Experiencing combat

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Rolfson, Jack Becoming a Bomber Pilot
Jack Rolfson born in September 1921 in Omaha, Nebraska. He grew up in the city, went to school, and would ride his bike...
Wulf, Lawrence Becoming a Bomber Pilot
Lawrence Wulf enlisted in the US Army Air Force. He was sent to Victory Field in Vernon, Texas. His instructor was...
Cresswell, Robert Becoming a Combat Engineer
Robert Nichols Cresswell was an original member of the 291st [Annotator’s Note: 291st Engineer Combat Battalion] when...
Amsden, Ben Becoming a Fighter Ace
Benjamin Clark Amsden [Annotator's Note: a Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter pilot with Fighting Squadron 22 (VF-22) aboard...
Goebel, Robert Becoming a Fighter Ace Twice
Robert J. "Bob" Goebel feels it was not a big deal to become an Ace [Annotator's Note: military aviator credited with...
Smith, William S. Becoming a Forward Observer
William C. Smith, Junior [Annotator's Note: with the 1st Infantry Division] was in charge of a truck and the ammunition...
Smith, Carrol Becoming a Marine
Carrol Smith served in the Marine Corps in 1943 and 1944. He was deployed overseas in short order. The bombs were...
Banyas, Martin Becoming a Marine and First Combat
[Annotator's Note: The interview starts with Martin Banyas mid-sentence talking about being drafted.] Banyas learned...
Toledo, Bill Becoming a Marine and Overseas Deployment
Bill Toledo was sent to San Diego [Annotator's Note: San Diego, California] for boot camp. He was able to keep up with...
Friedenberg, Bernard Becoming a Medic
Bernard Friedenberg had his basic training at Fort Hancock. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, he was working with his...
McKinnon, Lee Becoming a Navy Man
Lee O. McKinnon was born in Valdosta, Georgia in August 1925. He was raised by his mother and grandfather and worked on...
Sterrie, Norman Becoming a Navy Pilot
Norman Sterrie finished flight training in the summer of 1940 [Annotator's Note: Sterrie had entered the Navy in...
Bosworth, Paul Becoming a POW and Being Interrogated
[Annotator's Note: Paul Bosworth served in the USAAF as a tail gunner on a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber in...
Prince, Robert Becoming a Ranger
[Annotator's Note: Robert Prince volunteered to be a Ranger while in Port Moresby, New Guinea.] They moved to...
Drake, Joseph Becoming a Ranger in Combat
oseph J. Drake was drafted and sent to Camp Shelby, Mississippi with the newly formed 69th Infantry Division. As an...
Cuniff, Claude Becoming a Sailor
Claude Clifton Cuniff, Junior was assigned to the USS General G.O. Squier (AP-130) out of San Francisco [Annotator's...
Celaya, Adolfo Becoming a Sailor
Adolfo V. Celaya went to boot camp in San Diego [Annotator’s Note: San Diego, California]. The training was difficult...
Cummings, Vernon Becoming a Sailor and Iwo Jima
After five weeks of boot camp, Vernon Cummings was given leave and then reported for mechanical training at Great Lakes...
Ganitch, Michael Becoming a Sailor and Wartime Service
Michael Mickey Ganitch enlisted in the Navy, scored well on tests, and was sent to San Diego for boot camp. He...
Kitowski, Charles Becoming a Seasoned Fighter Pilot
After flight school, Charles Kitowski went to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to await orders. He flew very few hours there...
Becker, Irving Becoming a Soldier
Irving Becker wanted to volunteer for the military after arriving in the United States, but his former German...
Houdek, Thomas Becoming a Soldier
After receiving his draft notice [Annotator's Note: in April 1944], Thomas Houdek was sent to Camp Hood, Texas where he...
Blackwell, David Becoming a Soldier
David McKinley Blackwell entered the Army at Camp Polk [Annotator's Note: now Fort Polk in Vernon Parish, Louisiana]....
Riggsby, Norman Becoming a Soldier
Norman Riggsby was drafted. He then went to an examination. Afterward, he went to a reception center in Michigan. From...
Graff, Richard Becoming a Soldier
Richard Graff did not mind being drafted because he knew he was going to have to fight in the war. He thinks his ethic...
Bassemir, Robert Becoming a Soldier
Robert Bassemir was drafted in the spring of 1943. He was sent to Long Island [Annotator's Note: Long Island, New York...
Strait, Donald Becoming an Ace
Donald Strait's first victory came when he was escorting B-17s [Annotator's Note: Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy...
Welch, Darrell Becoming an Ace
[Annotator's Note: The interviewer asks Darrell Welch about his first victory against a German aircraft.] He got him...
Kirk, James Becoming an Air Force Gunner
James Read Kirk was 17 years old and in high school when Pearl Harbor was attacked [Annotator's Note: the Japanese...
Rodriguez, Antonio Becoming an Airman and Entering Combat
Antonio C. Rodriquez reported to Fort Sam [Annotator's Note: Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas in September 1943...
Riggsby, Norman Becoming an MP
Norman Riggsby remained in the hospital for several months while his wounds healed [Annotator’s Note: he had first been...
McConn, John "Jack" Becoming an Officer
John McConn experienced German machine gun fire at the battle of Saint- Dié. The enemy fired their guns at the...
Borders, Charles "Wes" Becoming the Strafing Saints
They [Annotator’s Note: Charles Borders and his fellow pilots in the 82nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st...
Sapp, Walter Behind Enemy Lines
Walter Sapp had been in his foxhole for eight days. He could not stand or walk. Two men lifted him out and he woke up...
Geiger, John Behind Enemy Lines
John Geiger [Annotator’s Note: serving with the 6th Army Special Reconnaissance Unit, known as the Alamo Scouts] and...
Angst, Lawrence Being a Combat Medic
Lawrence Angst became a combat medic [Annotator's Note: in 2nd Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 2nd Armored Division...

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