Too Yellow to Run

“Too Yellow to Run” by William ‘Bill’ Berue is Bill’s recollection of his experiences after he enlisted into the Army Air Force in Philadelphia. Bill selected the name. “Too Yellow to Run” because his older brother consistently told him he was too afraid to fight in the Infantry. However, once he enlisted, he promised himself he would never bring shame on his family by running from danger. As you read his story, you will quickly realize that he was not ‘yellow’, did not run from danger and acted with honesty and integrity. After being assigned as First Scout, Bill led his squad from battle to battle in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and through the hedge rows of Normandy after the invasion of France. What is unusual about Bill’s exploits is his unusual interactions with his peers, generals, women and superiors. His experiences did not end when he was shot at close range in the woods in Belgium because once he got home, he had to relearn how to use his right arm and decide who he was going to marry. Bill was my wife’s brother and he was always telling one story or another when the family got together. On one occasion, I told him he was full of crap and he got annoyed and told me he would prove me wrong. He dared me to tape his story and I did. I tried to put all his experiences in chronological order so that the flow of his story was clear and meaningful. Bill was no quitter and lived until his ggth birthday. My task was to put Bill’s oral story to paper and I tried to do it as accurately and using his words and expressions as best I could.