[Annotator's Note: Larry Cheever can be difficult to understand at times] Larry Cheever was born in September 1920 in Jim Falls, Wisconsin, a small town. He grew up with several siblings. He enjoyed doing outdoor activities including skiing down a nearby hill. As a child, the Great Depression [Annotator's Note: the Great Depression was a global economic depression that lasted from 1929 through 1939 in the United States] did not bother him, except that it was hard to get food. His father worked as a logger, cut wood, and farmed. Cheever helped his father by driving a tractor and plowing fields. He was aware of the hostilities in Europe and Japan. Cheever heard the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941] over the family radio and knew that he would be drafted. Though the family, as Seventh-day Adventists [Annotator's Note: members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, a Protestant Christian denomination], was against war, the United States was justified in going to war after the attack. After being drafted into the Army, Cheever's religious beliefs were an instant source of trouble for him because of an unsympathetic officer. He was eventually transferred to the Medical Corps of the 451st AAA Battalion [Annotator's Note: 451st Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion].

[Annotator's Note: Larry Cheever can be difficult to understand at times.] Larry Cheever was transferred to the Medical Corps [Annotator's Note: of the 451st Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion due to his religion which did not allow him to pick up weapons]. He learned how to bandage and administer medication. He got seasick sailing across the Atlantic Ocean and getting seasick. After two days being on the ship, he finally started feeling better. He saw dolphins, whales, and other aquatic life. The waves were rough at times, but the trip was overall a pleasant experience. His disembarked in Morocco. Enemy aircraft came through. He took shelter behind a garbage pit. He was afraid, but more excited about the whole event. While in Morocco, he trained for an upcoming invasion of Italy at Salerno. He enjoyed having time to see some of the North African sights before they headed out. He befriended an Arab boy who showed Cheever his home. The boy taught him how to ride a camel in the mountainous terrain.

[Annotator's Note: Larry Cheever can be difficult to understand at times.] Larry Cheever [Annotator's Note: with the Medical Corps of the 451st Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion] was shipped out for the invasion of Salerno, Italy [Annotator's Note: Operation Avalanche, 9 to 16 September 1943, Salerno, Italy]. Being under enemy artillery for the first time was fearful for Cheever as they invaded the Italian beaches. He interacted with many of the Italian civilians and thought they were very nice. He lived in a cave for some time while his regiment was in Cassino [Annotator's Note: Cassino, Italy]. It was at Anzio [Annotator's Note: Battle of Anzio, 22 January 1944 to 5 June 1944, Anzio, Italy] that Cheever saw the most action and treated the most badly wounded soldiers throughout his time in combat. He treated wounded that were blown up by minefields [Annotator's Note: areas where mines, stationary explosive devices triggered by physical contact are buried or under the water]. He remained strong in his faith despite the carnage he witnessed. The adrenaline kept him doing his job. After the Americans broke through Anzio, Cheever, and his unit, moved to Rome [Annotator's Note: Rome, Italy]. He met an Italian boy that toured him around the city. Cheever saw a lot of destruction of the area.

[Annotator's Note: Larry Cheever can be difficult to understand at times.] Larry Cheever [Annotator's Note: with the Medical Corps of the 451st Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion] took part in the invasion of Southern France [Annotator's Note: Operation Dragoon in Provence, Southern France, 15 August 1944] and began the advance across Europe. He was able to visit his brother when he reached Belgium. His brother was working in a hospital. While Cheever was in Marseille [Annotator's Note: Marseille, France], he was awarded the Bronze Star [Annotator's Note: the Bronze Star Medal is the fourth-highest award a United States service member can receive for a heroic or meritorious deed performed in a conflict with an armed enemy] for saving two men who had been badly injured when they walked unknowingly into a minefield [Annotator's Note: areas where mines, stationary explosive devices triggered by physical contact are buried or under the water]. One of the men ended up losing his eye, but both survived the blast. He was in Germany when he found out the war in Europe was over [Annotator's Note: Video break at 0:51:20.000]. He left Europe and returned home a few months later. It had been three years since he seen his parents and family. He was discharged with the rank of corporal and used the G.I. Bill [Annotator's Note: the G.I. Bill, or Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, was enacted by the United States Congress to aid United States veterans of World War 2 in transitioning back to civilian life and included financial aid for education, mortgages, business starts and unemployment] to attend college at Madison College in Madison, Tennessee. His car broke down on his way to school on one occasion.

[Annotator's Note: Larry Cheever can be difficult to understand at times.] Larry Cheever's most memorable experience of World War 2 is the excitement of combat. He served because he was drafted. He learned a lot from being in service and experience events he thought he never would in his life. He is not sure what World War 2 means to America today. He believes there should be institutions like the National WWII Museum [Annotator's Note: The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana], and they should continue to teach World War 2 to future generations so people will know about the events of the war.