271 24 26018 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/54ab2b04cd154c3b44907388a1bd73e3.mp4 2c6b73d59010374570ef72bff2dac2bd https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/afe8728b09446016fe5a0bfc6a44e8d3.pdf eb200edc591377e708de5315bec2f1b5 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Al DeWitt (01:00:02) (00:19) Background Information • • • • Al was born in Grand Rapids, MI in April His stepfather was in the gladiola business, but they lost their farm and had to move Al stopped going to high school so he could help his family with money He joined the Air Corps in 1942 and went into the cadets (04:55) Training • • • • Al was assigned to be a glider pilot in Roswell, NM He was sent to Walker Air Force Base and had civilian pilot training Al took a test not knowing what it was and then found out he had an IQ of 143 They had to do KPs even though they had too high of a rank because there wasn’t anyone else to do it (14:48) After Glider School • • • • • • • • • He was sent to Fresno, CA and then to Sioux Falls, SD for radio school Al didn’t want to go through basic training again, so he wrote a letter to a general to get back into cadets The general approved his request and he was sent to Denver, CO He didn’t do much in Denver, but he met some soldiers coming back from the war in Europe Al was then sent back to Santa Ana, CA and they let him pick up where he left of in cadet school He was sent to King City, CA to fly Stearmans and then sent to Drew Field in Tampa, FL In Tampa he got the badge for the 8th Air Force and flew P-51s Next he was sent to Bakersfield He then got out of the Air force and went home to start a family and buy a farm (31:40) Korean War • • • • • • In 1951 Al got called back into service because the Korean war He spent another 21 months in the Air Force Al was first sent to Roswell, NM where he was a test pilot He flew AT-6s and would sometimes bring people up to do acrobatics In December he was sent to Rapid City where they did training flights Al was a B-36 crew member �• • • • On one occasion an engine caught fire and they had to make an emergency landing in a field The B-36 was a large plane with 6 prop engines and 4 jet engines They simulated electronic bombings Al would fly over Russia at a very high altitude and the Russians didn’t have anything that could go that high (57:35) Discharge • • • Al left the Air Force in 1953 He Farmed in Allendale, MI The Air Force gave him discipline and made him strong � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Dewitt, Al (Interview outline and video), 2008 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Dewitt, Al Description An account of the resource Al Dewitt was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and joined the Army Air Corps in 1942. Al was assigned to be a glider pilot and received his glider wings. He then trained as a fighter pilot but remained based in the US. He became a farmer after the war, but was called back into duty for 21 months during the Korean War. He was first a test pilot for the AT-6 and then was put on a B-36 crew. They did training runs and went over Russia at high altitudes, and Al survived a particularly dangerous crash landing. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Video recordings United States. Army. Air Corps Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-08-07 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DeWittAl Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/a3d187dac404755081bc6c7113f0e059.mp4 1da2ee31c150b701e2c15b9c36cfca9a https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/3eaabf892ef1f95c6095294d041288b2.pdf 7406a04c4a7a16c97dee95698afba76f PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veteran’s History Project Arthur DeWitt World War II Interview Length: (01:01:59:00) Pre-Enlistment / Training / Deployment (00:00:26:00) · DeWitt was born in Lapeer, Michigan on October 1st, 1921; however, his mother died when he was three and his family then moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan (00:00:26:00) o While DeWitt was young, his father worked for the Coast Guard; although DeWitt does not know where exactly his father was stationed, he believes it was in Grand Haven, Michigan (00:00:55:00) · DeWitt actually joined the Michigan National Guard before his senior year of high school, which caused him to miss out on his senior year (00:01:22:00) o When DeWitt joined the National Guard, he had been out drinking with two of his friends from high school, DeWitt got pretty drunk, and the friends managed to get him down to the enlistment offices; DeWitt was so drunk, he enlisted in the National Guard without even realizing it (00:01:43:00) § The next morning, people from the National Guard called DeWitt to inform him he had enlisted in the National Guard but he had no idea what they were talking about (00:02:03:00) · Once he had joined the National Guard, DeWitt went through his basic training in Kalamazoo (00:02:30:00) · When DeWitt first joined the National Guard, it was part-time until October 1940, when the National Guard was officially mobilized by the federal government; after mobilizing on Oct. 15th, the soldiers left for Camp Beauregard, Louisiana on Oct. 19th (00:03:17:00) o DeWitt cannot remember much about Camp Beauregard (00:03:47:00) § For the most part, DeWitt remembers the heat, being in the swamps, and having to deal with the local fauna, including alligators (00:04:26:00) · At one point, DeWitt’s unit was on a three- or four-day exercise in the field and one morning, he woke up and a coral snake was sitting next to his leg (00:04:43:00) o Another soldier killed the snake because DeWitt was barefoot and as DeWitt reached for his canteen cup so he could get a cup of coffee, a black widow spider crawled out of the cup (00:05:45:00) · As well, DeWitt was twice bitten by scorpions, once in Louisiana and once when he had deployed to New Guinea (00:06:01:00) o While at Camp Beauregard, DeWitt and the other soldiers went through various types of training, including bayonet and rifle training; basically, any training related to the infantry (00:06:30:00) § For the most part, the soldiers trained with World War I-era weapons, including the M1903 Springfield rifle (00:06:53:00) § Initially, DeWitt went through training to be a regular infantryman but was eventually converted into a B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle) gunner; �however, DeWitt does not know why the decision was made to make him into a BAR gunner (00:07:12:00) · For the most part, nobody wanted to be a BAR gunner or a machine gunner because those two assignments tended to draw a lot of attention from the enemy (00:07:36:00) o DeWitt does not remember having too much trouble adapting to life in the military; for one, he was not very homesick because he and his parents were not close to each other to being with (00:07:55:00) o Every now and then, DeWitt and the other soldiers would receive passes to go into New Orleans, where they would go bar-hopping and to movies (00:08:42:00) o When the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor happened in Dec. 1941, DeWitt and the other soldiers were on an exercise; when news about the attack came in, the men were called in from the exercise and listened on the radio as President Roosevelt gave his speech on the radio and declared war (00:09:38:00) § By the next day, the soldiers in the camp were sent out to defend various key locations in the local area (00:09:48:00) o At the time, the soldiers were being trained for the possibility of combat in the European theater (00:10:35:00) § In fact, DeWitt and the other soldiers made it as far as Boston, Massachusetts before General Douglas McArthur decided he needed their division in the Pacific; this meant the soldiers received training for both the European theater and the Pacific theater (00:10:51:00) · However, some of the training the men received for the European theater, such as bayonet training, was useless once the soldiers got into the Pacific theater (00:11:11:00) · DeWitt does not remember much about the various train trips he and the other soldiers took back and forth across the country (00:11:56:00) o Eventually, the soldiers made out to California, where they boarded the U.S.S. Lurline, which was a large cruise ship that the Navy had converted to be a troop transport (00:12:14:00) § DeWitt and the other soldiers experienced terrible living conditions on the Lurline because they were positioned in the hold of the ship and the heat and smell were tremendous (00:12:30:00) · Although the soldiers were technically not supposed to, DeWitt would crawl onto the deck of the ship at night to get some fresh air (00:12:43:00) · On the other hand, the food aboard the ship was pretty good; however, most of the soldiers were sea-sick off and on during the voyage and could not eat anything anyway (00:12:50:00) § The weather during the voyage was beautiful (00:13:17:00) § During the voyage across the Pacific, the Lurline was part of a larger convoy of ships; although DeWitt cannot remember the exact number of ships, he does remember there being U.S. Navy destroyers sprinkled in amongst the troop transports (00:13:39:00) · After the Lurline finished the voyage across the Pacific, the ship docked in Adelaide, Australia (00:13:53:00) �o Once in Adelaide, the soldiers stayed aboard the ship and DeWitt remembers being able to look out and see people on the shore; when the Lurline left California, DeWitt had no idea he would eventually end up in Australia, only that he was deploying somewhere overseas (00:14:06:00) § Years after the war, DeWitt remembers hearing the as the convoy the Lurline was a part of sailed through the Coral Sea, Japanese naval forces were actively trying to attack the convoy (00:14:47:00) o Adelaide was a nice city and DeWitt remembers there being a large number of churches in the city (00:15:08:00) § Although DeWitt managed to meet a couple of girls in the city, the Army kept pretty close tabs on all the soldiers (00:15:25:00) o The soldiers were not in Adelaide too long before they had to move up to Brisbane by train (00:15:32:00) § At one point during the trip from Adelaide to Brisbane, the grade of the railroad tracks was so steep that all the soldiers had to get off the train and help push the train up (00:15:52:00) o Once the soldiers were in Brisbane, they went through additional training, specifically focusing on jungle training because by then, the soldiers knew they would be fighting in the jungle (00:16:11:00) § The jungle training in Brisbane was different from the training the soldiers had already gone through; for the most part, the training focused on what the soldiers might encounter in the jungle (00:16:24:00) § However, for DeWitt, training was training and he could not recognize anything than was significantly different from the training he and the other soldiers had already done (00:16:38:00) · DeWitt does not remember any part of the training focusing on the tactics being used by the Japanese because nobody really knew about what the Japanese tactics were (00:17:01:00) · When it became time for them to leave Brisbane, DeWitt and the other soldiers boarded a ship that carried them to Port Moresby on New Guinea (00:17:28:00) o DeWitt does not recall a lot about Port Moresby other than maybe a couple of buildings (00:17:43:00) o After the soldiers landed at Port Moresby, they stayed in the town for awhile, which was when DeWitt was bitten by a scorpion for the second time (00:17:55:00) § From what the soldiers understood, the Japanese were about thirty miles away from Port Moresby when they landed (00:18:06:00) o DeWitt is not exactly sure how long he and the other soldiers spent in Port Moresby but he figures it was around a week (00:18:48:00) o Once they finally did leave the town, the soldiers headed towards the Owen Stanley mountains in the center of the island (00:19:03:00) § Some of the soldiers in DeWitt’s division flew part of the way then walked the remainder while other soldiers walked all the way from Port Moresby; DeWitt’s unit was one of the units that flew over the Owen Stanley mountains and landed at an airbase situated between the Owen Stanley mountains and another mountain chain and from there, the �soldiers walked the rest of the way (00:19:05:00) § DeWitt cannot recall the whole march up the second mountain chain, only various incidents, such as looking down from the top of the mountains and seeing a vast expanse of trees (00:20:13:00) · DeWitt does remember that the weather was extremely hot and muggy (00:20:13:00) § As they marched, DeWitt and the other soldiers were trying to carry their equipment and supplies as lightly as they could; almost every day, the soldiers “disposed” of something to make their loads lighter (00:20:45:00) · For the most part, DeWitt got rid of the supplies and equipment that he did not think would be necessary (00:20:58:00) § During the march over the mountains, DeWitt does not recall his unit ever encountering Japanese forces (00:21:36:00) Buna, New Guinea (00:21:54:00) · Eventually, the soldiers reached the area around the village of Buna and DeWitt remembers there being a lot of swamp land around the village (00:21:54:00) o DeWitt remembers that the Japanese attacked the night after the soldiers had arrived in Buna and settled into the village (00:22:24:00) § DeWitt cannot recall whether the American forces taking any casualties during the first Japanese attack (00:22:47:00) o It rained every night and would fill the foxholes that the soldiers had dug with water; if the soldiers had to go to the bathroom, the waste would be floating on the water because the soldiers did not dare get out of their foxholes (00:23:47:00) § The soldiers stayed in their foxholes out of fear of possible Japanese patrols in the area, especially at night (00:24:14:00) · DeWitt does not recall ever putting out anything that would make noise if an Japanese patrol was near (00:24:42:00) · DeWitt does not remember too much about the battle of Buna itself; he witnessed so much that he has tried to block part of it out (00:25:14:00) o DeWitt does remember that toward the end of the fighting, all the soldiers were fatigued and when a couple of soldiers started acting carelessly, giving away the position of the unit, so DeWitt, being one of the more experienced of the remaining soldiers, had to knock the soldiers out the butt of his rifle (00:25:47:00) o A couple of days later, DeWitt and the other soldiers had engaged the Japanese and DeWitt himself “lost his head”; he started charging towards the enemy but tripped and fell (00:26:24:00) § Another soldier helped DeWitt back to the main line and DeWitt managed to compose himself (00:26:53:00) § Most of the men changed while around Buna; having the being in combat daily, only eating what food they could find, etc., affected all of the soldiers to one degree or another (00:27:23:00) o Over the course of the fighting, DeWitt’s unit tried to make progress every day but the Japanese had strategically placed snipers and fortified pillboxes, both of which made any progress difficult (00:27:51:00) �§ If the soldiers had had access to either artillery or air strikes, DeWitt figures his unit could have successfully advanced into Buna in only a couple of weeks (00:28:14:00) § The division did have three small tanks and those represented the only heavy artillery available to the soldiers (00:28:57:00) · At one point, DeWitt was in the lead group of an attack being supported by the tanks and the next thing he knew, all three of the tanks were in flames (00:29:10:00) · None of the crewmen made it out and the fire was so intense that none of the infantry could get close enough to help (00:29:24:00) o During the Buna campaign, unlike most of the other soldiers, DeWitt did not get sick from one of the various tropical diseases (00:31:22:00) § DeWitt had made up his mind that he would not get sick and took preventative measures, so he was one of the last soldiers in his unit not to be sick and able to walk to the airplane once the unit was finally relieved by other American forces (00:31:43:00) · The remainder of the soldiers had either been wiped out by malaria or had been wounded during the fighting (00:32:01:00) · DeWitt does not remember the exact number of soldiers in his company who made it through the fighting at Buna completely unscathed, although he figures it was only around four or five total; the remainder of the soldiers in the company was either wounded, killed, or infected with a disease and had to be pulled out before the end of the battle (00:32:12:00) o Once the fighting at Buna was over, DeWitt was not allowed to go into Buna to see the Japanese positions; he was immediately pulled out and sent back to Australia (00:33:58:00) o Because of the nightly rains, the soldiers had a steady supply of water; however, what food they managed to find, they often had to take food carried on the bodies of dead soldiers as well as eat whatever food they could find, such as coconuts that had been knocked off trees by gun and mortar fire (00:33:20:00) § DeWitt ate so much coconut that when he finally got home, he told his wife never to have coconut in their house (00:33:13:00) § Apart from food, DeWitt also gathered up any spare ammunition from the bodies of dead soldiers (00:34:16:00) · During his time on New Guinea, although some of the other soldiers did, DeWitt did not have any contact with the native population (00:34:28:00) · Once DeWitt was finally pulled off of New Guinea, he and the other soldiers were placed on a boat and sent back to Australia (00:34:45:00) o Getting off of New Guinea was a great relief for DeWitt and the other soldiers because they knew they were going back to a land of civilization (00:34:58:00) o The ship from New Guinea landed in a small town in northern Australia and DeWitt promptly came down with malaria; through a series of circumstances, DeWitt ended up at a hospital in Sydney, Australia (00:35:20:00) § DeWitt was in the hospital for two weeks, at which point he learned he was being promoted to technical sergeant; however, he ran afoul of one of �the nurses in the hospital and ended up be re-assigned to a different division, which