Liles fills vital role as U.S. Army teletype operator

Author's note: Each veteran's story is different and represents a piece of their life they have given for our country. It takes all of them together to make the whole picture of what being free means whether it was on the battlefield, or behind the scenes making sure things happened in the proper order.

George Liles grew up in the Horton area. He was 18 years old in September of 1945 and was working the wheat harvest in North Dakota. He was drafted in December and reported to Camp Joseph T. Robinson Camp in Arkansas for 16 weeks of basic training. Camp Joseph T. Robinson was one of the largest state operated training sites in the United States at 33,000 acres. The mess hall there used coal stoves for cooking, and family members said when Liles had kitchen duty, one of the jobs was to clean the grates.

Throughout his time as a soldier, Liles took part in a wide variety of infantry, artillery, and small weapons training at the base.

After basic training, he was shipped to California to be sent overseas. But with World War II over and troops being sent home, he was transferred to Ft. Lewis, Wash., after about a week.

He was placed in the 2nd In. Div., 2nd Signal CO, and became a 237 Teletype Operator in the Communications Headquarters. He operated the teletype sending private orders.

Liles lived on the base the entire time with one furlough allowed home in June of 1946. During that furlough, family members said, he rode the train to Kansas City, then caught a bus to Horton, but since his parents had no telephone, he walked the remaining 3 miles to his home.

He was discharged in 1947 and returned home to Horton where he farmed and became a Rural Mail Carrier for 31-years. He met Phyllis Pray of Walker and they were married in 1955.

They have three children: Anita Troth lives at Mound City, Kan., and is a retired school teacher. Kenneth lives at Richards and is a Rural Mail Carrier. Jim lives at Nevada and is a Rural Mail Carrier, also.

"Grandpa considered it an honor to serve his country," a grandchild said.