He served 13 months during World War II and found peace in the surroundings through music
As he prepares to join in Wooster’s Memorial Day parade on Monday, Bob Iams vividly recalls his 13-month service during World War II.
In their junior high year at Canton's McKinley High School in 1945, Bob and his identical twin brother, William, were drafted into the Navy. They were the youngest of eight boys in the family.
“We had to have permission to be together because the five Sullivan brothers were all killed at the same time; they were all sailors,” Bob Iams, of Wooster, said.
Their journey began with a train trip to Berkeley, California, where they briefly were stationed before reaching the Philippine island of Samar.
“That was a rough trip,” Iams said, describing their journey. “We were at the tail end of a hurricane, and we had a flat-bottom boat made by Kaiser that would go up, down, then rock sideways. If you were eating your lunch and had your tray on the counter, you better watch out because here comes your tray.”
One of the touching memories Iams has is having seen the sunken battleships in the Leyte Gulf.
“To me, war is useless; it doesn’t solve a thing. No matter who supposedly wins, everybody loses a lot,” he said.
He was thankful the war ended before he had to engage in any battles.
He found his calming place as member of Navy band
A musician at heart, Ians played piano, trumpet and baritone horn. When he found openings in the Navy band, he eagerly joined.
“We played when raising the flag in the morning and lowering it in the evening,” Iams said, noting the band also entertained troops before movie nights and performed in small combos for officer dances.
Despite not facing combat, enduring the harsh living conditions during wartime was no small feat. Iams remembers hearing rats squeaking between the layers of the Quonset huts and finding scorpions on the blind shades. However, the camaraderie with his twin brother and the solace he found in music kept him calm amidst the war anxieties, as he eagerly anticipated the day he could return home.
“He was fortunate that the war ended when he was on his way to the Philippines, so he didn’t have to deal with any combat,” said his wife, Dorothy Iams.
Upon his return, Iams finished his senior year and followed his passion for music. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Bowling Green State University and taught in public schools for over 30 years.
Some war stories caused his family to snicker
His children and grandchildren enjoy listening to his WWII stories, which are full of positivity and humor. His daughter, Brenda Walker, recalls one of the funny stories he used to tell.
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“In his rank, they could only take saltwater showers, and once he snuck in and used one of the officers’ showers to get fresh water. When he got caught, the punishment he received was so funny,” Walker said.
At the age of 97, Iams still plays the piano at church. He is grateful for the opportunity he had to play with professional musicians in the military band.
As he has resided in Wooster since the 1960s, several family members will join him during the Memorial Day parade Monday. Additionally, he is invited to go on an Honor Flight in late September. On this three-day trip, Ians will fly to Washington, D.C., to be recognized for his service. The trip includes visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and placing a wreath at the memorial’s Freedom Wall.
“I feel honored and happy to be able to do that because I never thought I’d be able to,” he said.
Iams keeps a scrapbook of memories from his service. One picture is of him and his twin in their sailor uniforms, another is of him playing in the Navy band, and there’s a map where he marked every stop on his journey.
As his fingers linger through his scrapbook, he immerses himself in the memories captured in the pictures.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Bob Iams, WWII veteran, honored to ride in Wooster Memorial Day parade
