of pulling himself clear of the French tank as it was re-positioning to return fire. The fourth brush with death was as he drifted in and out of consciousness through the subfreezing night temperatures. He played dead as movement would alert the nearby German soldiers.
He discovered the 5th brush with death days later at one of the first aid tents. Before heading off to war he had been given a pocket New Testament Bible by his beloved Aunt May. His aunt told him, “Please read this every day and carry it over your heart.” He did, and later realized how important keeping that promise became. In the first aid tent his personal effects were returned to him, including only his wallet and the little Bible. The Bible had absorbed the impact of shrapnel, certainly saving his life. God’s grace and mercy was the protection from death by his shrapnel-pierced Bible, which he has called “The Gift of Life.”
Doc Long appreciates life more because of his war experiences. He said, “I am convinced that you have never really lived until you have almost died.” When the United States suffered the 9/11 attack in 2001, President George W. Bush asked veterans to tell others of their experiences. Doc answered the presidents’ plea, taking every opportunity to speak to people about the sacrifice of veterans. “The young need to know they have freedom because someone earned it for them. It is important they know the price of freedom.”
In 2014 the Carolina Field of Honor opened at Triad Park. Its goal: to honor veterans who have fought in any military conflicts, domestic or on foreign soil. Doc Long is the most generous individual contributor to the Carolina Field of Honor. He sponsored the Army monument, honoring his comrades in the 79th Infantry, as well as Commanding General I. T. Wyche, and General George S. Patton. He sponsored the Navy monument in honor of his two brothers who served in the Navy during WWII. He also sponsored two benches, one in honor of two cousins in WWII and the other to honor his uncle Joseph Long, a WWI Major who was a big inspiration to Doc’s discipline and commitment of service to the country.
His heroic efforts have not gone unnoticed. He has been inducted into the French Legion of Honor by the French President Sarkozy. Seventy plus years later, Doc continues to be honored as a liberating war hero by the French people, who enjoy freedom today because of the sacrifice of Doc and his comrades.
In 2010, the people of the village of Ancerviller, France invited Doc and his family to return and attend the unveiling of a monument honoring him and the soldiers who aided in the liberation of their village. Witnessing this special place, he made a personal commitment to adopt the monument, offering financial assistance in hopes of enhancing the memorial already located on this pastoral and sacred ground. The memorial is located very near the site referred to as “Bloody Hill,” where Doc was severely wounded and almost lost his life.
The United States awarded Doc two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge for infantry combat. He is most proud of this particular medal because it tells the world that this was earned on the front lines of the battlefield, where a high percentage of soldiers do not return home. Even more important than recognition is the fact Doc believes it is his duty to tell people of the sacrifice, suffering, and pain of veterans to maintain our freedom. He speaks often because “those who have died do not have the opportunity to tell of their experiences.” Those who fought for our freedoms know a flavor of life that the “protected” will never know!
As we celebrate the anniversary of our independence on July 4, remember the sacrifice, suffering, and pain of those who have protected our freedom. Remember this is a celebration of the fact that freedom is not free, it is won by human sacrifice and suffering…our freedom comes with a cost…a high cost. Thank God that, like General George S. Patton said, “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.”