Oral History Commons^™

Democracy's Shield: Voices Of Wwii, Michael J. Birkner, Grace E. Gallagher, Rachel I. Main

Gettysburg College Faculty Books

Based on a body of 700 oral history interviews archived at Gettysburg College, Democracy's Shield relates the American military experience through the voices of those who served – from early awareness of the conflict in Europe and East Asia to the dropping of the atomic bomb, victory, occupation and homecoming.

The text is illustrated with images of artifacts from the library's Special Collections.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Introduction
Portents of War
Pearl Harbor
Draft Status and Volunteering
Exams, Induction, Training
Heading to the Front
Attitudes about the Enemy
Race, Gender and the War Effort
GI Joe
Aboard Ship
Up in …

Alternative Application Of Oral History In The Secondary Classroom, Alan English

Educational Considerations

While oral history has been demonstrated to hold potential as a more engaging and rigorous alternative to textbook-centered instruction, it has also failed to replace textbooks as the mainstream methodology in high school classrooms. Here, the author presents oral history data from Jim Walch, a WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War veteran who “retired” as a Red Cross emergency relief worker as well as sample classroom activities derived from that data. The objective is that these sample activities may be received as more approachable than traditional oral history methodology to secondary teachers who are accustomed to textbook-based instruction. It is …

Italian Fellas In Olive Drab: Exploring The Experiences Of Italian-American Servicemen In Sicily And Italy, 1943-1945, Guido Rossi

Master's Theses

Despite constituting the largest ethnic group in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II, the experiences of Italian-Americans have received scant attention by historians. In particular, the stories of the U.S. citizens of Italian descent or Italian-born but naturalized Americans who served in Italy, have received almost none. These soldiers, sailors, airmen, and coastguardmen who could often speak Italian, had grown up in Italian-American families and neighborhoods, and still had relatives in Italy, were asked to go fight in their country of origin. During the Allied advance, these men found themselves in close contact with a destitute Italian population …

James Herod's Wwii Naval Experience, Milan A. Pino

World War II

James Herod is possibly the youngest World War two veteran to have seen combat. He served in the Navy in the Pacific ocean and was present for the bombing of Hiroshima. Mr. Herod talked about a near death experience and growing up during the Great Depression.

Oral History Project/ Billie Humbard, Deneicia Rice Rorianna Samone Rice Miss

World War II

No abstract provided.

Stella Jedrziewski Wawrynovic, Genevieve Jedrziewski Williams, Kelsey Duinkerken

Jefferson Nursing Oral Histories

This oral history was completed with Genevieve (Jenny) Williams about her older sister Stella Jedrziewski Wawrynovic, a 1940 graduate of Jefferson's Nursing Training School.

Stella Jedrziewski Wawrynovic was born in Osceola Mills, Pennsylvania to Polish immigrants. Her parents championed the importance of education for all of their children, and so when the oldest daughter Stella graduated from high school in 1936 she moved to Philadelphia to pursue a nursing degree at Jefferson's Nursing School. She began her career at Jefferson before joining the Army during WWII to work as a nurse. After the war she returned to Jefferson, where she …

Women And World War Ii At Gettysburg College, Keira B. Koch

Student Publications

An examination of the women attending Gettysburg College during World War II. This project examined what the women did and experienced during the World War II, along with analyzing campus culture and life.

Ms-173: Leo Jarboe Papers, Abby M. Rolland

All Finding Aids

This collection consists of many, diverse documents, in both English and Japanese, about the USS Callaghan (DD-792) and other ships, newspaper articles, letters, recollections, and other personal items from Kaoru Hasegawa and Leo Jarboe, reunion and exchange program information, material about the second USS Callaghan (DDG-994), images, and veterans information.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website https://www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/collections/.

Encounters With Eisenhower: Personal Reminiscences Collected To Mark The 125th Anniversary Of The Birth Of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Michael J. Birkner, Devin Mckinney

Gettysburg College Faculty Books

The general who orchestrated the greatest amphibian invasion in history, and led Allied forces in the great crusade to crush Adolf Hitler’s armies, subsequently became a popular two-term president of the United States. In the annals of American success stories, it’s hard to beat the life that Dwight D. Eisenhower made.

