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 [...
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...
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...
Schilling, Ira A Very Dangerous Enemy
As the American advance through the Pacific moved closer and closer to the Japanese mainland, enemy resistance grew...
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...
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, not leaving any time to be afraid. Wells...
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...
Epperson, William Anzio Beachhead
William Epperson received two Purple Hearts for being wounded. Epperson felt strongly that women in the service would...
Pogue, John Ardennes and the Battle of the Bulge
John Pogue experienced his first combat in the Ardennes at an unknown location. He went in by glider. His glider and a...
Miksa, Robert Army Training
Bob Miksa [Annotator’s Note: Robert Miksa] was inducted into the service at Camp Grant, Illinois then sent to Camp...
Somogyi, Peter Arrival at Auschwitz
Peter Somogyi arrived in mid-afternoon in the cattle cars [Annotator's Note: after a horrible three day journey in a...
Weiss, Charlotte Arrival at Auschwitz
[Annotator's Note: Charlotte Weiss is a Czechoslovakian born Jew who survived incarceration in a number of...
Nummer, Richard Assaulting Iwo Jima
While heading to the invasion of Iwo Jima, Richard Nummer's convoy of ships was joined by numerous ships at Saipan....
Boreen, Roy S. “Swede” Attack on Pearl Harbor
On the morning of 7 December 1941, Roy Boreen enjoyed an early breakfast of pancakes. After breakfast he went to the...
Gross, Eva Auschwitz
Eva Gross reached the place of selection at Auschwitz [Annotator's Note: she had just completed a terrible three day...
Baron, Judith Auschwitz Terror
Judith Baron lived in a long barrack at Auschwitz. There was a stove in the middle that may have been intended to warm...
Meisel, Judith Auschwitz then Stutthof Arrivals
Judith Meisel was taken by train to Auschwitz. They were loaded into a car with others who were already there. Feces...

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