ended up costing him his promotion (00:36:06:00) · DeWitt was not happy in the hospital and accepted the reassignment so he could just get out of there (00:36:55:00) o Once out of the hospital, DeWitt was assigned to the 41st Infantry Division, which had yet to be in actual combat; when DeWitt first joined his new company, he was the only combat veteran in the entire company (00:37:03:00) § DeWitt got along real well with the soldiers in his new company, who treated him very well (00:37:18:00) § The division consisted of soldiers from New York state and other New England states (00:37:24:00) 41st Infantry Division / End of Deployment / Reflections (00:37:44:00) · When DeWitt left the hospital in Sydney and joined the 41st Infantry, the division had already deployed to New Guinea (00:37:44:00) o After DeWitt joined the 41st Infantry in New Guinea, the division launched an attack against the Japanese-held island of Biak (00:38:05:00) § Although the fighting on Biak was not at intense as the fighting around Buna, it was still rough (00:38:11:00) · One notable different between the fighting DeWitt did around Buna and the fighting he did on Biak was that Biak was all dry ground, unlike the swamps surrounding Buna (00:38:17:00) · Again, as with Buna, DeWitt does not remember the soldiers having any artillery or air support (00:38:26:00) At one point, DeWitt’s company was engaged with Japanese forces and he § had his BAR laying in front of him when the next thing he knew, the gun splintered from a 50-caliber round hitting it (00:39:01:00) · The loss of his BAR ended DeWitt’s time as a BAR gunner and he became a regular rifleman (00:39:18:00) o Following Biak, the 41st launched attacks against several different islands in the Philippines, including the island of Mindanao (00:39:32:00) § However, the fighting then was not too severe and the men saw very little actual combat (00:39:42:00) · In truth, the 41st Infantry saw nothing close to what the 32nd Infantry had to go through (00:39:50:00) · Nevertheless, the soldiers were still undersupplied and to resort to eating birds and coconuts (00:40:14:00) o While DeWitt was stationed on Biak, one day, his company had set up a defensive position for the night and three other soldiers who knew DeWitt had combat experience tried to get DeWitt to take them up a nearby hill; however, DeWitt was hesitant out of fear of a Japanese attack (00:40:41:00) § However, the other soldier eventually talked DeWitt into taking them up the hill and once the group was at the top of the hill, they ran into an empty Japanese camp with several bottles of sake (00:41:12:00) § DeWitt and the other soldiers started drinking the sake when DeWitt heard rustling sounds in the bush; DeWitt then alerted the other soldiers that they �had company and told them what to do (00:41:28:00) § DeWitt moved to the south and came upon an opening in the brush that had a Japanese soldier standing in the middle of it (00:41:48:00) § DeWitt initially froze but he thought the Japanese soldier was carrying a gun, so he pulled up his rifle, which promptly jammed; however, it was then that DeWitt noticed the Japanese soldier had not been carrying a gun but was carrying a stick (00:41:58:00) § The Japanese soldier charged at DeWitt, the two men got into hand-tohand combat and eventually ended up in the nearby river, where DeWitt was able to restrain the Japanese soldier (00:42:23:00) § DeWitt initially suggested taking the Japanese soldier prisoner but one of the other soldiers on the shore ended up shooting and killing the soldier anyway (00:42:45:00) o Another time, DeWitt jumped a Japanese soldier as he walked out of a cave because he wanted to take the soldier prisoner (00:43:41:00) § DeWitt and his company had just landed and they knew the Japanese were in the cave, so they used grenades and a flame thrower to flush the enemy out of the caves (00:44:20:00) § At the time, DeWitt and the other soldiers were under orders to take prisoners whenever they could so they could get information from them about the Japanese positions (00:44:38:00) § When the company returned to camp, the commanders wanted to courtmartial DeWitt but the following day, before anything could happen, the company was in combat (00:44:53:00) · During the fighting, DeWitt managed to save the life of the commanding officer, who then decided to drop to the court-martial against DeWitt (00:45:03:00) · DeWitt was actually court-martialed four different times; however, each of the four times, he was either in the United States or Australia, never near the front (00:45:34:00) o DeWitt was court-martialed because he kept going AWOL (Absent Without Leave) from his unit (00:45:57:00) o The punishments normally lasted only thirty days and during the second courtmartial, DeWitt was assigned to beating rocks with a sledgehammer (00:46:07:00) § It was hot and when DeWitt told the guard he needed water, the guard ignored him; however, the second time DeWitt said he needed water, the guard pointed his gun at DeWitt, so DeWitt hit the guard with his sledgehammer (00:46:34:00) § The other guard actually came to the defense of DeWitt and said that DeWitt had been asking for water but the first guard was not letting him have any (00:47:09:00) o None of DeWitt’s court-martials ever resulted from any serious type of an offense by DeWitt (00:47:32:00) · When DeWitt joined the 41st, he tried to tell the other soldiers in his company what advice he knew about fighting in the jungle (00:47:47:00) o Two of the biggest lessons DeWitt gave was telling the soldiers to use their �instincts and to not try to be a hero (00:48:10:00) o According to DeWitt’s advice, the soldier’s training would only take them so far and the rest was luck; the soldiers who were lucky were the soldiers who survived the fighting (00:48:26:00) · DeWitt’s company spent a month or two stationed on Mindanao before moving to the nearby island (00:49:31:00) o The fighting in the Philippines was much more docile compared to the fighting DeWitt had gone through on New Guinea (00:49:47:00) o Although he is unsure exactly how it happened, DeWitt somehow ended up being assigned to an intelligence section, which involved going on patrols with infantry units to find any useful information regarding the Japanese forces (00:50:07:00) § One time, DeWitt and another soldier from the intelligence section went out on patrol with a squad to investigate reports of the Japanese attacking a village to the north of the American position (00:50:22:00) § One day, two or three Filipinos talked DeWitt into going onto a hilltop with them and after four or five hours, the group made contact with Japanese forces; DeWitt started to give orders to position the group but when he looked around, everyone was gone (00:50:44:00) · Luckily, DeWitt was able to sneak out of the area and make it back to camp (00:51:17:00) o The local population was underfed, so DeWitt would go out with three or four canoes and use dynamite to fish (00:51:44:00) o When DeWitt was assigned to the intelligence section, he did not receive any formal training for the assignment (00:52:50:00) § There were eight soldiers in the section, with a sergeant as the leader and a corporal as his second-in-command (00:52:56:00) § The assignment was relatively safe, which meant none of the soldiers were ever killed; this was why, in a year-and-a-half of being with the intelligence section, DeWitt was never promoted (00:53:10:00) · However, the soldier did remain connected to the rest of the infantry and whenever the soldiers went out on a patrol, they had to carry a weapon (00:53:25:00) o While stationed in the Philippines, the twenty-year-old DeWitt ended up marrying a sixteen-year-old Filipino girl (00:53:44:00) § The girl’s father allowed DeWitt to marry his daughter only if DeWitt paid him fifty pesos (00:53:57:00) § Technically, none of the soldiers were supposed to marry any locals but DeWitt managed to convince a friend who agreed to dress up as a minister to perform the “wedding” (00:54:12:00) § DeWitt was with his new wife for about two weeks before he accumulated enough points to transfer home (00:54:20:00) · Before DeWitt transferred home, another soldier offered DeWitt seventy-five pesos for his “wife” (00:54:30:00) § Once it became time for DeWitt to rotate home, he was boarding a ship when someone told him some people were asking for him; as it turned out, it was his “wife” and her father, who was carrying a knife (00:54:51:00) �· · · · · · The girl figured DeWitt was going to bring her back to the United States but he had no way of doing so (00:55:16:00) The Japanese did not officially surrender until DeWitt had already left the Philippines; the official announcement came while DeWitt was still aboard the ship carrying from the Philippines back to the United States (00:55:45:00) One of the times DeWitt went AWOL, it was in Australia (00:57:02:00) o The civilians in the nearby town had come to like the soldiers and the soldiers would often go into the town to drink (00:57:09:00) o One time, one of the other soldiers ordered thirty beers, which caused DeWitt to question him, say they could not drink that many beers (00:57:30:00) § However, when the waitress brought the beers out, there were only twenty eight, so the soldier took the tray and threw it, and all the beers, against the wall (00:57:53:00) Once DeWitt returned to the United States, he went home and it was not more than three weeks before his father was pressuring him to get a job (00:58:17:00) o Initially, DeWitt briefly worked at a paper mill, then spent three months working at the local post office, then another company for three months, before settling in at Kalamazoo Paper, where he stayed for fifty-two years (00:58:42:00) Looking back, DeWitt would like to think that his time serving in the Army helped educate him, including taking some correspondence courses while he was deployed to the Pacific (00:59:21:00) o However, being in the infantry did not afford DeWitt too much time to think about getting an education (01:00:06:00) At one point, while DeWitt and the other soldiers were AWOL in Australia, someone mentioned see MPs and DeWitt, being by himself, took off running through the local neighborhood to get away (01:00:49:00) o Eventually, DeWitt hid in a women’s bathroom; as he hid, he told a nearby women not to tell the MPs where he was hiding but when the MPs did come up, the woman told them DeWitt was hiding in the women’s bathroom (01:01:12:00) o When the MPs took DeWitt back to the hotel to gather his belongings, around fifty people came up telling the MPs to let DeWitt go because he had been nice to them at some point (01:01:29:00) � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource DeWitt, Arthur (Interview outline and video), 2008 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource DeWitt, Arthur Description An account of the resource Arthur DeWitt was born in Lapeer, Michigan in 1921, and grew up in Kalamazoo. While a senior in high school, DeWitt joined the Michigan National Guard, and his unit, Company C of the 126th Infantry Regiment, was called up soon afterward, causing him to miss most of his senior year. His unit was sent to Camp Beauregard, Louisiana for training, and he became a BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) gunner. In the spring of 1942, his division was sent first to Boston, then to San Francisco, and from there to Australia. They were shipped to New Guinea in September, and participating in the fighting around Buna. One of the few men in his company to get through Buna unscathed and healthy, he came down with malaria soon after returning to Australia, and was reassigned to the 41st Division. He served with the 41st on Biak, and then on Mindanao in the Philippines, and was rotated home shortly before the end of the war. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Video recordings World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American United States. Army Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-04-08 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DeWittA0236V Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/6bfd15b5da21612e93f331d72c9119e3.m4v ffb7b2a8f1a8cc2812e8d96449217f2f https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/899ad6baa4930f5d445e421988df6edb.pdf cf6836eb0df35d753dc8bf186ebc8bc5 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veteran’s History Project World War II Jake DeWitt Length of Interview (00:40:42) Background Born in 1922, Grand Rapids, MI Hall Street School Father worked for the Tanglefoot Co.  Made fly paper Family was large (four younger sisters) DeWitt was in an accident that broke both of his legs; put into an ungraded room in Hall Street School Sent to Davis Tech (on Division Ave.) to learn a trade  Learned typesetting and electric welding Got a job at Western Union; sister working at Bissell Went to get a job there, got it right away (15 years old, 1930’s) Heard of news about the war in Europe, didn’t pay much attention (00:03:40) Heard about Pearl Harbor over the radio, was shocked Knew he was going to be drafted soon; had lost his job when the war started  Went to the Recruiting Station with a buddy; chose the Navy Sent to Detroit for a check-up Chose the Navy because he didn’t want to be in the mud One of his friends (who was too old to be drafted) received letters from the other boys in the Army and other branches One particular friend, in the Army, had written about the poor conditions he was in �Assignment: USS Roper (00:06:05) Camp Green Bay, Milwaukee; went to New York, Pier 92 (Roper) During basic training: a lot of marching; learned to take orders Wasn’t bothered by basic training; in good physical shape No weapons training; no training about ships (shortage of sailors, out in 28 days) Joined to Roper in early 1943 (late 1942) Roper was a beautiful ship (a Destroyer) (00:08:00)  Excellent Captain; a career Navy man  Changed commanders after sinking a German U-Boat, the U-85  Built like a submarine; maneuverable, went faster than the newer battle ships being built  Very distinctive: four smoke stacks Had picked up a pregnant woman stranded at sea; gave birth to a boy The boy grew up to go into the Navy, as well First job involved sailing up and down the coast of Virginia (00:10:05)  Place loaded with German ships and submarines Assigned as Gunner’s Mate; usually on the galley deckhouse  Had a radioman who would update them during action (5 other men on the deck) PBY (flying boat); “Sub Chasers”  Would spot German subs and inform the ship  Would drop charges and oil would start coming to the surface if direct hit  Germans sometimes used decoys (oil spills, etc.) to simulate a hit Before DeWitt had come on, there was a chase dealing with a submarine which had surfaced due to lack of power (00:12:20) Didn’t keep track of time (months); followed routine (00:13:00) �Assigned to convoy duty; Straits of Gibraltar  Traveled with Liberty Ships (200-300 ships in a convoy); very hard to handle, would zigzag often  German torpedoes had difficulty hitting them Sometimes there were storms as they crossed the Atlantic  All that could be seen were waves; like a cork on the water  Terrifying experience, at first; got used to it  Navy life is repetitive After leaving France, went through the Panama Canal to Guam then Okinawa (00:15:25) Didn’t stay in the convoy long; left the “Frog Men” aka Navy Seals in rubber boats  Assisting them to land in Southern France (didn’t know where they were at the time) After dropping them off, picked up some North African soldiers in the French Army Didn’t go ashore often; Sicily, Italy The whole city (Naples) was leveled, cathedrals still stood  Stayed for six hours, not much time Convoy Duty: Straits of Gibraltar (00:18:00) Didn’t see any German submarines in the Mediterranean; saw them in the Straits of Gibraltar  Had sunk a couple there (when the convoy was with them)  Subs had sunk three ships while they were going out; ships peeled off When they got closer (to Europe) saw quite a few Bombers flying (American)  Incredibly loud roar whenever they flew over Didn’t see much of the local population when on shore, mostly personnel Received letters from his family; not married, yet (not until convalescent leave)  A lot of his letters were censored, cut up �After convoy duty, went to Charleston, South Carolina, made LS-20 (previously APD-147); two of the ship’s smokestacks were removed (00:21:15)  Sent to Okinawa afterwards  Carried four landing crafts on their ships; used for naval invasions Lived in the barracks in Charleston Wasn’t sure how long they were onshore; given plenty of liberty, couldn’t go home Guam (00:23:00) Sent through the Panama Canal to Guam  Lost one of the sailors there, didn’t get back on the boat (stayed on shore)  Sailed straight to Guam; didn’t always sail alone The new captain was considered a “90-day Wonder” (Lieutenant, fresh from the Academy); was a good fellow Officers kept to themselves, separated usually; DeWitt talked to everyone anyway (00:25:05)  Didn’t know much about the captain Stayed in Guam and loaded up for supplies before going to Okinawa; part of the first wave Ship was hit by an oil tanker trying to refuel; went back (to Guam)  Had been reported sunk as two of their landing barges were seen floating around  Had been too close to the tanker (10ft apart), so both barges were swiped off  When getting back to Guam, the authority there did not believe what had happened  The hull had a 12ft gash; the fresh water was put on the port side to make the ship lean on its side  Didn’t take too long to fix; didn’t replace their landing craft The “frog men” would come aboard only when they were needed to get to shore �Okinawa (00:28:45) It was hell over in Okinawa The Japanese would swim out from the islands with dynamite on them; on the ship, would have machine guns trained on the water, told to shoot whatever was floating  DeWitt shot six times and four of the six exploded Also being attacked from the air; all the time (300 miles from Japan)  Would use their own guns to shoot aircraft Ships were anchored (six or seven) and DeWitt’s ship was in the front; started a smoke screen Could only see a cloud of smoke; Betty’s (twin engine bombers) flew over and didn’t know where to bomb  Had to dampen towels and hold them over their mouths and noses in order to breath No kamikazes; attacked by fighters The tactics at the beginning of the War (by the Navy) were to turn broadside in order to have more firepower, were actually giving the planes bigger (and easier) targets Later in the War, would turn so their tail would face the plane, would make the plane pull up and miss DeWitt’s ship was hit by a plane (a fighter plane); had orders to not fire because Marines were having dog fights above their ships (00:31:35)  The plane that had hit them was actually on fire as it crashed into them  Hit the Chief’s Quarters  DeWitt was at the bow manning his gun (number one gun)  Plane hit the starboard (right side) of the ship  DeWitt and the other men were knocked off their guns by the impact o The Japanese pilot’s body actually landed where DeWitt was sitting before the crash  Broke his arm and had a bone sticking out from his skin �Recuperation and Discharge (00:34:10) Went to Hope, a hospital ship, but they didn’t have the technology to remove some of the bone fragments Sent to Guam; didn’t have the machine either Flew to Pearl Harbor; wound up in Oceanside, California, a Marine hospital  Arm was in a sling the whole time  Germany had surrendered the day DeWitt had his surgery (it was actually the announcement of the end of the war)  Wounded on the 25th of May  Stayed in the hospital quite a while; didn’t get discharged until around Christmas Sorted out letters at the hospital to get liberty (00:36:20)  Would just walk around mainly due to his injury o Memphis (had wound up there after his surgery) Married on October 26, 1945; had known her from before the war, had written letters (00:37:25) Went back to work for Bissell; stayed with them for 44 years Learned how to obey orders; how to get along with all kinds of people (00:38:45) Started going to reunions in 1991 Stayed in touch with some of the guys from his ship In the Navy, they never stood still, there was always something to do and they did them happily � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource DeWitt, Jake (Interview outline and video), 2010 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource DeWitt, Jake Description An account of the resource Jake DeWitt served during the Second World War as a Gunner's Mate on the USS Roper, a destroyer from WWI. The Roper patrolled the Virginia coast where it sunk its first German submarine, then travelled to the Straits of Gibraltar for convoy duty. She was eventually struck near Okinawa when a Japanese fighter plane crashed into the side of the ship injuring DeWitt. Dewitt was eventually discharged after recovering from his arm injury. