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Bouse in La Paz County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
 

In Memory of Eight Ball - Morale Officer

Equus asinus

— Camp Bouse —

 
 
In Memory of Eight Ball - Morale Officer Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, March 14, 2010
1. In Memory of Eight Ball - Morale Officer Marker
Inscription.
He was our drinking buddy
While on duty
He drank our beer
He was
Full of good cheer
And went to the nurses' quarters around the bend
And came to an untimely end,
Of the Colonel, he was unaware
That it would be the crime of all time
If he ate the nurses' underwear
And was slain by
The jealous rival
Rest in peace

 
Erected 2005 by Lost Dutchman & Billy Holcomb Chapter of ECV And the Citizens of Bouse. (Marker Number 120.)
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: AnimalsMilitaryWar, World II. In addition, it is included in the Desert Training Center, and the E Clampus Vitus series lists.
 
Location. 33° 55.888′ N, 114° 0.287′ W. Marker is in Bouse, Arizona, in La Paz County. Marker is on Broad Street (Arizona Route 72 at milepost 27) south of Main Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bouse AZ 85325, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Camp Bouse (here, next to this marker); The 526th Armored Infantry Battalion (here, next to this marker); 738th Medium Tank Battalion, Special (a few steps from this
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marker); Monument Row (a few steps from this marker); 739th Tank Battalion (SP) (ME) (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Camp Bouse (a few steps from this marker); 748th Tank Battalion (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Camp Bouse (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bouse.
 
More about this marker. Marker is on the far right in monument row.
 
Additional commentary.
1. Eight Ball
Eight Ball was a male burro about three years old. He came into Camp Bouse during WWII and soon became the mascot of the camp and soldiers. He was very tame and friendly and the troops were very fond of him. The men discovered that he liked beer. They would fill up a helmet and Eight Ball would get the staggers and list to one side. His brae was hilarious when he was drunk. When the men went on leave to Phoenix or Tucson they would bring a bale or two of alfalfa back for him.

There were approximately 20 nurses at the 150th Station Hospital. The hospital and
In Memory of Eight Ball - Morale Officer Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, March 14, 2010
2. In Memory of Eight Ball - Morale Officer Marker
nurses were in a separate compound within the camp with MPs to guard them and their equipment.

One day Eight Ball wandered into the nurses’ compound through a gate that had been left open in error. He went to the laundry area and ate the nurses’ underwear that was hanging on the clothesline. One of the nurses caught him in the act. She went out of the compound and unfortunately the first officer she came across was a Lt. Col. nicknamed “Wild Bill". He was a heavy drinker who fancied himself quite the lady's man and was not well respected by the soldiers. The nurse explained what Eight Ball was doing and the officer pulled out his 45 automatic and gut shot Eight Ball and left him to die. When the GIs heard what had happened, a near riot ensued. A Sergeant went to the armory without orders and obtained an M-1 Rifle and put Eight Ball out of his misery. He then obtained a halftrack and the GIs buried him east of the camp. There is a marker on his grave.

When the tank battalion unit shipped out to Europe the Col. had been removed from command.

When the Veterans of the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion suggested a monument to Eight Ball I did not understand his importance to the morale of the GIs and when the monument was being planned to honor members of the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion who lost their lives in the Battle of The Bulge, the Vets insisted
Eight Ball and Sgt. Frank Pettinato, A Member of the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion image. Click for full size.
Courtesy of Bill Pearson, ECV, circa 1943
3. Eight Ball and Sgt. Frank Pettinato, A Member of the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion
that a monument to honor Eight Ball also be erected.

This is when the story of Eight Ball was told to me by the Veterans of the 526th Armored
Infantry Battalion.

Bill Pearson XNGH
Billy Holcomb Chapter
E Clampus Vitus
    — Submitted March 30, 2010.

 
Additional keywords. Company Mascot
 
Monument Row, Bouse, Arizona image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, March 14, 2010
4. Monument Row, Bouse, Arizona
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 3,304 times since then and 41 times this year. Last updated on November 3, 2014, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on March 26, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.   3. submitted on March 30, 2010.   4. submitted on March 26, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

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Mar. 19, 2024