\"Combat decisions

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Pendleton, Arthur After the Tenaru River and Prisoner Snatches
Arthur Pendleton does not remember who was in the hole with him [Annotator's Note: during the Battle of the Tenaru...
Maltbie, Archie Air Combat over France
Archie Maltbie and his outfit [Annotator's Note: the 388th Fighter Squadron, 365th Fighter Group] began flying missions...
Williams, Earl Arriving at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese Attack
Earl Williams recounts his experiences as an assistant crew chief assigned to a B-17 [Annotator's Note: Boeing B-17...
Spencer, John Assuming Command of a Patrol Craft and Convoy Escort Duty
When John Curtis Spencer got back to the United States [Annotator's Note: in May 1942], he reported to sub chaser...
Lee, Lewis Atomic Power
Lewis M. Lee, Sr. said his ship was anchored off Enewetak Atoll when the atomic bomb was being tested. Their ship was...
Weatherwax, Clarence "Uncle Herb" Back to the Infantry and Combat in Europe
Clarence Herbert Weatherwax rose through the ranks quickly [Annotator's Note: while assigned to Fort Shafter as an...
Taylor, Jack Becoming a Fighter Pilot
Jack Taylor was called to active duty in December 1942 and sent to pre-flight training at the University of Iowa. From...
Oplinger, Robert Becoming a Frogman
Robert Oplinger joined the Navy, went through boot camp, and then was trained as a member of an underwater demolition...
Friedenberg, Bernard Becoming a Medic
Bernard Friedenberg had his basic training at Fort Hancock. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, he was working with his...
Hartzell, Frank Becoming a Soldier
Frank Hartzell was a good student and maintained his high school deferment. After graduation, he entered the ASTP [...
Leefe, Guy Being Invulnerable and German Marks
From the Rhine River, Guy Leefe, Jr. advanced to the Weser River. The airmen were all 21 or 22 years old and had no...
Bussel, Norman Christmas and Escape
Norman Bussel spent Christmas 1944 at Stalag Luft IV [Annotator’s Note: Stalag Luft IV (Stammlager Luft IV), Gross...
Saloom, Kaliste Clandestine Operations
Kaliste Saloom assisted downed Allied pilots escaping from occupied Europe through Spain and Portugal. Franco [...
McGee, Charles Combat Assignments and a Dog Fight
[Annotator's Note: Charles McGee served in the USAAF as a fighter pilot with the 302nd Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter...
Malec, Henry Combat with the 90th Infantry Division
Upon reaching the port in Cherbourg, France, Henry Malec saw remnants of ships all around. He did not have time to...
Maltbie, Archie D-Day
Archie Maltbie’s first mission from England was against a French railroad bridge. Several pilots missed the bridge but...
Ledesma, Trinidad Douglas MacArthur and the Atomic Bombs
Trinidad Ledesma was present when MacArthur [Annotator's Note: US Army General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander,...
Weller, James Enlistment and Normandy
James Weller picked the Army for enlistment because his father had served in World War I in a submarine. The submarine...
Taylor, Jack Flying the Grumman F6F Hellcat with Fighting Squadron 15 (VF-15)
Jack Taylor was well pleased flying F6F [Annotator's Note: Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter aircraft] fighter planes. The...
Singlaub, John German Air Raids
Prior to the battle near Oradour-sur-Glane, John Singlaub experienced a German Heinkel 111 bomber attack. The aircraft...
Muller, Henry Inside Los Baños
Henry Muller was with the 11th Airborne Division, Eighth US Army, that liberated the Japanese internment camp at Los...
Bolster, Elisabeth Kristallnacht
Elisabeth Bolster was home during Kristallnacht [Annotator's Note: the "night of broken glass" when Nazis attacked...
Vaughn, Odell Landing in North Africa and the Battle of Kasserine Pass
Odell Vaughn and the 178th Field Artillery Battalion boarded an LST, Landing Ship Tank, vessel in England. The...
Weiner, Reuben Liberation of Paris
From Saint-Marcouf, France, Reuben Weiner went to Cherbourg with the 2nd Infantry Division. His unit slept where they...
Frisco, Paul LIfe Aboard the USS Cushing (DD-797)
Paul J. Frisco's regular watch station aboard the USS Cushing (DD-797) during the first year or so he was aboard was in...
Gaffney, James Okinawa
James Gaffney felt the Okinawan civilians were glad to see the Americans. They hung around the camp all the time. They...
Mayes, Robert Postwar Life
After the war, Robert Mayes returned to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee and got his degree. He then...
Peterson, Dale Postwar Service Aboard the USS San Juan (CL-54)
Looking back, Dale Peterson feels honored that he participated in the 2 September 1945 surrender of the Japanese. At...
Gaffney, James PT Boats on Rough Seas
James Gaffney reveals how the PT Boat reacted to rough seas. Included is an explanation of how the bilge pumping system...
Fisch, Robert Reflections
Robert Fisch does not feel that Eichmann [Annotator's Note: Nazi SS-Obersturmbannführer Adolf Eichmann] originally...
Blackwell, Astley Rescued by the USS Dennis (DE-405)
When Astley Blackwell got in the water he realized that his life belt had a hole in it. He grabbed a keg which had come...
Dyson, Freeman Scientific Service in the Royal Air Force
Freeman Dyson was an admirer of the pre-World War 1 physicist Henry Moseley. The British Army was all volunteer until...
Leefe, Guy Supporting the Rhine River Crossing
At Dusseldorf, the Rhine River is about the same size as the Mississippi River. Guy Leefe, Jr. and his fellow...
Hopkins, Ralph Thoughts on World War Two
Ralph Hopkins felt people thought that World War 1 was the war to end all wars. Yet, there will always be someone like...
Beckman, Kenneth Two Tours of Duty
In his discussion of his first tour of duty, Kenneth Beckman shares an anecdote about his 25th mission. [Annotator's...