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Video recordings World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American United States. Navy Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2010-02-16 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DeWittJ Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/eb774fc5e5fe62a601ad44d374c46edd.pdf 6bddf84ae4c70d07960293d7837cb77b PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Special Collections Kent County Oral History collections, RHC-23 Dexter, Emma Foote (Mrs. Clarence) Interviewed on October 5, 1971 Edited and indexed by Don Bryant, 2010 – bryant@wellswooster.com Tape # 32 Biographical Information Emma Howe Foote was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on 3 February 1885, the daughter of Elijah Hedding Foote and Frances Amelia Howe. She died 5 January 1983 in Grand Rapids and was interred at Graceland Mausoleum. Emma was married to Clarence S. Dexter in Grand Rapids on 16 January 1908. Clarence was born 4 June 1882 in Chicago, the son of George W. Dexter and Laura A. Sawyer. He died 4 April 1947 in Grand Rapids. Clarence and Emma had two daughters, Frances J. and Dorothy M. Dexter. Emma’s father, Elijah H. Foote was born in Olcott, Niagara County, New York on 24 March 1845, the son of Elijah Foote and Olivia Luce. He died in Lamont, Michigan on 9 September 1920 and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Grand Rapids. Emma’s mother, Frances Amelia Howe was born 16 Apr 1843 in Ravenna, Ohio and was the daughter of Elisha Bigelow Howe and Celestia Russell. Frances died 23 March 1920 in Grand Rapids and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. ________ Interviewer: This interview with Mrs. Clarence Dexter was recorded October fifth, nineteen seventy-one. Ok, that’s going now. You, you were just saying your family has been here for approximately five generations. What was your, what was your family’s name? Mrs. Dexter: Well, my father’s name was Foote. My and my mother’s name was Howe. My father was born in Olcott, New York and drove out here and I don’t know when my mother came. She was born in Ohio and came from there to Grand Rapids. And I can’t go back too far but at the time of the Civil War, my Grandfather, and Grandmother Howe lived where the Peninsular Club is today and when my father came home from the Civil War, that’s where they were married and up on Lyon Street, Lyon and College and Fountain Street was the old Civil War campground. My father went from there to the Civil War. There’s a marker, it’s in the Central High School property now because they couldn’t put it in the middle of College Avenue where the old well was during the Civil War. And, it was guarded all the time by the Union Soldiers. Interviewer: The well was? Mrs. Dexter: Yes, and when Father came back from the war, he bought property in that district and built the first house that was built on the old campground and that was on the corner of Lyon �and College Avenue, the northeast corner there is another house, the old house still stands there, there’s another small house on each side of it now and all around the property at that time was larger, a good deal. Interviewer: Which, what’s the address of that house, do you know? Mrs. Dexter: When I, I think it’s five fifteen [505 Lyon is the Foote residence. 515 Lyon was the Dexter residence] Lyon. It’s a big grey house, next to the corner. And they lived there all their lives, and their four children were born there. I was the youngest one. Interviewer: Born in the house? Mrs. Dexter: In the house. Interviewer: Was that a, was the custom of the day for children to be born at home? Rather than… Mrs. Dexter: Oh, yes, yes. Interviewer: Did, was, was there a midwife in attendance or was it a doctor and a… Mrs. Dexter: Doctors. I don’t know, I never remember hearing anyone mention a midwife, I don’t know. Interviewer: When you say your father drove here, how did he, how? Mrs. Dexter: His family drove out from Olcott, New York, Interviewer: What did they drive, a horse and buggy? Mrs. Dexter: Yes, don’t think it was a covered wagon but they drove out in stages from there. Interviewer: Well then, you grew up on Lyon Street. Mrs. Dexter: Yes. When I was young the old UB hospital [United Benevolent Association] Hospital, which is now Blodgett Hospital, that was on the southwest corner of Lyon and College where the little Fountain Street School house is now until they built the new one over in East Grand Rapids. And, many of those old houses were built, the nearest house to that hospital property was Judge [Edwin A.] Burlingame., He lived on the corner of, well it was Lyon Place for awhile, now I believe it’s Goldberg[Goldsboro?] and Lyon Street. He’s quite a prominent judge here. And, Father, at that time was with Nelson & Matter Furniture Company that was down on the Canal and Monroe Street, it was called Canal Street then. And, then he was the, he left there and went to Grand Rapids Chair Company which was owned by the C.C. Comstock family and afterwards my father bought it from the Comstock estate. Interviewer: And maintained the name Grand Rapids Chair Company? �Mrs. Dexter: Yes, it’s still called the Grand Rapids Chair Company. After, let me see, my husband became the manager when my father retired in about nineteen seventeen. And he managed it until his death, no, he’d retired, he’d sold it to Mr. Charles Sligh then after that it was sold, to the Baker Furniture Company and now is in, is owned by a chain company that has a good many furniture factories. I don’t know the name of that, that chain. And then Father built the, when my oldest brother Stuart Foote came home from college he was with Father in the Grand Rapids Chair Company for a while and then they built the, Imperial Furniture Company and then my brother-in law Seal Reynolds, we bought, the family bought the old Kindel Factory and they had the Rey, the Foote-Reynolds Company. They made nothing but beds. Then afterwards, after our brother-in-law’s death it was sold back to the Kindel people. Interviewer: Why did, why did Kindels sell that company? Mrs. Dexter I don’t know. Interviewer: Was that, seems to me I remember hearing some, point that he, you know was very successful and then he decided that he was going to retire at a very early age and sold everything. Mrs. Dexter: Yes. Interviewer: And then after… Mrs. Dexter: That is so. Interviewer: …After a few years of retirement he couldn’t stand it so he bought it, bought it… Mrs. Dexter: Yes. Interviewer: ….Bought the company back. Mrs. Dexter: Yes. That’s true. Then another old building that I remember so well was the Methodist Church. That was at the corner, the where the Keeler building is today, the southeast corner of Division and Fountain Street. That was there for many years. Interviewer: What kind of church was it? Mrs. Dexter: Methodist Interviewer: What was the construction of it? Mrs. Dexter: Big red brick building, big red brick building. And then my sister, Ida Foote and Seal Reynolds were married there in nineteen hundred and four, I guess it was. It was so amusing it took so long to empty the church that the city fathers and fire department made ‘em put in two new exits to the church. Interviewer: What was it like growing up on Lyon Street? What was the neighborhood like? �Mrs. Dexter: Wonderful, everybody owned their own houses and we always, oh we had so many friends around it was, and we had big playgrounds and as we went to the, the old school that we went to as a grade school was on Fountain Street where Central High is today and then we went to High School down at Junior college (doorbell in background) so that we’ve seen the changes a great deal. And one thing maybe somebody might have told you, when we were youngsters and growing up here, mail boxes were on the all the street cars. Interviewer: I have heard about that. Mrs. Dexter: On the front and back. And you could stop a street car anywhere and mail your letters. They always said that it was a great advantage because they never could have a street car strike. Interviewer: (doorbell in background) Is that your front door? Mrs. Dexter: Can I shut that off, can you shut that off? [pause] Interviewer: Sure, yes. Do you think, what, what do you think of the Heritage Hill Association, and the work they are doing? Mrs. Dexter: Well, I think that it’s, it’s wonderful to have people interested and I think the different form of, architecture, architecture should be preserved because I think, I think anything in the early history of this city is important to the children growing up here. I think their background should mean something to them. But I think it’s maybe they, that’s their idea that they are just saving different styles of architecture. But there’s certainly a number of these homes are not the early homes in Grand Rapids. And I think it’s unfortunate, of course it’s late, there’re some of the homes that have gone that should have been preserved if they were going to do this kind of thing. And, that it is unfortunate, but, I don’t know how they can avoid it. If they want to collect samples of architecture, but I started to say it was unfortunate that people that own the property aren’t being allowed to remodel it if necessary because I think that’s going to be a hardship for some people. [Recording spotty at 10:32 through the end.] Interviewer: Yes, well they allow to remodel…. Mrs. Dexter: Do they? Interviewer: Yes, but what they’ve, what they’re, the reason why they put that rule into effect was that they, it’s not that they can’t remodel their homes but that when they remodel, if they remodel the exterior, they want them to, to maintain the, the style of the home instead of like a lot of these homes, they put up false facades on ‘em and one thing or another and you know they change the architecture on them. �Mrs. Dexter: Oh. Interviewer: So that the value of the home is destroyed, and they don’t want that done. Mrs. Dexter: Well that’s true. Interviewer: So, that’s why they put that rule into effect. I think that’s the reason why. But we were talking about your neighborhood and the number of children and that were, were the families very close? Mrs. Dexter: Well, just as it is today, there’s always some in the neighborhood that become good friends and some that are not. I think they weren’t anywhere near the number of (?) that there are now. People lived for long periods of time in the same neighborhood. Everyone owned their own homes and they were cared for in those days we had no slum districts. No inner-city problems. But that is bound to come with growth of a city. The changes that take place, people, large numbers coming in from different locations. Interviewer: How big was the city when you were a child? Do you know? Mrs. Dexter: I know we came out, out to the lake from, from Eastern Avenue on a little dummy line. Interviewer: Was that about where the country began? Mrs. Dexter: Yes, it was, it was, there was not much beyond that Interviewer: What was the country like out, out in East Grand Rapids at that time? Somebody was telling me that there was that it was kind of swampy or something around Wealthy and Lake Drive area, remember that? Mrs. Dexter: No, I don’t remember, it was all country because and of course we used to, what, later when the automobile came and we took long drives in the afternoon, why there was still beautiful country to drive in. But of course when I was very young, we didn’t do anything on Sunday. We didn’t even ride our bicycles on Sunday. It was a family day and the, we always went to church and had the afternoon at home. But as I say we all had large playgrounds and many of our friends some of my best friends, they are those that I went to school with from Kindergarten on. And that was the kind of city Grand Rapids was. And now there was, there was never rivalry you might call it, between the different manufacturers. The head of the, the heads of the factories were all intimate friends and remained always. We had I think it was at one time, fifty four large furniture factories here and, they, oh they always had beautiful flower gardens around them and there was always a prize given every year for the loveliest gardens. And there was a personal touch to the life of the city that you don’t have now. Which can’t be helped as a city grows. That’s bound to come. �Interviewer: Could you expand a little on that, on that, what the personal touch, what, can you give me some examples of that, how the city, why or I mean how the feeling of that was. Mrs. Dexter: Which was just a natural outgrowth. You see they were now they, for instance the two Mr. David Browns, they were no relation, but they were the owners and, of the Century Furniture Company and they, there was the finest furniture manufactures at the Century Company than any factories in the United States have ever been. But they had no sons and that proved true in many cases. There no sons to carry on the businesses. Now while my father, his, son was with him for a long time but then as I say built the Imperial, well he had no sons that were interested in carrying that on. So we sold it. And that was the case in many of the factories that after the original leaders died, the furniture, the factories were liquidated and sold to outside corporations. Now Mr. Robert Irwin of the Irwin Furniture Company had no sons to carry on, it was very pathetic because if they had had sons that were more were interested and could, capable of carrying on the business, I think the industry would have stayed intact longer. Interviewer: You think that it still would be in existence? Mrs. Dexter: Well it still is in existence with factories that we have, but not in the proportion that it was. We had, the, of course they had their big showrooms and their big sales in January and July. And several, well fifteen hundred to two thousand men came every season to buy furniture. They came from all over the United States and from even abroad. Then for years we also had a semi-showing in the spring and fall. Well, that finally was given up but those big showings were, oh, it was a friendly spirit always. Now the Grand Rapids Chair Company was the first ones that started serving dinners at their factory during the furniture season. The Chair Company was out so far from downtown that, if the men went out on the street car or had a hack to drive out, they would get nicely started and the noon-hour would come and so many times they’d go back down to the Pantlind Hotel and wouldn’t come back in the afternoon and my father said they’d have to meet that situation. So they started in serving sandwiches and coffee and bought some pies. Well eventually it developed into a much larger thing. They had a cook and screened off part of the showroom to make the luncheons, well one day the cook failed to appear and my father telephoned for me to come immediately and serve the luncheon. So I did. I went out and he gave me a boy from the factory to tend to my errands and run across to the grocery store across the street and it then developed more and more into a meal, finally my father built a great big dining room and kitchen on to the factory for me and I managed that, caterers and waitress as long as we owned the factory and that started the custom of the various factories serving meals, luncheons at noon. And I guess some of ‘em still do. But they knew it had been the custom that was started by Mr. Foote at the Chair Company. And he always had a great big New Year’s Dinner. That