Entrance into Service

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Hardy, George Gunnery Meet in Texas
George Hardy always considered himself a fighter pilot. The bigger guys were being trained to be bomber pilots. He only...
Ramsey, Frank Gunnery School
Frank Ramsey had gunnery training in Arizona. They shot a lot of skeet. They had .30 caliber machine guns [Annotator's...
Bussel, Norman Gunnery School, Mexico, Death of Pilots
After leaving Scott Field [Annotator’s Note: now Scott Air Force Base, St. Clair County, Illinois], Norman Bussel was...
Van Huylenbrouck, Omer Gunnery Training
Omer Van Huylenbrouck was drafted. They gave him a heavy coat. He had tried for the ski troops. They were on their way...
Samuelson, Daniel Gunnery Training and Crew Assignment
Daniel Samuelson enlisted in the Army Air Corps and went to Texas for basic training. In high school, he did alright...
Ollar, Vernon Hard Life as a Young Boy
Vernon Ollar was born in July 1926 in Moline, Illinois and grew up in nearby Rock Island, Illinois as an only child....
Cruise, Leslie Hard-Knock Life
[Annotator's Note: The video is out of focus.] Leslie Cruise was born in Philadelphia [Annotator's Note: Philadelphia,...
Daniels, Don Hawaii to Iwo Jima
In Hawaii, Don Daniels was at Camp Tarawa. Before getting there, he was loading ships for Iwo [Annotator's Note: Iwo...
Pringle, James He Wanted to Fight
James Pringle signed up to fight in the war. The majority of them [Annotator's Note: Black Americans] had. It was not...
Reavis, Carrel Healthy Marine Now
[Annotator's Note: The interviewer asks Carrel Reavis why he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC, as a...
Taylor, Robert Hearing of Pearl Harbor
On 7 December 1941 [Annotator's Note: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941], Robert Taylor...
Pendleton, Arthur Heavy Weapons and Landing on Guadalcanal
Arthur Pendleton was friends with Johnny Rivers. Pendelton was in 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon, which was machine guns....
Heuer, Frank Higgins Industries to Enlistment
After he graduated from school in 1941, Frank M. Heuer Sr. went to work for Higgins Industries [Annotator’s Note: in...
Braitman, Simon High School and US Army
Simon Braitman went to Rochester [Annotator's Note: Rochester, New York] and entered high school right away. He...
Schicker, Tom High School to Marine Corps
[Annotator's Note: The interview opens with Thomas Francis Schicker already in conversation with the interviewer.] When...
Smith, William J. Hit A Bird In A Tree
William Smith was dating the sister of a friend, but it did not last long because he went overseas. He really never saw...
King, William Home and Last Thoughts
Coming back to the United States was better than going over for William King. King did not like the regimentation of...
Bussel, Norman Home on Furlough
After gunnery school Norman Bussel went back home on furlough. It was strange for him as he felt he would go and enjoy...
Blank, Calvin Hospital Duty
Calvin Blank was drafted into the Army [Annotator's Note: in 1945]. He was five foot six and weighed 118 pounds. When...
Talley, Chester Idaho to Casablanca
Chester L. Talley was born in Idaho in 1921. He grew up with one older brother and one older sister. His father was a...
Gorman, Ted Idaho to Saipan
[Annotator's Note: The video cuts in and out and is hard to hear at times. Questions and answers are often...
Reitmeier, George In and Out of the ASTP
After completing high school, George Reitmeier applied, was accepted, and joined the Army Specialized Training Program...
Penick, Ed In the Air Force
Edward Moore Penick Sr. was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in January 1922. Penick graduated from Little Rock High...
Hutchings, Robert In the Air Force to Army
[Annotator’s Note: There is a clock ticking in the background throughout this segment.] Robert J. Hutchings was born in...
Tamburello, George In the Army
[Annotator’s Note: A dog barks throughout the segment.] George Tamburello volunteered to be drafted in 1943 and was...
Osterhoudt, Ralph In the Army
[Annotator’s Note: At the beginning of the segment, the interviewer explains to interviewee how the interview will run...
Kitching, Charles In the Army
Charles Kitching was born in October 1925 in Sanford, Maine. He had one sister that is 10 years younger than him. Due...
Fitzpatrick, Thomas In the Army Air Corps
Dr. Thomas Fitzpatrick was born in September 1924 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His family lived in a rural area...
Bates, Dale In the Army Air Corps
Dale Bates wanted to be a pilot in the Army Air Corps and enrolled in college at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon...
Morvant, Norris In the Army Now
Norris Morvant was drafted into the Army in late 1942 and was sent to a staging area in Alexandria [Annotator’s Note:...
Gallego, Anthony In the Army Now
[Annotator’s Note: There is noise in the background throughout this segment.] Anthony “Tony” Gallego enlisted in the...
Saunders, David In the Army Now
By May 1944, David R. Saunders had joined the Army and was sent to Camp Beauregard [Annotator's Note: in Pineville,...
Goad, Roy In the Army Now
[Annotator’s Note: The video glitches throughout the segment.] Roy D. Goad and his twin brother, Ray, joined the...
Turnbull, David In the Navy
After joining the Navy, David Eugene Turnbull was sent to Great Lakes Training Center [Annotator’s Note: Chicago,...
Robinson, Stewart In the Navy
Stewart W. Robinson was born in March 1925 in Liverpool, Pennsylvania. One of 16 children, he grew up on a farm. Times...
Williams, Stanley In the Navy
Stanley Richard Williams was born in May 1926 in Wheeling, West Virginia. He grew up on Wheeling Island with his...

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