Experience with death

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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...
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 A kid from Philadelphia
[Annotators Note: The interview begins with Guarnere and the interviewer talking about previous interviews Guarnere has...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Miksa, Robert Army Training
Bob Miksa [Annotator’s Note: Robert Miksa] was inducted into the service at Camp Grant, Illinois then sent to Camp...
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...
Walter, Robert Basic training
Robert Walter was born in 1922 in Seneca County, Ohio. His young years prior to entering the service were spent within...
Fitts, Charles "Charlie" Battle of the Bulge
They landed at Liverpool, England then traveled from there to Tidworth. They were there for three weeks and Charles...
Pena, William Battle of the Bulge
William Pena recalls the situation in the Ardennes before the Germans arrived, how they laid tripwires and mines. They...
Weller, James Battle of the Bulge
James Weller knew something was going on while he was near the German border. The OPs [Annotator’s Note: outposts] and...
Nelson, Walter Battle of the Coral Sea
Walter Nelson loved the airplane he flew in [Annotators Note: TBF and TBM Avenger torpedo bombers]. It was slow but...
Trindal, Wesley Battle of the Hurtgen Forest
[Annotators Note: Wesley Trindal served in the US Army as a rifleman in Company F, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry...
Tipper, Edward Becoming a Paratrooper
Edward Tipper enlisted in the Army. All paratroopers enlisted. None were drafted. He wanted to join the paratroopers...
Hoff, Russell D. Becoming a POW
Russell Hoff and his regiment [Annotator's Note: 422nd Infantry Regiment, 106th Infantry Division] surrendered during...
Hoff, Russell D. Becoming a Soldier
Russell Hoff was born in Doylestown, Pennsylvania in October 1924. After a year, the family moved to Willow Grove,...
Pierce, Wayne Becoming a Soldier
Wayne Pierce grew up in the small farming community of Polo, Illinois. He was drafted in June 1941 six months before...
Viani, Bruno Becoming an Officer
Bruno Viani was asked by his company commander if he would consider applying for OCS [Annotator's Note: Office...
Witmeyer, John "J.J." Being Filled with Rage
John Witmeyer harbored an intense anger toward German soldiers. He punched German prisoners in the face, ran bayonets...
Witmeyer, John "J.J." Being Wounded and Hospitalized
John Witmeyer was first wounded in early July of 1944, just a month after the invasion of Normandy began. He went out...
Farley, Daniel Blackouts and Buchenwald
[Annotators Note: Daniel Farley served in the army as a rifleman in Company A, 5th Ranger Battalion.] When the war...
Addison, Robert A. Bloody Ridge
[Annotators Note: Robert Addison was a member of the US Marine Corps 1st Raider Battalion.]Edson [Annotators Note: US...
Burgin, Romus "R.V." Blurred Memories and Postwar Reunions
Okinawa is something of a blur in Romus Burgin's mind. Unlike New Britain and Peleliu, battles from which he can...
Hirsekorn, Fred Breaking Through the Siegfried Line
When they attacked the Siegfried Line Fred Hirsekorn and his fellow soldiers knew they were attacking into Germany. On...
Miksa, Robert Breakout and the Bulge
Bob Miksa [Annotator’s Note: Robert Miksa] and his outfit [Annotator’s Note: the 745th Tank Battalion] fought through...
Wichterich, George Breakout at Saint Lo
[Annotators Note: George Wichterich served as a platoon sergeant in the 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, 30th Infantry...
Quigley, Tom Brest Fighting and Departure
Tom Quigley recalls how when they were approaching Brest, he saw a soldier who was directing traffic get hit by an 88...
Fitts, Charles "Charlie" Camp Guards
To Charles Fitts, Jr., actual combat was not at all similar to their training. In combat, Fitts and his section did not...
Livaudais, James Capturing La Fiere
James Livaudais and his glider infantrymen met up with paratroopers after crossing the Merderet causeway. The...
Tipper, Edward Carentan
Edward Tipper credits paratrooper training with assisting in making the attack on Carentan a success. The decision was...

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