opened the furniture season and so out of consideration for him and their affection for him, they, none of the other factories ever served New Year’s dinner. They all went to the Chair Company. And it was quite an event. And, but then… recalls many memories. �Interviewer: What were some of the other memories about the furniture business and the furniture factory and so on? Mrs. Dexter: Well, there was always this feeling of cordiality, the manufacturers never hesitated to invite, the, their shows were always open to each other. They always went. There never was any question of hesitancy that they might copy their designs. There never was that feeling. It was always so friendly. And now that doesn’t exist. It’s almost impossible I believe, to go get into a factory to see a furniture design, a showing. Interviewer: Yes, was that a pretty exciting time, when the buyers would come to town for the shows? Mrs. Dexter: It was just thrilling. It was just as exciting as it could be. They had, the Furniture Manufacturers Association had beautiful rooms, dining rooms and lounges and things in the Pantlind Hotel. They used to have beautiful dinners there. They always held their meetings there. But they used to have beautiful dinners there for the outside, the visiting buyers. And they, they did a great deal to entertain the buyers when they came. Interviewer: How would the, what, how would entertaining go, how would they entertain ‘em? Mrs. Dexter: Well. Many of them became personal friends. And then if they were, if these buyers were friends of yours, why, you entertained them in your homes. As well as the dinners that they gave down at the manufacturers’ club dinner, so that, I don’t know… Interviewer: What form would the entertaining at home take in those days? Mrs. Dexter: Just a personal dinner party. Interviewer: Did it differ at all from today, the way people entertain today? Mrs. Dexter: Well, it wasn’t the same thing at all. Interviewer: How was it different? Mrs. Dexter: Well, you had a beautiful dinner party in your own home but you don’t have the help to do it now days. Now unfortunately most of us have to do our entertaining at the club, ‘because you just can’t get help. And it isn’t half as nice. Interviewer: Where, where did the help come from that was in the homes? Mrs. Dexter: Well, it, of course in those days we all had help that lived in. Or you there were a great many cateresses that would go, come to your home to get the dinners. Bring, have cateresses and waitresses that we had for years and years and years. Now at the Chair Company I always, for many years would have the same cook and the same waitresses. One of ‘em is, couple of ‘em in fact are still alive that used to serve. �Interviewer: What, what were their names? Mrs. Dexter: I don’t know. Interviewer: Ok. There’s something I wanted to ask you about those dinner parties. Mrs. Dexter: Well, it a, most everyone could entertain at. Twelve at their table and sometimes if they were having more they would have, they’d have sit down tables, in those days we didn’t have buffet meals. But you would have smaller tables. But the majority of them were a dinner of twelve. And they were lovely. Interviewer: Who was the most spectacular entertainer in town? Mrs. Dexter: Oh, I wouldn’t know. Interviewer: What was the most spectacular dinner party that you ever went to? Mrs. Dexter: Oh, I don’t remember that. There was so many that were really charming that it’s hard to say. Mr. Joe Griswold, who was the head of the Griswold Furniture Company, his son Joseph Griswold is still in the furniture business here. Their factory was sold so Mr. Joe Griswold travels for other factories. But, Mr. and Mrs. [Joseph G.] Griswold lived on Fountain across from Central High School and they did a great deal of beautiful entertaining and Mr. Robert Irwin did too. He had a big home on, on Fulton Street and there were a good many. Interviewer: Did the, was the society the people that had the most association with each other, was it, set up, like the furniture people, did the furniture people hang with each other mostly? Mrs. Dexter: Well, they were quite a large group of the furniture manufacturers that were very good friends but I, I would think you would say there were two or three groups, with the large number of manufacturer that we had here in Grand Rapids. Interviewer: OK, Mrs. Dexter: And then of course there were other very delightful social groups. Interviewer: Like, like what? Mrs. Dexter: Oh, well. Mr. and Mrs. M.R. Bissell in those days had a beautiful home life with their family and their friends and then there was the [S. L.] Withey family and the [Charles H.] Bender family, and so many of them. Interviewer: How does, how does living today, what, what’s the biggest difference, in living today compared to living then? �Mrs. Dexter: The speed that one, everyone, travels at now days seems to me. We lived a slower life in those days, you could get your friends together more quickly and saw more of them I think; there was more leisure. Interviewer: Yes, that’s interesting. They talk about the amount of leisure time that people have today. That it’s always increasing and so on. Mrs. Dexter: I think they, I think they have more leisure hours if they want to plan them leisurely, but now where they have time from their business they’re always rushing to go fishing and always rushing to play golf or something of that sort so that when you come right down to it, you don’t have the peaceful hours that you used to have. And then another thing, people travel a great deal more now than they used to. Everyone’s just departing for long trip of just getting home from one and in those they didn’t travel nearly so much. There weren’t the facilities, we didn’t have the airplanes. So we stayed home and enjoyed your friends, had more time to be with them. One interesting thing I remember about furniture business, it was so long ago but, it was after we started to have airplanes, why my husband was the first one that shipped furniture by airplane from Grand Rapids, I had the picture somewhere out the old airport out there loading furniture, crated furniture on to the plane to ship…by airplane. Interviewer: When was, when did that, occur? Mrs. Dexter: (I’m) trying to think, I don’t know. Forty years ago. Interviewer: Yes. Mrs. Dexter: Must have been. Interviewer: Well, that’s the kind of thing that could be looked up. Mrs. Dexter: Yes. Interviewer: Pretty easily. Mrs. Dexter: Yes, ‘because there were pictures, they had ‘em in the papers, that, so there may be records of them. But Fulton Street was a beautiful street in those days. There were so many trees of course, and the houses all the way up the hill were lovely homes. They’re gone, so many of them now. And Mr. [Robert] Irwin lived there then across from them was, they, Mr. [Morris] Cassard’s house and, all the way down. The house that’s now the Women’s City Club and the old Pike home which was the Art Gallery and I was president of the Art Gallery when we converted that building and built on the additions…. Interviewer: When was that? Mrs. Dexter: Oh, the before we built that building, we opened it our art gallery, had rooms on the upper, where Dean Witter used to be at two Monroe, right across from the park were, our rooms �were upstairs there. And then the, Mrs. M. J. Clark bought the old Pike home and we raised similar amount of money to convert it and built the Art Gallery and it’s been there of course ever since. Interviewer: I’m going to turn this tape over; I think it’s almost out. Mrs. Dexter: I think you’ve got enough. � https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/49bd2f13efa8484894c145e65c59c413.mp3 5ee57cfc98a9f10ca93bce6af80bc88e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Grand Rapids Oral Histories Subject The topic of the resource Heritage Hill (Grand Rapids, Mich.) Local histories Memoirs Michigan--History Oral histories (document genre) Description An account of the resource Taped and transcribed interviews conducted in the early 1970s primarily of the children and grandchildren of many of the founders of Grand Rapids, Michigan; many of whom were residents of the Heritage Hill neighborhood. Interviews were collected to develop a significant collection of oral resources that would supplement other primary and secondary local history materials. Initially funded as a private project, Grand Valley State College (now University) assumed responsibility for continuing the project until 1977. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Various Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/452">Grand Rapids oral history collection (RHC-23)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf; audio/mp3 Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Text; Sound Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-23 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1971 - 1977 Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-23_32Dexter Title A name given to the resource Dexter, Emma Foote Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Dexter, Emma Foote Description An account of the resource Emma Howe Foote was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on February 3, 1885, the daughter of Elijah Hedding Foote and Frances Amelia Howe. She lived at the corner of Lyon and College, and attended Junior College. Emma was married to Clarence S. Dexter, prominent Grand Rapids furniture manufacturer and financier in Grand Rapids on January 16, 1908. She was the president of Art Gallery on Fulton (Old Pike's home) and a regent of the Michigan Daughters of the American Revolution. She died January 5, 1983 in Grand Rapids and was interred at Graceland Mausoleum. Subject The topic of the resource Michigan--History Local histories Memoirs Oral histories (document genre) Grand Rapids (Mich.) Personal narratives Heritage Hill (Grand Rapids, Mich.) Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Sound Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf audio/mp3 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Grand Rapids oral history collection (RHC-23) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1971 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/604c1bd2038f4156193b9d31906a9573.jpg 164e1aab34030c920479a35e65aa2cf4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Faces of Grand Valley Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource University Communications Description An account of the resource A non-comprehensive collection of photographs of Grand Valley faculty, staff, administrators, board members, friends, and alumni. Photos collected by University Communications for use in promotion and information sharing about Grand Valley with the wider community. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1960s - 1990s Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived GV012-03. University Communications. Vita Files Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copryight Subject The topic of the resource Grand Valley State University College administrators College teachers Colleges and universities -- Faculty Michigan Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. Special Collections and University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GV012-03 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Language A language of the resource eng Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DeYoungKenneth Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. University Communications Title A name given to the resource DeYoung, Kenneth Description An account of the resource Kenneth DeYoung, Management Subject The topic of the resource Grand Valley State University – History College teachers Universities and colleges – Faculty Michigan Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived University Communications. Vita Files, 1968-2016 (GV012-03) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. Special Collections and University Archives Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Language A language of the resource eng https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/8880e0792781c36a176a1bc10bde0c2f.jpg 6fe347f36a29afd8d5d0e37130833f48 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Faces of Grand Valley Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource University Communications Description An account of the resource A non-comprehensive collection of photographs of Grand Valley faculty, staff, administrators, board members, friends, and alumni. Photos collected by University Communications for use in promotion and information sharing about Grand Valley with the wider community. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1960s - 1990s Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived GV012-03. University Communications. Vita Files Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copryight Subject The topic of the resource Grand Valley State University College administrators College teachers Colleges and universities -- Faculty Michigan Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. Special Collections and University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GV012-03 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Language A language of the resource eng Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DeYoungMary Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. University Communications Title A name given to the resource DeYoung, Mary Description An account of the resource Mary DeYoung, Social Psychology Subject The topic of the resource Grand Valley State University – History College teachers Universities and colleges – Faculty Michigan Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived University Communications. Vita Files, 1968-2016 (GV012-03) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. Special Collections and University Archives Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Language A language of the resource eng https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/3f407a5fec30eeb5b847db28641f599e.mp4 d8e858bfd2c65ce1f2ae04731168a863 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/cd4eb9c8b7220c32f2d6722921a94685.pdf cf12c3476d017b1b97c98cc063620ce1 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans’ History Project Nelson DeYoung World War II 56 minutes 20 seconds (00:00:12) Early Life -Born on November 11, 1924 -Grew up on the southwest side of Grand Rapids, Michigan -His father worked in one of the factories there -Grew up in a good neighborhood -There wasn’t much money growing up -He had a job delivering newspapers -Spent his downtime playing baseball and marbles with friends -Attended Southwest Christian School through the seventh grade (00:05:06) Growing up during the Great Depression -After the seventh grade he left school to work in a furniture factory -He had had a hard time in school because of his speech impediment -He worked eight hours a day and five days a week -The extra income helped his family during the Great Depression -It was normal for a thirteen year old to work fulltime at the time -It was easier for him to go to work because he was teased in school about his speech -The 1930s were a hard time to pull through, but he is thankful because his family did -During the summers they would go up to McBain, Michigan to visit family there -He always enjoyed those trips and misses them now -Before the freeway system it would take eight hours to drive up there -Now it only takes one to two hours -He also worked on a muck farm and was paid $0.50 a day (00:19:44) His Family -He had three brothers and two sisters -His youngest sister had Spina bifida and his other sister took care of her -His oldest brother worked for a hospital in Cutlerville -His youngest sister eventually died due to her illness (00:25:04) Getting Drafted & Start of the War -He was drafted on March 4, 1943 -It was difficult to leave his family behind -It was made easier because many of the young men in his neighborhood were drafted too -He remembers it being scary when Pearl Harbor was bombed -Thinks that the U.S. pushing forward instead of retreating was a good move though -He knew too men that were killed at the onset of the war (00:28:25) Training -He was placed into the Medical Corps and worked in a hospital for a while -He was transferred to a different camp -He was placed on KP (kitchen patrol) duty waiting for his uniforms to arrive -It took a month for his clothing to arrive �-He also served food at the new camp -The mess sergeant offered him the chance to become a cook -He decided to take the offer -Had he stayed in the Medical Corps he would have wound up near the frontlines -Because of his transfer he was supposed to go to Cook and Baker School -The mess sergeant overrode that, so he didn’t have to -He started off at Camp Bradley, Texas for basic training -From there he was sent to Camp Tyson, Tennessee to serve as a cook -He was transferred to Fort Gordon, Georgia -While he was there he had surgery performed on his back -After Fort Gordon he was sent down to Florida and stayed there for a short time (00:35:29) Deployment to India -While in Florida he received orders that he was to be deployed to the Pacific Theatre -He remembers going into a theatre and given an orientation about Army life overseas -Before being deployed the atomic bombs were dropped and the war ended -From Florida he was assigned to another hospital elsewhere -He flew from Florida, over Africa, to India to stay there for eighteen months -He aided at a field hospital in India helping to evacuate the wounded back to the United States -By the time that he got back to Michigan he had travelled completely around the world -When they left out of Karachi, India it took one month to get back to the United States (00:40:08) Coming Home Pt. 1 -He remembers when they got stateside men just left the ship and went AWOL -They were just excited to be back in the United States -He was discharged in 1946 -He had served at the same time as two of his brothers -All of them came home safe and roughly at the same time too -Remembers it was a “day of rejoicing” to see his family and his brothers again (00:42:19) His Wife -He met his wife prior to being drafted -While he was away they communicated over letters -It was hard to leave her behind when it came time to be drafted (00:43:45) Coming Home Pt. 2 -When he got back to the U.S. he arrived in California -He requested his discharge papers early so he could visit an uncle, but was denied -He was told he would have to wait until they got back to base -During the train ride home he cooked and served food -The thought of his wife helped him to get back home (00:47:18) Wanting to Enlist -When his oldest brother enlisted in the Army he wanted to enlist at the same time -His father forbade it and told him that he would get his chance soon enough (00:49:28) Reflections on Service -The experience of leaving his loved ones strengthened his trust in God -Believed that if he trusted in God he would make it back to them -He had felt that he had been part of a fight for good and justice in the world -His faith grew during his time in the Army �(00:51:35) Leaving India -He remembers when he was first onboard the ship in India he got terribly seasick -He could barely stand and it was caused just by the tides going in and out -After leaving port they hit rough seas -The deck was crowded with men vomiting over the side of the ship -He wasn’t affected because he already had his “sea legs” -He remembers that when they got to the open sea all he could see was nothing but water � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27_DeYoungN1697V Title A name given to the resource DeYoung, Nelson (Interview outline and video), 2014 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2014-10-19 Description An account of the resource Nelson DeYoung is a World War II veteran who was born on November 11, 1924. He grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and was drafted on March 4, 1943. He started off training to go into the Medical Corps until he became a cook in the Army. He served at Camp Bradley, Texas Camp Tyson, Tennessee at Fort Gordon, Georgia and in Florida. At the end of the war he was sent to India to aid with the removal of American wounded from India out of Karachi. He was discharged in 1946. