VanEssen, Willard (Interview outline and video), 2017

Smither, James (Interviewer)

Willard Van Essen was born in Nobles County, Minnesota, in 1927. He was drafted in 1951 and received his basic training at Fort Gordon, Georgia. At the end of basic training, he was selected to become the new sergeant in charge of the records department at Fort Gordon. During his time at Fort Gordon he processed incoming recruits, sorted recruits into training companies, sorted them into specialized training (radio, military police, or infantry) and ultimately decided where men were sent for their deployments. Many of the men had to be sent to fight in Korea. He was discharged from the Army in 1954, but served in the Army Reserve for an additional eight years going to drill at Battle Creek and Houghton, Michigan.

2017-01-12

Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan

Veterans History Project (U.S.)

RHC-27_VanEssenW2092V

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application/pdf

Moving Image

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