http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jun/05/world-war-ii-those-who-served-tell-their-stories/
WWII: Those who served tell their stories -- U-T San Diego brought 32 vets to the Midway to be videotaped
They were a walking, talking World War II history book — 32 San Diego vets who came aboard the USS Midway Museum recently to share their stories. Collectively, they were at many of the war’s most significant battles, from Pearl Harbor to Iwo Jima, from D-Day to the Bulge. They talked about what they remembered. And what they would never forget. Their videotaped oral histories were recorded on June 5-7 on the flight deck of the Midway as part of the U-T’s yearlong series, “The Legacy of WWII.” The U-T’s video partner on the project, Media Arts Center San Diego, produced the videos, which can be seen here in their unedited form. Here are some of their stories, as captured by U-T San Diego writers Peter Rowe and John Wilkens.
Videos: Those who served tell their stories...
Robert L. Barto
Sheldon Bernstein
Jim Brayshay
Jack Clabaugh
Evelyn Coy
Basil Duncan
Ed Fitchhorn
George W. Glicker
Charles Goldsmith, Jr.
Frank Guidone
Robert Guthrie
Bob Jacoby
Glen Kanig
Willis “Bill” Lunt
Walter Mazzone
Jim Merriken
Eldon "Mike" Meyer
Rita O'Neil
John Preston
Alan Reeves
James Reily
Russell "Buddy" Rodgers
Dave Severance
Norman Sokay
Richard Stutzman
Forrest Trimm
Leo Tuck
Stephen Voit
Robert L. Watson
John Williamson
Malcolm "Mac" Winslow
The stories...
Taking care of the wounded; Rita O'Neil was a nurse during World War II, taking care of the wounded on a hospital train. -- Video
At 12,000 feet, a fiery moment of truth; "You know, I'm Jewish," Voit said. "The possibility of being in a German camp was really frightening." -- Video
A POW remembers;James Reily was shot down during World War II and survived several months of captivity. -- Video
Iwo Jima's long shadow; 67 years since landing on Iwo Jima as a 21-year-old Marine Corps corporal, Glen Kanig still remembers that battle's ferocity. -- Video
Recalling the white, bomb-blasted, cliffs of Dover; Bob Jacoby's unit fought in the Battle of the Bulge, but the local WWII veteran noted they suffered their heaviest casualties in England in 1944. -- Video
Earning his wings in another way; Robert Guthrie was a fighter pilot in World War II, trained to kill. But his proudest moment involved saving lives. -- Video
Going to the movies; Eldon "Mike" Meyer was injured in the Battle of Tarawa. -- Video
WWII battle against a relentless enemy -- the Pacific; Waves reach 60 feet, while 150-knot winds buffeted the destroyer. -- Video
A lucky man, jumping into combat; Jumping into Nazi-occupied Holland, paratrooper Rodgers thought about his good fortune: "How lucky I am. How lucky I am." -- Video
He saw MacArthur return; It was a signature moment in World War II -- and Forrest Trimm saw it. -- Video
Cannon fodder; Gus Apostolas was drafted into the Army at age 18 in 1944. "Don't be a hero," his dad told him. -- Video
Growing up fast; Jim Merriken joined the Marines before World War II started. "They snuck that in on me," he said. -- Video
Witness to D-Day; As a beach master, Watson's job was to take control of a quarter-mile-wide swath of Omaha Beach. -- Video
For Pfc. Williamson, fear turned into heroism; Williamson risked his life on the streets of Leipzig, making repeated trips under enemy to rescue two wounded GIs. -- Video
French connection; Alan Reeves spoke French. During World War II, it came in handy. -- Video
A slap on the back; Robert Barto ferried the wounded to aid stations on Iwo Jima. -- Video
A Raider's tale; The Marines are the few and the proud, but Frank Guidone spent part of his military career among the even fewer: the Corps' First Raider Battalion. -- Video
Flying over "the hump," and landing in a ditch; Charles Goldsmith Jr., a native San Diegan who grew up in North Park, always wanted to fly. -- Video
In war, a charmed life; Fighting in the Pacific during World War II, Basil Duncan sometimes felt lucky. -- Video
"Sleepy Time Gal's" 51 missions over Europe; His crew of 10 flew 51 combat missions -- and all survived the war. -- Video
Stars for an admiral; Jack Clabaugh was at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. -- Video
A mad dash; Norman Sokay earned a Bronze Star in Germany. -- Video
"What the hell is an atomic bomb?"; One of this naval aviator's most vivid memories of World War involves a mission he never flew. -- Video
Memories -- and nightmares; Mac Winslow saw 102 straight days of combat in Europe during World War II. -- Video
A corpsman on Iwo Jima, trying to save lives; Heading to Iwo Jima, "we didn't anticipate any problems," the San Diegan remembers -- Video
A month-long fight for survival; Richard Stutzman loved to fly. -- Video
PBY's rear gunner saw the good and the bad; George Glicker thought the weather in Florida was hellish -- but in the South Pacific, he saw a vision of real hell. -- Video
Tea with the First Lady; Evelyn Coy wanted to do her part after Pearl Harbor. She joined the WAVES. -- Video
That famous flag photo; Dave Severance played a key role in the famous flag raising on Iwo Jima. -- Video
Also see »
WWII: Those who served tell their stories
A WWII vet's final story
Poem captured surprise, horror of Pearl Harbor
Also of interest...
WWII: Those who served tell their stories
PARATROOPER’S LEAP INTO HISTORY
Vet reaches 10,000 volunteer hours at WWII Museum
WW II: A U-T oral history project
Exhibit marks 67th anniversary of D-Day landings