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource DeYoung, Nelson Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Semeneck, Evan (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans World War, 1939-1945--Personal Narratives, American United States. Army Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Moving Image Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/0da7d8f317043745eab84976669601e5.m4v 69cfd22650085b5b880981f73a104514 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/569a202a8e3ad94a5625ed1f21db2c78.pdf 3cee9368e71e441de6bc2058815f915b PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans’ History Project Ralph "Hank" DeYoung Cold War 38 minutes 33 seconds (00:00:42) Early Life -Born in 1928 in Spring Lake, Michigan -He stayed in high school through the tenth grade -His father worked in a factory, owned a farm for 6 years, then started a construction business -Hank and his brother became business partners with their father -He had numerous cousins that served in World War Two -One cousin was shot down over Switzerland and captured -Managed to escape and made his way back to the United States -He had no interest of going into the service -In the construction business he laid brick, did carpentry work, poured cement, etc. (00:02:36) Start of the Korean War and Getting Drafted -Paid attention when the Korean War began -He wasn’t surprised when he was drafted -He was drafted in the summer of 1950 -Reported for his Army physical and was deemed fit for service -Sent to basic training in December 1950 (00:03:19) Basic Training -Went to Detroit for the physical -Sent to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin for basic training -Got there by train -It was a four (or five) hour train ride -Camp McCoy was cold during the winter -Some days they would train in -56oF wind chill weather -Basic training lasted six weeks -The main focus was learning to be disciplined and to follow orders -Difficult to adjust to the psychological aspect of training, but eventually adjusted -Physical training wasn’t difficult for him -One man was killed during a training accident -Stood up during an infiltration course and got hit by machinegun fire -Infiltration course: crawling under barbed wire while a machinegun fired over you -Drill sergeants would punish trainees in various ways -Most common punishment was to be put on “kitchen patrol” (00:06:23) Cook Training Pt. 1 -Originally sent to radio training and took the basic courses at Camp McCoy -Some of the tables in the mess hall were worn down -He took it upon himself to repair the tables -Oddly enough this led to him being placed in Cook School at Fort Sheridan, Illinois -He had wanted to be a combat engineer, but never got accepted for that �(00:08:00) Getting Married -Prior to going to going to basic training he, his family, and his girlfriend had an early Christmas -His report date for basic training was December 15, 1950 -During that Christmas gave his girlfriend a ring -He was allowed to go home on leave for New Year’s 1951 -Decided that the next time he came up he and his girlfriend would get married -He was supposed to get a three day leave starting on February 6, 1951 -The sergeant in charge of giving out leave wouldn’t let him leave -He wound up talking the chaplain into letting him go home to get married -Took a train to Milwaukee, Wisconsin then caught a plane to Muskegon, Michigan -The flight was delayed and landed late -He was supposed to change at his in-law’s house, but the house was locked -Arrived to his own wedding an hour and a half late, but other than that it went well -Their reception didn’t end until 2 AM the next morning (00:10:46) Cook Training Pt. 2 -Discipline at Fort Sheridan was strict -The first part of Cook School consisted of a lot of paperwork -Learning recipes and how to keep records of supplies used -After the paperwork training got into the kitchen and began hands on training -The two primary foods he made a lot of was scrambled eggs and sheet cakes -On Saturday nights they would make chipped beef -Breakfast consisted of oatmeal and scrambled eggs -Cook School lasted eight weeks (00:13:00) Returning to Camp McCoy -Returned to Camp McCoy and started working in the kitchen there -He was assigned to Headquarters Battery of the 194th Field Artillery -He cooked for all of the officers in his unit -Sometimes the officers ate better if they treated the kitchen staff well th -The 194 Field Artillery was an Iowa National Guard unit -Worked for three days then got three days off -Served with two men from Detroit -One night they went drinking with a sergeant and didn’t come back in the morning -This meant that Hank had to deal with breakfast on his own -He recruited the men on kitchen patrol to help him cook -During breakfast the two men from Detroit returned -He covered for them, so that they wouldn’t get in trouble -He stayed at Camp McCoy until July 1951 (00:15:28) Deployment to Europe -He eventually received orders to go overseas -Didn’t know where he was going -Went to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey by train -Once there he knew that he would be going to Germany -Boarded a troop ship with 3000 other soldiers -It was an old Liberty Ship from WWII -The weather going over wasn’t bad -Spent most of the voyage just looking for ways to kill time �-It took seven days to go from the United States to Germany -Lots of men got sick during the voyage, but he didn’t (00:17:03) Wurzburg, Germany -Arrived in Bremerhaven, Germany -From Bremerhaven took a train to Wurzburg -His first impression of Wurzburg was that their barracks were beautiful and modern -The kitchens were also modern -German civilians worked with them in the kitchen -Did a lot of shopping and sightseeing on his downtime -Days started at 2:30 AM and lasted until 6 PM (sometimes even later) -Same pattern of three days of working, then three days off (00:19:30) Reassignment to the 272nd Field Artillery Battalion -One night there was an alert and he was transferred to Nauheim, Germany -There was already a military facility existing there -From there he was sent to the East/West German border with the unit on patrol there -Had to live out of tents -Relied on portable kitchen equipment -He was attached to the 272nd Field Artillery Battalion when he went to the border -At the time it was still a predominantly black unit -The new battalion commander was strict, but fair and competent -He got along well with the men in the 272nd -The Detroit men from the 194th came with him -Remembers that one of them was a violent drunk -Efficiency in the 272nd was terrible until they got the new battalion commander -He was on border patrol when his wife told him that she wanted to come to Germany -He wasn’t an officer, so he couldn’t move her over through the Army -She made the preparations to come over on her own -She would have had to live on her own, and wasn’t allowed to work -He eventually talked her out of moving over (00:25:45) Downtime and Contact with Home -He wrote home every day and received mail from home every day -He was the envy of his unit because of that -To cheer up the other soldiers his wife would write to the other men too -Most of the men in his unit were single so they would go on dates with the German girls -During his downtime he took design courses and bought a drafting board -Designed a house for one of the men in his unit -He would spend his downtime reading religious magazines and going to chapel on Sundays (00:27:10) Awareness of the Cold War and the Korean War -Always worried that the Soviet Union would eventually attack Western Europe -Paid attention to the progression of the war in Korea -If you were in Germany there was little chance that you would get sent to Korea (00:27:59) Contact with German Civilians -The German women were hard workers -The German men spent most of their times in bars -The Germans were, all in all, good people -Even seven years after the end of WWII there were still a lot of orphans �-There was still a lot of poverty in Germany -On Thanksgiving and Christmas the orphans would be brought to the base for dinner -The orphans didn’t speak much English, but they still found ways to communicate -He didn’t learn much German while he was in Germany -There were still a lot of bombed out buildings in Germany -Amazed by how much the Germans had been able to rebuild in a few years (00:30:30) Visiting Amsterdam -He was given a ten day leave and decided to visit Amsterdam in the Netherlands -It was different than Germany -Heard stories about how the Dutch had violently opposed the German occupation -For example: shoved German soldiers into canals to kill them -More of the Dutch people spoke English than the Germans did (00:31:15) Temporary Promotion -Went over to Europe as a private first class -When he was in Germany he was temporarily promoted to the rank of sergeant -It was not an official promotion, but he still had the leadership responsibility (00:32:18) End of Service and Coming Home -Towards the end of his service he just had to maintain the food truck, but not cook -When his time was up the Army urged him to reenlist, but he declined -Offered him a bonus -He wanted to go home and be with his wife -There was the chance that he could have gone to Korea if he had reenlisted -He returned home in November 1952 -When he returned home he had to wait in Bremerhaven for three days for a ship -On the way home the troop ship ran into a hurricane -He got seasick then -Never thought that the ship would sink -The crew didn’t seem too bothered by the storm either -Arrived in the United States at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey -He was discharged from Camp Custer, Michigan (00:35:03) Life after the War and Reflections on Service -After his service he went back to work with his father -When he and his wife were in their early seventies they backpacked through Germany -She had always wanted to visit Germany -Visited his old barracks -Amazed by how modernized and different Germany was -All traces of the war were gone -He worked in construction for the rest of his life -His service taught him to appreciate travelling -After his wife died he found a box of his old letters and memorabilia that he had sent her -His service had taught him not to be too attached to his hometown -Later in life he and his wife would take an annual road trip to Texas -His service taught him to be more independent -If he had stayed in the Army he could have retired early -Staying in the Army also could have led to him fighting in Korea or in Vietnam though � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27_DeYoungR1664V Title A name given to the resource DeYoung, Ralph (Interview outline and video), 2014 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2014-08-28 Description An account of the resource Hank DeYoung born in 1928 in Spring Lake, Michigan. He left high school in the tenth grade and worked with his father in his father's construction business as a business partner. In the summer of 1950 he received his draft notice and on December 15, 1950 he reported for basic training at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. After completing his basic training he got married to his wife on February 6, 1951 and was also in Cook School training to be an Army cook at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. He served with the Headquarters Battery of the 194th Field Artillery Battalion of the Iowa National Guard back at Camp McCoy. In July 1951 he was deployed to Germany with the 194th Field Artillery Battalion and served at Wurzburg. From Wurzburg he was reassigned to the 272nd Field Artillery Battalion at Nauheim and then went into the field with them patrolling the East/West German border. In November 1952 he returned to the United States and was discharged. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource DeYoung, Ralph Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) WKTV (Wyoming, Mich.) Subject The topic of the resource Other veterans & civilians--Personal narratives, American United States. Army Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Moving Image Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/x-m4v application/pdf https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/ca3c0493fec45e8022f4b8329bf23064.jpg 2c7684dba31eddd83ac63cd64f68cb10 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Naval Recognition Training Slides Subject The topic of the resource Slides Military education Airplanes, Military--Recognition Warships--Recognition World War, 1939-1945 Description An account of the resource Slides developed during World War II as a training tool, for top-side battle-station personnel on board ship and for all aircraft personnel, by the US Navy. In 1942 a Recognition School was established by the Navy at Ohio State University where the method of identification was developed. In 1943 the school was taken over by the US Navy. The importance of training in visual recognition of ships and aircraft became even more evident during World War II. Mistakes resulting in costly errors and loss of life led to an increased emphasis on recognition as a vital skill. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource United States. Navy Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/477">Naval recognition slides (RHC-50)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-04-04 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?language=en">No Copyright - United States</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpg Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-50 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1943-1953 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Source <a href="http://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/477">Naval recognition slides, RHC-50</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-50_X1028 Title A name given to the resource DH 110 British all weather fighter Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource United States. Navy Description An account of the resource DH 110 British all weather fighter, September 1, 1952. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Navy Military education World War, 1939-1945 Slides Airplanes, Military--Recognition Great Britain Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?language=en">No Copyright - United States</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Naval recognition slides (RHC-50) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1952-09-01 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/adfdcb2dd34221c089a4fa4c7454f562.jpg 7c873eda8441f134d4d4d0dfbef92614 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Robert H. Merrill photographs Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Merrill, Robert H., 1881-1955 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1909/1950 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Robert H. Merrill papers (RHC-222) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-222 Description An account of the resource Photographs, negatives, and lantern slides digitized from the papers of engineer and archaeologist Robert H. Merrill. A Grand Rapids native, Merrill held an accomplished career as a civil engineer. He founded the company Spooner & Merrill, which held offices in Grand Rapids and Chicago. From 1919-1921, Merrill lived in China, working as Assistant Principal Engineer on a reconstruction of the Grand Canal - the oldest and longest canal system in the world. Merrill became fascinated by archaeology, and among other projects, he traveled to the Uxmal Pyramids in Yucatan, Mexico, with a research expedition from Tulane University. Merrill's photo collection includes images of his travels and projects, friends and family. Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Merrill_LS00147 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource circa 1918-1921 Title A name given to the resource Diagram of modern locks Description An account of the resource Black and white lantern slide of a hand-drawn sketch diagram of canal lock systems. Subject The topic of the resource Lantern slides Canals Locks (Hydraulic engineering) Drawings Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Robert H. Merrill papers (RHC-222) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpg Language A language of the resource eng Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Merrill, Robert H., 1881-1955 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/2cf19889aa2f44d7ccd0963c0f3c6a21.jpg 62130254c28faa0494bd5f84f473ce9c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Grand Valley State University Photographs Subject The topic of the resource Aerial photographs Universities and colleges Michigan Grand Rapids (Mich.) Allendale (Mich.) Building Facilities Dormitories Students Events 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Description An account of the resource People, places, and events of Grand Valley State University from its founding in 1960 as a 4-year college in western Michigan. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource News & Information Services. University Communications Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/41">News &amp; Information Services. University Photographs. (GV012-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-03-03 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-NC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpg Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GV012-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1960s-2000s Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Local Subject Subject headings specific to a particular image collection 1970s Source <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/41">University photographs, GV012-01</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GV012-01_UAPhotos_000920 Title A name given to the resource Diagram of the audio video system Description An account of the resource Diagram of the audio video system. Subject The topic of the resource Grand Valley State University Michigan Allendale (Mich.) Universities and colleges Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-NC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives black and white photo https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/42c5ef62bb09e24a9188e492a497d916.pdf 2972cbc18d06cba625970d065d7f8133 PDF Text Text � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Incunabula Description An account of the resource The term incunabula refers to books printed between 1450 and 1500, approximately the first fifty years following the invention, by Johann Gutenberg of Mainz, of printing from moveable type. Our collection includes over 200 volumes and numerous unbound leaves from books printed during this period. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1450/1500 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Incunabula Collection (DC-03) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?language=en">No Copyright - United </a> Subject The topic of the resource Incunabula Printing 1450-1500 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-03 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource text Language A language of the resource eng it la nl de Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Dialogorum libri quattuor [German] Das buch der zwaÿer red mit einander [folium 197] Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-03_197GregoriusI1473 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Gregory I, Pope, approximately 540-604 Description An account of the resource One leaf from Dialogorum libri quattuor [German], Das buch der zwaÿer red mit ainander, by Pont. Max. Gregorius I and edited by Johannes von Speyer. Printed in Augsburg by Johann Bämler at the Monastery of SS. Ulrich and Afra in 1473. [GW 11405; ISTC ig00408000] Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Augsburg: Johann Bämler Subject The topic of the resource Incunabula Printing 1450-1500 Language A language of the resource la Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?language=en">No Copyright - United States</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1473 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seidman Rare Books Collection Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Johannes von Speyer (editor) Type The nature or genre of the resource Text https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/9fd97cd611b3f6fa9941611e4e376cf8.jpg 0a3a2596807fded492af85c700bf635d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Naval Recognition Training Slides Subject The topic of the resource Slides Military education Airplanes, Military--Recognition Warships--Recognition World War, 1939-1945 Description An account of the resource Slides developed during World War II as a training tool, for top-side battle-station personnel on board ship and for all aircraft personnel, by the US Navy. In 1942 a Recognition School was established by the Navy at Ohio State University where the method of identification was developed. In 1943 the school was taken over by the US Navy. The importance of training in visual recognition of ships and aircraft became even more evident during World War II. Mistakes resulting in costly errors and loss of life led to an increased emphasis on recognition as a vital skill. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource United States. Navy Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/477">Naval recognition slides (RHC-50)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-04-04 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?language=en">No Copyright - United States</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpg Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-50 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1943-1953 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Source <a href="http://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/477">Naval recognition slides, RHC-50</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-50_1465 Title A name given to the resource Diane class French submarine Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource United States. Navy Description An account of the resource Diane class French SS (submarine), September 1, 1948. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Navy Military education Warships--Recognition World War, 1939-1945 Slides France Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?language=en">No Copyright - United States</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Naval recognition slides (RHC-50) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1948-09-01 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/60170692ff7dd9e0e7072f3e82afd5ca.jpg cd432c6f25cca6a86489e1605183983d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Naval Recognition Training Slides Subject The topic of the resource Slides Military education Airplanes, Military--Recognition Warships--Recognition World War, 1939-1945 Description An account of the resource Slides developed during World War II as a training tool, for top-side battle-station personnel on board ship and for all aircraft personnel, by the US Navy. In 1942 a Recognition School was established by the Navy at Ohio State University where the method of identification was developed. In 1943 the school was taken over by the US Navy. The importance of training in visual recognition of ships and aircraft became even more evident during World War II. Mistakes resulting in costly errors and loss of life led to an increased emphasis on recognition as a vital skill. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource United States. Navy Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/477">Naval recognition slides (RHC-50)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-04-04 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?language=en">No Copyright - United States</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpg Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-50 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1943-1953 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Source <a href="http://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/477">Naval recognition slides, RHC-50</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-50_1466 Title A name given to the resource Diane class French submarine Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource United States. Navy Description An account of the resource Diane class French SS (submarine), April 1, 1953. Subject The topic of the resource United States. Navy Military education Warships--Recognition World War, 1939-1945 Slides France Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?language=en">No Copyright - United States</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Naval recognition slides (RHC-50) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1953-04-01 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/df347d05dd301a1bf08da11f90b38062.pdf af667850dc8f9149e2add8fe5fa26ab5 PDF Text Text Day by Day Diary of Camelia Alten Demmon Daughter of Mathias Alten January 5, 1917-July 2, 1917 Friday, January 5 I am rather late as usual so I am starting this little tale of woe to-day, instead of last Monday. I went to school to-day as I do once in a while and managed to get through everything somehow or other. Mike [girlfriend] came up to school after me and we walked home together and stopped to buy some cream puffs and cakes. There was a Beta spread at Mrs. Wagner’s to-night and after that Roberta Cassidy, Frances VanLeeuwen, Mary Alice Wren and I went to the Majestic Gardens. Norm Jones called for Ella and is down stairs now. 11:30 PM. Saturday, January 6 I am writing this Sunday morning about ten o’clock in bed. I washed my hair S[unday] morning with egg and lemon. L[emon] makes it a dandy color but I’m thinking that if it doesn’t stop coming out pretty soon, I won’t have any left. Frances VanLeeuwen, Mike, Kathryn [Katheryn] Baert, Donna Baert, Harriet McKeon and I all went to see “Twin Beds” yesterday afternoon. This was supposed to be a Gallery party but seeing as though they didn’t open the Gallery we sat in 35-cent seats in the balcony. On my way to Schroeders afterwards I met Russell Burr and he asked to come. He came but I suppose I will get killed Monday if Mildred finds it out. I wish I knew whether it is wrong for me to let him come out. Sunday, January 7 This morning Mamma and Ella went to church. In the afternoon Lucille and I went to the Majestic to see Mary Pickford in “The Pride of the Clan.” I cried all during the show, and after I came out, we met John Stacey and I was still crying. We met Dick Miller and Norman Jones across the street and they came over for lunch. Mary Alice and Ray called up and wanted us to go coasting Wednesday night. Monday, January 8 I didn’t have a single lesson this morning so I skipped my first hour class to study. I went over to LaVanche’s [LaVanche Vinkemulder] after school and played on her Weja [Ouija] board after we had stopped at the little bakery. Gee their stuff is good. The model didn’t come, so I poised [posed] for the class and earned $1.50. Papa just finished an awfully cute picture of me in my pink dress. Tuesday, January 9 I got up at six this morning to study, but I must say I don’t like the idea very much. I walked down to school with Mike and went to J.F.E. meeting after school. Harriet McKeon and I walked home together and stopped at the bakery as usual. Mr. and Mrs. Cusick went to St. Joseph to-day to see if they would like it. I got a new skirt that E[lla] finished for me to-day in exchange for some Christmas waist material. 1 �Wednesday, January 10 I am writing this up the next Sunday instead of last Wednesday so I will test my memory. It seems to me we were going to have a tobogganing party to-night, but the [weather] wasn’t suitable so Dick Miller and Norm Jones just came up. We had a pretty good time, but I imagine I would like Dick better if I understood him more. He asked me to go to “Civilization” next Tuesday night and here’s hoping I don’t cry and make a hag out of myself. Thursday, January 11 School After school I took Ella down to the station for she went to Detroit, and Papa told me we were going to get our Ford Sat[urday], hooray!!! I got home about six and Papa told me I would have to pose again, so I hurried and got dressed and went down there. I don’t remember, but I don’t think I stayed up to study that night. Friday, January 12 School Friday night after school I went down town with Mike and we bought two awfully cute dresses for her, seeing she is going away to school the first of February. I stayed over there for supper and then came home and tried to read the whole of “Crawford” but a fourth was as much as I could stay awake for that night. Saturday, January 13 This morning Viola had an appointment with Dr. Beeman at nine o’clock to have her eyes tested so I took her down. I wasn’t well anyway and after I had been there an hour, I got sicker and sicker until they lay me on a couch and I got as white as a ghost. I don’t remember ever feeling worse, but about 12:30 I felt better and went home. This afternoon, 7 of us went to Powers [Theatre] to see “Fair and Warmer.” And on the way home I stopped in at the library to get my book review. Sunday, January 14 This morning I got up at 8 and read till 12, but I finished “Crawford.” From two until 4, I took a lesson at driving the Ford. It certainly is the best looking little car you can imagine. It is upholstered in gray and is awfully cute I am just crazy about it. Hugh came up then and stayed until lunch. While I was gone, Dick and Russell Burr called up. Tonight I wrote my book review, got my German, physics and now I guess I’ll read the funny paper. Mamma, Papa & Mr. and Mrs. Cusick have gone to the Empress. Monday, January 15 I haven’t written in this in over a week so I don’t remember much that happened. I went to school as usual and Lucille and I stopped and got a pie on the way home, and came over here to eat it. Mrs. Serarach was here from Minneapolis and told us all about “Billy Boy” [the adopted son of Mrs. Alten’s younger brother Frank Schwind]. She says he is the cutest kid one can imagine. After supper I went down to the class to pose. 2 �Tuesday, January 16 School After school I went down to the studio and Papa and I had another lesson in driving. Tuesday night I went to see “Civilization” with Dick Miller. Wednesday, January 17 School After school I went to K.E.E. meeting [Central High club], Lucille and I went coasting that night. Thursday, January 18 Thursday morning I took my German exam and I certainly never saw a harder exam in my life. Thursday afternoon Lucille and I thought we would start the machine, but didn’t know where to pour the hot water and somehow or another we froze the thing all up. Friday, January 19 Friday morning John Stacey came over at 9:30 and we tried our level best to start the machine but couldn’t so called Mr. Eckberg and he came up and started it. Then John and I went around town and did some errands. About 12:30 we went to Ada and ate cookies outside the hotel (Coach Stop Hotel) for our dinner. When we came back, we got Lucille and drove to Plainfield. The rest of the day was spent on looking for skates for me but we couldn’t find any. Saturday, January 20 Saturday Mr. Eckberg came up and started the machine and I took mamma out riding. She had been real sick for a couple of days. Saturday night I studied for my physics exam. Sunday, January 21 Sunday morning mamma was sick in bed and Papa was just about as bad. I studied all morning and in the afternoon, Hugh Utley, Lucille Cusick, and John Stacey came over. Monday, January 22 Monday morning I took my English exam and then Frances Carr and I went to the Monroe. The picture lasted so long that we couldn’t get any lunch and had to run all the way up the hill. At 1, I took my physics exam. Frances VanLeeuwen, Kathryn Baert, H[elen] McKeon and I went to the Strand and Jandorf’s [bakery]. Aunt Louise was here. Russell called me up that night. Tuesday, January 23 Tuesday morning Mamma was sick and I went down town. Mr. Nelson took the machine out for me and in the afternoon I went down with Lucille, Kathryn, and Harriet and then Lucille and I served at the German Coffee. When we got out we couldn’t get started so a man pushed us a little way and then we coasted down the hill until the engine started. Thursday night I didn’t do much of anything. Ella wrote and said she would be back in a 3 �couple days. Tuesday night M. Utley, L. Cusick and I took Nute [the car] and went coasting over at John Ball. Wednesday, January 24 This morning I was down at school making up art until 1:30. This afternoon I went to the Empress with Hugh. Thursday, January 25 This morning mamma and I went down town. I got some blue taffeta for a Russian blouse. And some shoe hockies. This afternoon, Frances Carr went skating over at Wilcox [Park]. And then came home and had some hot chocolate and cake. Thursday night Russell Burr came over and we had a dandy time They brought the machine home from the garage at about 10:30, and then Russell and I went down to Sweet’s [Sweetland’s?]. Friday, January 26 This morning Lucille, Frances and I went down to Dean and Hicks[?] and poised [posed] for some furniture pictures. On my way home just as I left the girls, I met Russell and he took me over to the car. After dinner I went down to school for a while and Hugh was helping decorate for the Sock and Buskin party [Central High club], but I wasn’t invited. Then I went down to Papa’s studio for a while. To-night I went skating with H[elen] Wren, and met Joe Osgood, I skated with him all the time and then he took me home. Pretty nice. Saturday, January 27 Saturday morning I cleaned up the house. We got a letter from Ella saying she was in Sturgis. Saturday afternoon we bought some skates for Viola, and then met Frances Carr, L[ucille] Cusick, Kathryn Baert, Harriet McKeon and we all went to the Orpheum. “The Toughest Show in Town.” Saturday night I went skating. Sunday, January 28 Sunday morning I washed my hair. In the afternoon we took Nute [the car] and went to the Strand. We met John Stacey in front of the Empress, and he took [us] up. We saw Ella Hall in “The Souls Inspiration.” Dick call[ed] up when I was gone but that didn’t do me much good. Hugh took Louise Fay to the Sock and Buskin party. Papa and I have been trying to get the machine in for an hour and at present he has gone for some gas. Monday, January 29 This is the first day of the new term I have Mr. [Burton E.] Smith for S[cience]. Miss Christ for G[eography], Mrs. [Cornelia] Hulst for E[nglish], Miss [Dorothy] Crosby for interior decoration. 