| Wilbur Crane Eveland |
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EARLY YEARS Wilbur Crane Eveland, or Bill, the name he was most commonly known by, was born in Spokane, Washington , in 1918 . He lied about his age in order to join the Marine Corps Reserve at 17, and spent his first reserve duty summer at Puget Sound Navy Yard . After failing the West Point examinations, Bill took a job in San Francisco and studied at the University Of California, Berkely . His studies were interrupted when the Marines moved him to San Diego . By 1939 , Bill grew restless and hitchhiked across the country, enduring a grueling winter-time journey across the northern states. He found refuge in New Jersey , his father's native state. There he learned of his paternal heritage, particularly of his great-grandfather, Major Nathaniel Crane ( United States Army ). Inspired by his family's history, Bill hitchhiked to Boston and joined the army on February 13, 1940 . His first post as a young soldier was Fort Banks, Massachusetts , just outside Winthrop. While there, Bill took courses at Harvard University to prepare for another attempt at West Point . SEE ALSO SOURCES
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