Memories of Pathfinders 1947 to 1949 ©
John T. Prior, Jr.
S/SGT
Pathfinder Platoon
82nd A/B Division

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Disclaimer. This account is being written more than half a century after the events described and while I do claim to have an excellent memory (which was a big help in school) there will obviously be others who recall the same or similar events from a different perspective. I will try my best to recount only what can be verified by independent sources, if such still exist, keeping in mind Ronald Reagan's comment about his memory: “1938 is clear as a bell……….yesterday is up for grabs."

This is copyrighted material but feel free to quote any or all of it as long as you visibly acknowledge the source and supply my e-mail address which is jtpjr@optonline.net.

Here's a copy of a page of my service records to verify that, contrary to popular myth, there was a Pathfinder Platoon in the 82nd in 1947 and later. As is obvious, mine were some of the records that were in the infamous St. Louis records fire. At first they denied that mine survived but persistence and almost fifty years produced this document.