Yet this heroic figure was also a “natural man,” as one of the contributors to this volume of personal reminiscences suggests. Lady Dill was referring to Eisenhower’s humanity and lack of pretense. Unlike other leading figures of his day—including a certain five-star general who orchestrated the American island-hopping campaign …

Ms-123: Robert D. Hanson Papers, Meghan E. Kelly

All Finding Aids

This collection is mainly comprised of letters and telegrams of the immediate Hanson family during WWII (1942-1946, with gaps), though there is a selection of letters to members of the family from other authors and a small group of letters written from 1904-1924 to Elizabeth and Henry Hanson from Elizabeth’s parents F. V. N. (Franklin Verzelius Newton) and L. T. ( Laura Trimble) Painter. In the sub-series of other letters addressed to Robert Hanson there are several letters pertaining to Robert’s admission to law school, the bar, and the army in addition to personal correspondence.

Special Collections and College Archives …

Ms-120: Naviglia-Woncheck World War Ii Letters Home: A Family Separated By War, G. Ronald Couchman

All Finding Aids

The collection consists of 31 letters or postcards by service men to loved ones at home. Nearly all of the letters are from members of the Naviglia-Woncheck extended family including the four Naviglia brothers: Louis (14 letters), John (one letter), James (one letter), Joseph (7 letters), and “Check” Woncheck (5 letters) the brother-in-law of their sister Anne. The collection also includes one letter from PFC James Faulkner to his sister and one letter from Pvt. David R. Curry to his cousin, Frances Faulkner, a card address to Ford Peters, a war ration book, a Draft Classification Notice for William Thomas …

Ms-117: Papers Of George H. Sweet Jr. ’42, Elizabeth M. Ungemach

All Finding Aids

This collection gives insight into the pre- and inter-wartime life of George H. Sweet Jr. ’42 as a member and captain of L.S.T. 358 in the Mediterranean. It also provides general information about World War II in the Mediterranean and L.S.T.s. It further gives a glimpse of the experiences of Donald Sweet ’49 as an aircrewman in the Pacific theater, specifically about life and important happenings during the invasion of Okinawa in 1945.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about …

"Sie Kommen" (They're Coming), David Hamilton

ERAU Prescott Aviation History Program

The exciting story of the training, mission briefings and overall planning that lead to the success and failure of major troop carrier operations in World War II. Told by a C-47 pilot who flew ‘pathfinder’ missions on D-Day; supply missions for Bastogne; and for ‘Market Garden’, the invasion of Holland.

Ms-104: World War Ii Letters From Carl G. Ohmer And Richard E. Ohmer, Kate Boeree

All Finding Aids

This collection contains 109 letters written by soldiers in World War II. 98 of these are letters are addressed to the Ohmer family in Girard, PA from their sons, Carl and Richard, as well as a friend of the family, Ray O’Connor. 11 of the letters are addressed to Georgia Hitchcock in New York, NY from John V. Starr, as well as one letter signed “Don,” with no other distinguishing factors of his identity. All letters include their original envelope.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding …

Interview With Charles Frederick Brooks, Charles Frederick Brooks

Winthrop University Oral History Program

In his February 26, 2004 interview with Jessie Lewis, Charles Frederick Brooks reminisces of his time in service during WWII and his life after the war in Rock Hill, SC. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program.

Elizabeth Hallal Interview, 11 November 2003

All interviews

Elizabeth Hallal reflects on her experiences growing up in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. Hallal discusses her family's history, including their immigration to the United States and settlement in Tremont in 1919. She shares memories of her childhood during the Great Depression, her education at Tremont School and Lincoln High School, and her involvement in community activities. Hallal also describes the impact of World War II on her life, including her work with the Navy and the changes in the Tremont neighborhood over the years. The interview offers insights into the daily life, cultural dynamics, and social changes in …

Mollie Alstott Interview, 30 October 2003

All interviews

This oral history interview with Mollie Alstott provides a detailed account of her childhood and early adulthood experiences in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland. Alstott discusses the close-knit and diverse community in which she grew up, highlighting the various nationalities that coexisted and the importance of church and social activities in her life. She reflects on the impact of the Great Depression on her family and community, noting how her father's confectionery store played a role in supporting others during difficult times. The interview also covers her education at Lincoln High School, her experiences during World War II, and her …

Eugene Bahniuk Interview, 21 October 2003

All interviews

Eugene Bahniuk provides a detailed account of his childhood and young adulthood in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. Bahniuk recounts his early memories of the neighborhood, the diverse community, and the various activities he and his friends engaged in, from playing in Lincoln Park to exploring the flats. He reflects on his experiences at local schools, his involvement in sports and social clubs, and his work at his father's gas station. Bahniuk also discusses the impact of World War II on his life, including his military service and post-war education in mechanical engineering. Throughout the interview, he offers insights …