2,3,4, 6. Ray Gregory was elected Pres[ident]. Helen Bloomer (Betty Ford’s mother) Vice Pres[ident], Betty Rood Sec[retary], Laurance Frost Treasurer. Hugh has been acting awfully funny so I sent his pin back to him to-day. Dick called up three times yesterday, but as usual I wasn’t at home. He called up again to-night and asked me to go on a sleigh ride Sat., and to the Maj[estic]. Wed. 4 �Tuesday, January 30 School After school Mildred Matheson (Russell’s girl) came over. We intended to get the machine and have our fortunes told but mamma didn’t like the idea so we went to the Strand. After supper we had Beta meeting at Eleanor Stinchcomb’s and I took Nute [the car]. Somehow I didn’t have any trouble with him and it certainly was encouraging. Wednesday, January 31 School I was excused at 3:00 and a bunch of us went to see John Drew in “Pendennis” at Powers. Lucille came home with me then to say goodbye because she was going to school the next day and I wouldn’t have another chance to see her. After dinner I went to see “The Crisis” at the Maj. with Dick Miller. Memoranda [Humor later published in yearbook] H. Wren: I’m learning so much in cooking. L. Vinkemulder: What did you learn? H. Wren: I don’t know I put it on a piece of paper. L.V.: I guess that’s why you can wear such small hats. There is something I don’t like about you, I guess it’s your face. Stop your swearing, not that I care a damn, but it sounds like hell to strangers. Thursday, February 1 Lucille went this morning at 7 o’clock, but I didn’t see her off. Mamma has been sick all day, and couldn’t even get out of bed. I came right home from school and tried to start the machine, but couldn’t so I called the man up. I never had a worse time in my life. I had to have someone come and crank it twice and then I could hardly get it home. I get it half way up the drive and it stopped. But I was so blamed mad at the darn thing that I’m going to have to leave it out all night. Friday, February 2 School After school the “Sock and Buskin” club gave a little play, and I stayed for it. We got a letter from Ella to-day saying that she was coming home either to-night or tomorrow and bring Esther with her. [Esther and Elsie were relatives on Mrs. Alten’s side of the family. They lived with their parents in Sturgis] I intended going skating to-night, but it’s so dreadfully cold that I changed my mind. I got a card from Lucille from Jackson to-day that she had written on the train. Dick called up and said the sleigh ride was all off, but asked me to go to the Empress. 5 �Saturday, February 3 This is Frances Carr’s birthday and she gave a 1 o’clock luncheon. We had an awfully good time and afterwards I went down to the library to get a monologue. I met the Peet girls and they didn’t recognize me at first. Saturday night Esther came home with Ella. The girls went to the Empress together and I went with Dick. I like him allright, but I wish he were more exciting. Maybe it’s just me. Sunday, February 4 Sunday morning Ella, Esther and I went to the Methodist Church. It certainly is pretty, but the old man made me feel like a sinner. Sunday afternoon I stayed home all alone with Grosmama [German for grandmother] & studied. I don’t know yet just what the trouble was. Later on I made some dandy fudge with walnuts in it. Sunday night Dick came over and we had a lot of fun. Monday, February 5 Monday morning I got down as far as VanWestenverg’s when I found I had forgotten my theme and came way back after it. After school I came home and read and studied, and Norm and Ella went to the Empress in the afternoon and then had a little lunch over here. Norm has been awfully sick and he certainly is thin. I never saw a person change so much, but still he is the same old Norm. I went skating with Russell Monday night. Tuesday, February 6 School I got my first letter from Lucille to-day and find that she can only write on Sundays and Thursdays. She said she cried quite a bit at first, but was beginning to like it better now. Tuesday night Harriet McKeon went skating up at Cherry and Eastern[?] and we certainly had a dandy time. We met Norm Schuldt, and Dave Mendols[?] and skated with them all the time. Wednesday, February 7 School After school we had a K.E.E. meeting and Donna Baert was taken in. I studied after supper. Thursday, February 8 School After school we had J.F.E. meeting over here and planned a stag party for a week from Saturday. All that bothers me is where I am going to get some clothes. After supper I went skating with Harriet and Ella and wrote my theme. Howard Sneide[?] is working over at the drug store now and it was his night off so he showed us a pretty good time. Friday February 9 School 6 �Instead of coming home after school and trying on my blouse I went to the Maj. with Francis VanLeeuwen, and saw “Wallace Reid.” Wonderful man! When I came home I found that my blouse had been started, but far from finished. H. McKeon and I went skating to-night and picked up Dave, Norm, Jack Pluene. I can’t say that I think much of Jack. Dick called up before I left and asked me to go to the Empress Sat. night, and to come up Sunday night. Saturday, February 10 This morning I helped around the house part of the time and Ella went to see some people about pictures. About 10:30, I started to sew on my blouse and sewed steady until supper time, but I finished my blouse. Saturday night I went to the Empress with Dick and sat right in back of Leon Petsch. There was a little Jew named George Washington Cohen who had never told a lie and wanted to be President of the U.S. One day he was forced to tell one good then he said, “Now I am such a dam liar that I can never be President of the U.S. but then, Secretary of State isn’t such a bad job either. Sunday, February 11 This morning I was surely going to church, but my hair needed washing so badly and I had so much studying to do that I didn’t go, but Mamma and Ella went. Sunday afternoon, I reread a book that I had to review in school the next day, and did the rest of my studying. Ella went to Githa’s (the girl that is going out west with us) and had my mandolin strung. Now if I could play it. Sunday night, Norm and Dick came up, and Dick froze his ear too, by the way, it was 23 below zero Sunday night. Monday, February 12 I wore my new blouse to school this morning and told my story in English. I didn’t even get scared, that’s something wonderful for me. This afternoon Harriet, Katheryn, Frances VanLeeuwen, and myself went to the Strand. Harriet and I were going [to the Strand crossed out] skating to-night but it is so dreadfully cold that I backed out. I got a letter from Lucille to-day and also answered it. Tuesday, February 13 School I stayed at school until about four o’clock to-night fooling with H. and K. I got a letter from Lucille and it looks as though she was beginning to like it. After supper H., Helen W., and I went skating at the Lake [Reeds]. It was just great and they even had music. Wednesday, February 14 This is Valentine’s day and I only got one valentine from Viola. Hugh gave me my ring but not my pin so I asked for it and he said he would bring it to-morrow. I came home from school with Helen and LaVanche and we bought an angel food cake and divided it into three pieces and ate it on the way home. A lady talked to us to-day about being patriotic but it appears to me that if there was less patriotism, we wouldn’t have war. 7 �I went skating with H. McKeon again to-night and Paul Tansley[?] asked to take me home but H. and I always come home together. Thursday, February 15 School Ella met me after school and we went to see Githa’s baby. It certainly is a wonderful baby! We got home awfully late so we just took a bite and ran all the way down to the car because we wanted to see the soldier boys come in. We just missed the Lyon car so we ran all the way over to the change and missed that but just caught the Wealthy. We saw Avery in the lines and shook hand with him when they were marching past. Afterwards, we went to the Majestic with the Degans. Friday, February 16 School There was a “Good Cheer Vaudeville” after school that certainly was good. After that Frances VanLeeuwen, Ella, and I went down town. Ella had some shopping to do so Fran and I came home to-gether. Avery came up to see Ella to-night. Harriet and I had intended to go skating to-night, but it’s so warm that everything (ice) has melted. Saturday, February 17 Everything went along as usual as it usually does on Saturday. They brought the Ford back and supposing all was well and we were going to take it out this afternoon. We cranked and cranked and cranked some more and then the d--- thing wouldn’t go. Papa certainly did some cussing that I never heard before. This afternoon Frances Carr and I went to the Maj. and saw the “Wax Model.” To-night I cranked at that thing again, but in vain. It’s giving me muscle and it is increasing my vocabulary. There was a Kitchen Shower for Gladys Zink to-night at Eleanor Stinchcomb’s and we just had a picnic. Turned somersaults and slid down the banister and everything! Sunday, February 18 I am several days behind again so it will be rather hard for me to remember just what happened. Sunday morning we had the man come to start the machine and in the meantime he blew off the muffler so that it made so much noise everyone stared at us. I took the folks to church and then was afraid that it wouldn’t start if I left it outside so I rode around until they came out. About four o’clock Avery Gilleo and Duke Ferguson came over to have lunch and spend the evening with us. We drove over to Bernice’s about five o’clock and brought them home with us. We danced and had a lot of fun. Monday, February 19 I can’t remember much as to what just did happen to-day. After school Dorothy Cowin and I went downtown and I bought some rubbers ($1.00) It just poured when we started, 8 �but before long it hailed and then snowed. We stopped in at Jandorf’s and got some pie a la mode. Gee! I love it. I guess we got some candy too and then walked all the way home. I think Hugh gave my pin to me to-day. Tuesday, February 20 School LaVanche and I came home from school today and on the way a perfectly strange fellow in a big machine asked us to go out Friday, but we didn’t go. LaVanche wouldn’t. Ella and I entertained for Gladys Zink to-night and got her an electric toaster. We just had a peach of a time. We danced, roasted marshmellows [marshmallows], ate, and Helen Wren, Katheryn Baert, and Vera Forshund even smoked. We gave them some real strong cigarettes that these fellows brought from Mexico It didn’t even make them sick. Wednesday, February 21 School There was a K.E.E. meeting tonight and I had a peachy time. We danced afterwards and I am some leader. It’s lots of fun to dance with girls if you just have sense enough to realize it and put those fool boys out of your head. They’re not half good enough for girls anyway and then we lose our heads over them. The machine was brought back today and it starts (can you imagine that). Thursday, February 22 This is Washington’s birthday and we celebrated by going to see Annette Kellerman in the “Daughter of the Gods.” Eight of us went together and sat in the 11th row of the balcony. She certainly has a wonderful body and isn’t bashful about showing it. Mama says I take after her in the latter. I hadn’t written to Lucille for a long time so I wrote her a nice long letter. I took the machine out this morning and it was pretty good. Friday, February 23 School After school I went over to Frances Carr’s and told her everything that I didn’t want to. I took the car from there down town and bought some silk net for my party dress and then went home. Avery and Duke came up Friday night to bring their soldier suits for the party. We tried them on which they [?] have and I’m just wild about them. They look awfully cute and I hope we can get some like them for out west. Saturday, February 24 We called for Helen W. and Hazel Clark in Nute [the car] and took them to the wedding this afternoon. Gladys looked awfully sweet but deliver me! When they were getting into the taxi they slipped and the groom sprained his ankle and was unconscious and Gladys fainted. Tonight we had a stag party and I never laughed more. Some of the girls were dressed so funny that I thought I would split and others were real good looking boys. I had Duke Ferguson’s soldier suit on and I never saw anything I liked better, it looks awfully cute. We had soft drinks, weenies, sandwitches (sandwiches), salad, pickles, olives, pie a la mode and loads of everything. 9 �Sunday, February 25 I hope everyone doesn’t feel as badly as I do after a stag party. I never felt worse. I’m sick-- such a cold. I can’t even think, say nothing about breathing, talking, smelling etc. It’s 1 o’clock and we just left the supper table but I guess I’ll go to bed. Monday, February 26 I never realized how time flew until I started this diary. It has been almost a week since I wrote in this last and it seems only yesterday. I did not go to school today. I guess the effects of the stag party and wedding were too much. I had the worst cold I ever had, ever hope I have. Right after dinner I went down town [following text crossed out] [and had the best] & bought some films and then Ella and I took some pictures of each other in our soldier suits. Tuesday, February 27 Nothing important. Wednesday, February 28 School I came home right after and studied for an English test that we were going to have Thursday. After supper Duke and Ave[ry] came over and we had a lot of fun as usual. Ave brought some new dance records up so that we could have a little change. Thursday, February 29 School Fran VanLeeuwen and I were going down town to-night but Miss James had Fran’s coat so I sneaked in the office and got it. Then we went to the Isis and saw Carlyle Blackwell some Man! Afterwards we went to Jandorf’s and got some pie a la mode. I wonder if I will ever get sick of it. Memoranda This is Friday and I am caught up at last. We had our first class meeting to-night and it certainly didn’t lack any pep. Govett’s orchestra even played for us. Some orchestra. I came home with Harriet and was surprised to see that Ella had already made my sandwitches. Harriet met me at Carlton and we went to Anna Broene’s for a K.E.E. spread. We initiated some girls, danced, and had lots of fun. Saturday, March 1 Saturday started out fine, but Oh how it ended. I got sick about 10 o’clock and I was the sickest I ever came to be. I didn’t get up until about 5:00 and was feeling pretty good. That is better. Russell called up and wanted to come up, but I didn’t feel quite that well. Norm came up and I went to bed at 8 o’clock. 10 �Sunday, March 2 I really intended to go to church Sunday morning but when I was all ready I thought I would finish up by putting at little toilet water on my hair and the cork flew out and part nigh drowned me. Avery, Dona, Don Mussen[?], and Duke came over for lunch. We had loads of fun dancing etc. and I think something pretty good has started. Monday, March 3 School I don’t remember if anything in particular happened during the afternoon. Monday night there was a little informal dance at the All Soul’s Church and Ave, Ella, I went in Newt [the car]. I had lots of fun as usual and afterwards we went to Sweets. Tuesday, March 4 I received 2 letters from Mike [written above the date] School I was informed of the fact, Monday night that I was to give a little speech in K.E.E. on an Alten exhibition at the Pantland [Pantlind] so I went down Tuesday afternoon and looked at the Pictures. It is a mighty good bunch of pictures and I enjoyed it ever so much. Tuesday night Russell came up and I made him that long promised candy. By the way this is Duke’s 20th birthday. Wednesday, March 5 School We [had a] K.E.E. meeting today and I gave my little talk. As it happened I didn’t get a bit fussed and was quite pleased with myself. Conceited! We served Marqueritas and cocoa. Umm! Wednesday night Ave, Duke, Ella and I went to the Empress in Newt [the car]. Thursday, March 6 This is Thursday and I am caught up again. I got our marks to-day E.G.G.G. Isn’t that great. After school LaVanche, Dorothy and I bumed [bummed] around downtown and got some pie a la mode. I wonder if I’ll ever get sick of it. Friday, March 7 It has been just exactly one week since I have written anything in this so I guess it will be rather brief for a few days. It seems as though we planned a hike to Sparta Saturday but seeing this weather was so bad we didn’t go. Duke called up Friday night and I probably would have gone Sat. if I hadn’t thought I was going on this hike. Saturday, March 8 I helped around the house Sat morning until about 10:30 and then went down town with Ella. I picked out a suit I liked in the Royal and bought a black hat. If I remember rightly we went down quite a few times and spent the day bumming. I didn’t do much of anything Sat night. 