CORVALLIS - John Landers considers being named Grand Marshal of the 2007 Veterans Day Parade a high honor and that's saying a lot coming from a man who received the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery during World War II.

Landers, 86, grew up on a farm near Stockton, Mo. He received a degree in animal science in the spring of 1942 from the University of Missouri and "20 minutes later, I was holding up my hand and being sworn into the Army."

Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, Landers was stationed at several military camps for more than a year, where he "trained rookies."

But in September 1944, as an officer for the 217th Field Artillery within the 44th Infantry Division, Landers found himself bound for the front throughout France, Germany and Austria.

"We landed in France six weeks after the invasion, then moved up to the firing line on Oct. 18, 1944," Landers said. "We went from France, through Germany and into Austria. We were in Imst, Austria, when the war ended. The handwriting was on the wall."

Landers said his unit was on the battle front 156 consecutive days.

"We damn near got killed every day," Landers said. "During the dead of winter, with snow on the ground, we spent about a month in the basement of a shot-out railroad depot. The concrete over us was 2 feet thick. The Germans would have had to toss a bomb through the front door to get us and that wasn't going to happen."

Landers earned the Distinguished Service Cross when he held his position calling in artillery that ultimately led to success by the 7th Army.

"A German tank was within 50 yards and headed right for me when a tank destroyer revved its engine and caught that tank right in the guts. It raised hell with them just like it was supposed to," Landers said. "I had a corporal with me who wouldn't hold his ground and ran. He got shot by a machine gun about 40 feet away."

Landers said the radio unit he used to call in the strikes was hit at least three times, but remained operational until the end of the one-hour blitz.

"The Germans were in the timber and we made splinters out of it," Landers said. "We had 19 battalions firing into the timber at one time. The splinters may still be flying as far as I know."

When the war in Europe ended on May 8, 1945, the 44th Infantry Division was fighting near Imst, about 30 miles west of Innsbruck, where the German army surrendered. Landers and his fellow soldiers sailed back to the U.S. on the Queen Elizabeth. The 217th Field Artillery was sent to Fort Smith, Ark., to train for the upcoming invasion of Japan.

"But Harry (President Truman) dropped the eggs (atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki) and we didn't have to go - thank God for small favors," Landers said. "You know, everyone talks about how many Japanese were killed, but just think how many GIs would have died invading Japan."

Landers mustered out of the regular Army on his second wedding anniversary, Oct. 9, 1945, but remained in the Army Reserve until 1982, for 40 years of service. He rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. His WWII service was "a great experience, but not something I would ever want to do again."

Landers received a Purple Heart after being struck in the leg by shrapnel. Other awards include the Bronze Star, the WWII American Campaign Medal, the Army Reserve Medal of Service, a Presidential Unit Citation and the British Military Cross, awarded to only nine other GIs for exemplary service in WWII. It was presented during a special ceremony at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., in 1947.

Landers and his wife, Mary, a fellow University of Missouri graduate, wed on Oct. 9, 1943. They were married 64 years until she died earlier this year. They reared three children, two boys and a girl.

After the war, Landers returned to Missouri, where he worked for the Extension Service. He earned a master's degree in 1950 and took a job with Oregon State University's Extension Service, specializing in sheep production research. He retired in 1977.

When he retired from Oregon State, Landers jumped into volunteer work. He has been devoted to both the Meals on Wheels program and Red Cross blood drives. He will give his 150th pint of blood later this month. He also was active with the Corvallis Chamber of Commerce for many years.

"Volunteering is good for you and the community," Landers said. "Life has been good to me."

Landers likes to attend reunions of the 217th and gets back to Missouri every two years to visit family, including one of his sons.

By Alex Paul, Albany Democrat-Herald. He can be reached at alex.paul@lee.net.