Mary Verbeke Interview, 24 March 2003

All interviews

This oral history interview with Mary Verbeke provides a detailed account of her experiences growing up and living in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. Mary discusses her early childhood memories, her family's immigration from Europe, and their settlement in Tremont in 1927. She reflects on her education, the cultural and linguistic environment of her community, and her work life, including her job in an insurance company downtown. Mary shares insights into her family traditions, particularly around holidays, and the simplicity of their lifestyle during the Great Depression. She also recounts her experiences during World War II, her memories of …

Olga And Paul Naugle Interview, 06 March 2003

All interviews

The oral history interview with Olga and Paul Naugle provides a detailed account of their experiences growing up during the Great Depression and their memories of life in Cleveland, Ohio. Olga recalls the challenges of living through the Depression, including the scarcity of food and the various ways their families made ends meet, such as making homemade potato chips and doughnuts. She describes entertainment activities, such as roller skating, attending the local theater, and participating in Ukrainian cultural events. Paul adds to the narrative by discussing his family's interactions with local food distribution programs and the impact of New Deal …

Mollie Alstott Interview, 01 March 2003

All interviews

The oral history interview with Mollie Alstott covers her childhood experiences growing up in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, during the early to mid-20th century. Mollie recounts her family's immigration from Austria-Hungary before World War I and their settlement in Tremont, where they became active members of the Ukrainian community. She describes her upbringing, which included attending Ukrainian school, participating in cultural and religious activities, and experiencing the diverse immigrant environment of Tremont. Mollie also reflects on the challenges of the Great Depression, her education, and her eventual career as a teacher. Additionally, she shares memories of her marriage …

Marie Gubics Interviews, 23 February 2003

All interviews

This oral history interview with Marie Gubics offers a detailed account of her early life and experiences growing up in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. Gubics reflects on her childhood memories, including her schooling, family life, and the vibrant community activities centered around local churches and social gatherings. She describes the impact of immigration on her family, her experiences during the Great Depression, and the community's response to the construction of the inner belt freeway, which divided the neighborhood. Gubics also shares personal anecdotes about her involvement in World War II, her marriage, and her reflections on the changes …

Olga Naugle Interview, 20 February 2003

All interviews

The oral history interview with Olga Naugle captures her memories and experiences growing up in the Tremont area of Cleveland, Ohio, during the early 20th century. Olga recounts her family's Ukrainian heritage, the challenges of the Great Depression, and the cultural life in her neighborhood, emphasizing the vibrant community centered around Professor Avenue. She discusses her education, work, and the impact of World War II on her life, including her marriage during the war. The interview also highlights the significant changes in the Tremont neighborhood over time, the community's response to infrastructural developments, and the enduring memories of the area's …

Flunking A Test & Hiroshima, Lydia Franz

Maine Song and Story Sampler

The stories recounted here by Lydia Franz concern her experience in the United States Army as a cryptanalyst during World War II.

Oral History Project World War Ii Years, 1941-1946 - Georgia Myking, Thomas Saylor

Oral History Project: World War II Years, 1941-1946

Georgia Myking was born on 25 July 1918 on a farm outside the small town of Polk City, Iowa. She attended high school in Polk City before moving to Cloquet, Minnesota, in August 1937. She soon met her future husband, Lawrence Myking, and they were married in Cloquet on New Year's Eve 1937. Georgia and Lawrence lived briefly on a small farm on the outskirts of Cloquet before moving into town during the war years. While Lawrence worked as a machinist for a local manufacturer, Georgia worked as a homemaker and raised four children. After the war the Mykings continued …

Brick, Lloyd, And Ozzie: An Oral History Of Three Men Who Served Their Country During World War Ii, Robert A. Bonine

Culminating Projects in History

No abstract provided.

0612: Jim Comstock Collection, 1976, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

This collection is composed of three items: a signed letter to Jim Comstock by Marvin L. Stone, including a request from Comstock for stone to write about Marshall University and Page Pitt, the envelope the letter came in, and a handwritten reminiscence of Huntington in 1940-1945 by John Duncan titled, “We Polished Our Buttons,” which discusses Duncan’s experience in World War II as well as his memories of Huntington during that time.

Interview No. 876, Hanna Burstein

Combined Interviews

Recollects early childhood and adolescence in Poland; ghetto life under Nazi occupation; slave labor camp at Plaszaw; Auschwitz experience; war effort in Czechoslovakia; liberation.

Interview No. 879, June Kruszewski

Combined Interviews

Relates memories of Poland during Nazi occupation, including the bombing, food, and living arrangement.

Interview No. 877, Larry Gladstone

Combined Interviews

Recalls early childhood and adolescence in Czechoslovakia; events and life in slave labor camp in Hungary; liberation.