Experience with death

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Houseman, Donelson "Don" 18 Months in Army Hospitals
Donelson Houseman experienced a terrible event after he was liberated. He went into town and could see the tanks [...
Pierce, William "Bill" 37mm Anti-Tank Gun
William Pierce went to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina following his tour in Hingham, Massachusetts. Because he had been...
Blanckenburg, William "Bill" 3rd Division Battle Patrol
William Blanckenburg was met by a lieutenant colonel who knew that Blanckenburg was married and was an older fellow....
Killam, Arthur 7 December 1941
Arthur Killam was born in San Francisco and lived there until he was six years old when he moved to San Jose,...
Witmeyer, John "J.J." A Brotherhood Forged in Combat
John Witmeyer served in five armies of the US Army through six campaigns in the European Theater of World War 2. He had...
Winter, William A Common Bond
William Winter agrees with the interviewer's statement that many black veterans felt more freedom in the Army than they...
Burk, Jeannine A Family Reunited
Jeannine Burk was liberated in 1944. Her mother retrieved her and brought her home. [Annotator's Note: Burk, a Jewish...
Walter, Robert A few months in the hospital
[Annotators Note: Robert Walter was a platoon sergeant in Company L, 3rd Battalion, 393rd Infantry Regiment, 99th...
Guarnere, William "Wild Bill" A kid from Philadelphia
[Annotators Note: The interview begins with Guarnere and the interviewer talking about previous interviews Guarnere has...
Yusen, Jack A Lost Friend
Jack Yusen still frequently thinks about the men who died [Annotator's Note: when his ship, the USS Samuel B. Roberts (...
Witmeyer, John "J.J." A Pillbox in Cherbourg
During the assault on the port city of Cherbourg, France, John Witmeyer fought through to the end of town after door to...
Finkelstein, Ryfka A Polish Jew Flees the Nazis
Ryfka Finkelstein [Annotator's Note: unsure of spelling of her maiden name which is Sushka] was born in Poland in 1926...
Porche, Albert A Typical Day in Theater
Albert Porche began his typical day as a fighter armorer by having breakfast and then going to look on the board where...
Schilling, Ira A Very Dangerous Enemy
As the American advance through the Pacific moved closer and closer to the Japanese mainland, enemy resistance grew...
Pale, Vincent A Year in Captivity
After being captured, Vincent Pale was sent to Stalag XVII. The prisoners were assigned to bunks in a barracks. At...
Lightell, Harold Action in France
When Harold Lightell arrived off the beaches of Normandy, alarms sounded on his ship. The 600 troops on the ship were...
Pierce, Wayne Action in Normandy
Wayne Pierce and his battalion [Annotator's Note: 1st Battalion, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division...
Rosenzweig, Rollins Action Over Japan
Rollins Rosenzweig departed California aboard the carrier [Annotator's Note: Rosenzweig was a radioman and gunner on a...
Yusen, Jack Adrift at Sea and Being Rescued
[Annotator's Note: Jack Yusen served in the Navy as a gunner aboard the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413). The Samuel B....
Simpson, Joseph Advance Through Germany
Joseph Simpson advanced with his unit [Annotator's Note: Company C, 1st Battalion, 334th Infantry Regiment, 84th...
Moret, Calvin Advanced Flight Training
After ten weeks of flying the BT-13 [Annotator’s Note: Vultee BT-13 Valiant two seat trainer aircraft], Calvin Moret...
LaPook, Sidney Advancing Through Germany
From there [Annotator's Note: the area around Bastone, Belgium], Sidney LaPook and his unit [Annotator's Note: 193rd...
Nicholas, John Aerial Attack
John Nicholas first experienced an aerial attack on his ship [Annotator's Note: the USS Gayety (AM-239)] a few months...
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...
Killam, Arthur After the war
[Annotators Note: Arthur Killam served in the US Navy as an Electricians Mate aboard submarines. After the war he was...
Franzky, Gerhard After the War
For many years, Gerhard Franzky put the war in the back of his mind. He was more concerned with building a future. He...
Broll, Walter Aftermath of the German Raid on Bari
Walter Broll became more cautious as a result of his experience at Bari, Italy with the German bomber attack on Allied...
Maltbie, Archie Air Combat over France
Archie Maltbie and his outfit [Annotator's Note: the 388th Fighter Squadron, 365th Fighter Group] began flying missions...
Rudloff, George Allied Troop Interactions
George Rudloff saw a competition between the American and British soldiers. The territory of India belonged to the...
Hirsekorn, Fred Alsatian Villages and Facing a Tiger
[Annotators Note: Fred Hirsekorn served in the army as a gunner, then tank commander, and finally tank platoon...
Wells, Raymond Altavilla
Being in charge of other people helped give Raymond Wells focus during combat and did not leave any time to be afraid....
Fisch, Robert American Liberators
Robert Fisch witnessed Jews working for the Germans while he was incarcerated. Those complicit kapos, as they were...
Marcus, Bernard Ancestry
Bernard Marcus’ parents immigrated to the United States from Europe. His mother came from Poland when it was a part of...
Motil, Joseph Anecdotes from Combat
Joseph Motil put the charge right against the door so it blew it in. There was a flame thrower operator with their unit...
Polito, Felix Anzio and 1st Special Service Force
Felix Polito participated in the Battle at Anzio. The 101st went in and had 165 men but only 5 or 6 survived. They were...
Hull, Lester Anzio and Rome
Lester Hull does not recall when the German counterattack began. He remembers that while the battle lasted for six...

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