11 �Sunday, March 9 Sunday morning was an awfully busy time but I can’t recollect just what we did Sunday afternoon Duke and Ave came over and we went out in this barn and shot. The boys stayed for lunch and then we went to the Maj. and saw Marguerite Clarke. I lost my muffler in the meantime, but I don’t know how it happened unless it was kicked out of Newt [the car]. Monday, March 10 I had 2 subjects and a theme to write before school so I got there rather early. I can’t remember just what did happen the rest of the day. It was so long ago and my memory is terribly poor. Tuesday, March 11 We had a J.F.E. meeting after school at Ester Attwood’s. We discussed having a house party spring vacation, but somehow or other it fell through. I received a nice long letter from Lucille but I’ll bet she’s fibbing when she says she likes it. Duke called up about 7:15. Went to see Allyn Stinchcomb. Wednesday, March 12 Dorothy Cowin came home with me after school and we put the chains on Newt [the car] and went down to Allyn’s. She is going to the Sanatorium next Monday, but I must say she has just as much pep as ever. We drove out to the Boat club, etc. I had just loads of studying to do until Duke called up and wanted to come over. Ave came up too and we spent most of the time playing poker. Thursday, March 13 I just became aware of the fact that my days and dates don’t jibe, but it’ll be all the same a year from now. Went down town after school & bought a sealing wax set for Mike. When I got home at five, I found out that Mama expected me right home and had wanted me to take her away. Went to Fannie’s to take my material over. Went to South High to see an entertainment. Viola danced there. [March 14 – 16 left blank to correct dates] Saturday, March 17 Mrs. Hoffman [who lived on the corner of Fulton and Baynton] died this morning [written above the date] Made a stab at cleaning up the house. Fran VanLeeuwen, Fran Carr, and Dorothy all called me up and asked me to go to the Maj. so we had a regular party. We saw Mary Miles Minter in the “Innocence of Lizette.” We giggled, laughed, and made perfect fools of ourselves all afternoon but we certainly had a dandy time. You know you can have lots of fun doing nothing if you have the company. Monday is Lucille’s birthday so I made and sent her a box of candy with a sealing wax set. 12 �Sunday, March 18 This morning Ella, Newt [the car], and I went to the All Soul’s Church. After dinner I took Viola to Kathleen’s, Mamma & Papa to Kindels, and Grosmama over on the west side. Dorothy went along and then I stopped in there a few minutes on the way home. When I got home Duke & Ave were here and Duke brought me a dandy bag of candy. We rode out to the Boat Club but it was all closed up so we took some pictures and came back. Had lunch and went to the Maj. Monday, March 19 Mike’s birthday School After school the senior Sorosis [Central High club] gave a party for all the senior girls. Had a good time & came home with LaVanche and Harriet. After supper Ella, Viola, and I went over to F & M’s to lengthen my suit. The machine was only running on 2 cylinders but it went like hele [hell]. Tuesday, March 20 School I went downtown with the bunch, if I remember rightly. After supper Avery came over and then he and Ella took me over on the West side so that I could have my suit fitted. It’s dark brown, but dreadfully good looking. On the way back we stopped for Duke at the armory and then came up here. I called for the folks at Kutsche’s and went to bed at about 12. Wednesday, March 21 This is the first day of spring and it certainly is wonderful. Ella was going to Alma this noon, but the pictures hadn’t gone she waited until Thursday morning. There was K.E. E. meeting after school and of course I had a good time. I believe I could have a good time doing anything. Harriet and I watched the boys practice for “Hip-Hip-Hooray” and then went home together. I went to bed at 7:45. Thursday, March 22 Ella took the six fifty train to Alma this morning and Ave went down to the station. Talk about your good kids. I took Newt [the car] and went down to get the lining for my suit this afternoon. I bought some awfully good looking gold skinners satin and then took it over. Duke, Donna, Dan and I went to the Empress to-night and sat in the box. We had Newt [the car] and stopped in at Sweet’s. I’m afraid I bust [bussed] Duke. Friday, March 23 School There was a J.F.E. spread at Roberta Cassidy’s to-night and we took Virginia Campbell and Katherine Spencer in. They all went to the Maj. afterward but [I] was going to a dance at the Armory so I didn’t go. Helen called up and said that there was such a jam that they couldn’t all get in so we went to the movies instead. Don, Donna, Duke and I. Donna and Don went home afterwards and Duke and I went up to the Chop Suey. Some life! 13 �Saturday, March 24 Dorothy, Mama, and I went down town in the afternoon and I got 2 awfully cute waists (blouses). Saturday night Ave came up and Duke and I went to see “Hip-Hip-Hooray” with Newt [the car]. I[t] certainly was good. Sunday, March 25 Ella and I really were going to church this morning, but the machine got stuck out in back and by the time we got it out it was too late. That’s a fact. Ave and Duke came up in the afternoon and we went out to the club. It hadn’t been opened up yet so we came back home over lunch and then I took Ave and Ella to the Maj. and then we went to Donna’s. Monday, March 26 I went down town this morning and met Norm Chamberlain at the Studio. Gee! I like him. Then I made an appointment with the dentist and Ella and I took Lessa and the baby out for a little ride. Dorothy and I had our pictures taken in the afternoon and then I came home and took Grosmama, Mama, and Ella down town. Tuesday, March 27 I took Mama down town this morning and she bought a hat. This afternoon Dorothy and I went down together and got some stuff for a black net hat. We left the machine on downtown and when we came back there was a little slip pasted on the windshield, stating that I should appear at the police station at 9 in the morning. What am I coming to next!? I stayed over at Dorothy’s for supper and we sewed on our hats. Wednesday, March 28 Wednesday morning I went down to the police station the first thing. Seeing I had never been pinched before he said he would let me off this time but I would have to pay double ($20) next time. This is the first appearance I have ever made in the police court. Finish[ed] my hat and sewed in the afternoon, cute hat. Went to Beta meeting and Duke called for me. Thursday, March 29 This afternoon I went to the Maj. with Dorothy and I had an appointment with the Dentist at 1 o’clock afterward we all went to a peace meeting at the Theater. Dr. Freeman was chairman of the meeting and he is a wonderful broadminded man. They wouldn’t let them have it at the Armory and Mrs. Bellman was even threatened for giving them the Theatre. Theater for peace. I am for peace heart & soul but it looks like war now. Friday, March 30 Fran VanLeeuwen called for me to go to Fran Carr’s this morning. They have a dandy new Hudson Super Six. We stayed at Carr’s for lunch and went to the Maj. in the afternoon. Ave, Ella, Duke and I went to the Empress that night. I got my suit today. 14 �Saturday, March 31 Sat morning I cleaned up the house and washed a couple of waists. In the afternoon I took Grosmama to Powers Theater, came home and took Mama and then Ella and I went out to the boat club but it started to rain as soon as we got out there so we came right back. We had a terrible rain and hail storm on the way home. Sunday, April 1 Memoranda [skipped date and corrected it on the 12th] Sunday morning Mama, Ella and I went in the All Souls Church. As soon as Mr. Freeman finished his sermon he hurried away to catch a train for Washington to tell them that a great many of us were for peace. Friday afternoon I went to see Mr. Beneker’s [Gerrit Beneker] pictures and to a Socialist meeting at Power’s and if I ever get to vote I hope I know enough to vote Socialist. Mr. Debs spoke. Sunday night Duke came over. Monday, April 2 [written on page for April 1] School Almost everyone is certain that war is going to be declared when congress meets tomorrow and Hugh is glad as anything. Duke wants war too and somehow there seems to be something brutish or wrong about people like that and I won’t have anything to do with them no matter how nice they are otherwise. Ella and I went to a Samaritan meeting Monday night and Avery called for us. Tuesday, April 3 [written on page for April 2] Hugh came up and said goodbye to everybody this morning and thought sure that they were going to Chicago by train. I went down to the dentist after school and had a nerve taken out. Duke came up after supper and we were going to the armory but it got too late so we went to the Strand instead. Wednesday, April 4 [written on page for April 3] Hugh was back at school today and can’t go to until war is declared. Too bad! We had K.E.E. meeting to-night and then I went down town to meet mama and had to wait 2 hours. Ella and Ave went to the Empress to-night. I guess Duke is broke, as usual. Thursday, April 5 [written on page for April 4] I went to the dentist after school and then met the girls. Went to a church supper and then saw Jack Pickford in “The Dummy” at the Idlehour with Donna. Friday, April 6 [written on page for April 5] Came home after school and made Mama’s hat. Friday night we all went to a dance at the All Soul’s Church and had lots of fun. I went with Duke but there were a lot of extra fellows so they had “robber” dances. Great. Friday’s news. [written on page for April 6] This is good friday and war with Germany was also declared today. Saturday, April 7 [written on page for April 6] 15 �Went down to the K.E.E. pictures taken this morning. Stayed down for lunch with Dorothy and then and bought some blue pajama cloth. Cut some one piece pajamas out at Dorothy’s and started them. Cutest things I ever saw. Sunday, April 8 [written on page for April 7] Sunday morning Easter, by the way, Papa, Ella & I went to church. Mr. Freeman talked on war and peace and certainly had a fine sermon. I think I could get an education hearing him talk. Duke sent me some beautiful sweet peas and roses. Didn’t do much of anything Sunday afternoon and Sunday night Duke came up without even calling up. Monday, April 9 [written on page for April 8] I haven’t written in this for a week and don’t remember what I did do. Monday, April 10 [written on page for April 9] Same as Monday Wednesday, April 11 [written on page for April 10] Lester Newman asked me to the Central Hop but I said that I was going to a theatre party. Pervairikator (liar). [prevaricator] Thursday, April 12 [written on page for April 11] School Got excused at 12:30 and took Mama to a funeral. Got a flat tire in front of Aunt Julia’s [Mrs. Alten’s twin sister] but I hadn’t anymore than thought about it when I [a] young man came across the street and fixed it for me. Lucky girl. April 12 Must have skipped a day [April 1 was skipped]. Friday, April 13 [dates are now correct] School After school, Dorothy, Fran VanLeeuwen and I went to the Empress. We bought 10-cent seats and the man let us sit down stairs and we marched way down in front. More luck and nerve. Went to the Sock and Buskin play Friday night with Duke. He also asked me to go to the Central Hop. Saturday, April 14 This morning Mama & I burned the dry grass on the side of the house. Went down to get some shoes later on but they didn’t have their oxfords in yet. Saturday night Fran Carr and I went down to the Liberty. Sunday, April 15 Papa, Ella and I went to church this morning and Mr. Freeman talked about the new Russian Republic. He seems to think that it is a wonderful thing. Dorothy and I went to the Lib. this afternoon. She came over for lunch and Ella, Ave, Dorothy and I went to the Strand. 16 �Monday, April 16 [this entry continues from April 16-April 19 although she wrote in the day next to the date on each page] Came right home intending to make a waist but no one was home to cut it so I studied. Went down town later in the afternoon and brought the folks home. Went to Samaritan meeting at 7:30 but it was postponed. All you hear around hear [here] is war and I never had more enemies in my life, because I am a pacifist and more over of German descent. Almost every boy in school has enlisted and there [written on page for Tuesday, April 17] are very few girls that are not [moving?] or doing some relief work. I don’t know whether I am wrong or not but I haven’t done anything of that sort yet. I see where there is going to be a terrible winter before us and I guess the best any of us can do is to raise as much food as possible. I guess our Western trip is knocked in the head. Emma, Frank [younger brother of Mrs. Alten], and Billy [Frank’s adopted son] are going to move to Houston Texas and [written on page for Wednesday, April 18] are going to get in here Sat. We had patriotic assembly today and it certainly aroused all the patriotism there is in one. It just made me sick. I can’t see enough reason for war and I think it is terrible for us to get mixed up in this terrible slaughter too. The boys are enlisting and do farm work now and they look a little better to me. At K.E.E. meeting several of the girls gave talks on the war and I certainly had to bite my lip more [written on page for Thursday, April 19] than once. They don’t seem to think that the Germans are even human and all they want to do is killem. I never saw such narrow-mindedness or insanity. Ave proposed to Ella last night. She hasn’t been feeling well for quite a while and today Dr. Wells said that he had to go to bed for a week. Nervous and poor heart. Poor Kid she wants to be healthy like I am. [April 20 – April 21 left blank] Sunday, April 22 Frank, Emma, & Billy came. [April 23 – April 27 left blank] Saturday, April 28 Saturday went down town & did a little shopping. Sat. afternoon Em, Billy and I went over on the West Side. Saturday night Duke and I went to the Art club party. Letter from Lucille. Sunday, April 29 Got up at 9:30 & Mama, Ella and I went to church. They are even urging the girls to drill so you can see the feeling around here. Quite a few of the boys have already gone on 17 �farms. The conscription bill has been passed including all men between 19 & 40. Duke and Ave came up in the afternoon. Ave traded in our old car & $25 and got a Hupmobile. Duke & I went to the Strand and then the Sweets shop. Monday, April 30 School I found out that there is going to be a Helios party next Sat. and now I have to ask somebody again. Billy is running around in his diaper and shirt and now is too cute for words. It’s only 8 but I ‘m tired so I guess I’ll go to bed. Tuesday, May 1 [written on Memoranda page] School I asked Thorn[e] Brown to the Helios party this morning and he accepted. He acted awfully glad too. There was a J.F.E. meeting after school at Ruth Chamberlains and we planned a picnic up the river in several weeks. Duke called up and asked me to go to the Maj. and I went. I like him a lot better than I used to and he’s awfully nice to me. Duke asked me to go to Miss Hollister’s party at the Pantlind the same night as the Helios party so I guess I won’t be able to go. [May 1 left blank] Wednesday, May 2 School Special K.E.E. meeting. Hugh was up at school with his uniform on and he certainly looked dandy but I feel awfully sorry for the poor kid I don’t understand him. I wish I knew how he felt toward me. Dorothy came over after school & we talked war. Her brother is going to enlist. I took Mama over on the west side and then the whole bunch went over to Cusick's. I am here with Viola taking care of Billy. Thursday, May 3 School This afternoon Dorothy and I went to the Empress and sat in the 10-cent seats. It was one of the best bills I’ve ever seen there. We bought an awfully cute combination suit pattern together and some material on a sale. Mr. Jandorf has been accused of being a German spy several times and everyone is boycotting him. He found a yellow paper on his machine the other day, representing a yellow streak. I wonder what will happen next. [Saturday crossed out] May 4, Friday School Went downtown with Dorothy and then came home and took Emmy on the west side. Went to the Maj. with Julia, Emma, Viola, and saw Pauline Fredrick. Saturday, May 5 18 �I was down at school all Monday decorating for the Helios Party. In the afternoon Ella and I stopped in school for a minute and met Duke and Jack. We went down town, did some shopping. I then came home. Went to the party Saturday night with Thorn[e]e Brown. After this party we went to Miss Hollister’s party at the Pantlind and danced until 12. Had a peach of a time. Sunday, May 6 Sunday morning Harriet and I broke into the school with a skeleton K.E.E. and took our junk home. Duke and Ave came up in the afternoon and seeing as it was raining we didn’t go up the river. Duke and I had a sort of fight, at any rate I had a perfectly rotten time. Learned a little about cribbage Sunday night. Monday, May 7 School A wonderful case started on Thorn[e]’s side and that’s all I’ve heard all day. Saturday he asked me to the Senior Play and a Masonic party Friday night. Saw Marguerite Clark this afternoon. Cut a combination and started it to-night. Tuesday, May 8 School I came right home after school and picked up a little and did my studying. After supper I took the folks out to Blanchard’s and then when I got home Harriet, Jack Fowler, Duke and Ave were over. We had a lot of fun. Wednesday, May 9 School There was a K.E.E. meeting after school to-night and I gave a little article on world citizenship. Took Billy out for a while and then went over on the west side with the folks. Thursday, May 10 School Skipped 3rd hr. and Thorn[e] and I went down to Sweet’s and then out to the Lake. We caught a little mud turtle and brought it to school. After school Mrs. Utley, Harriet McKeon, and I went up the river. I paddled about 4 miles and sure am some strong girl. It was just wonderful. Flower [flour] is $19 a barrel. Friday, May 11 School Well, I’ve found someone to sympathize with me at last. Thorn[e]e is strongly proGerman, but about the only person I know of that is and it certainly is encouraging. Friday night Ella, Ave, Thorn[e] and I went to the Empress and it certainly was good. I sat right next to Louis Edison too, my 6’6” friend. Saturday, May 12 19 �I accomplished an awful lot to-day. I did a lot around the house this morning and then washed the machine. Went down town this afternoon and to a K.E.E. entertainment tonight. Received a letter from Lucille sent through her mother and it seems to me as though she were in little less than a prison. Has been quarantined for months & can only write 1 letter a week. Sunday, May 13 Went to church this morning & so did Thorn[e], Mama and Papa drove to Greenville with the Kutches. Ave, Ella, Thorn[e] and I went up the river this afternoon. Duke called up and asked me to go up but I had allready planned on going with Thorn[e]. Duke asked me to the opening party providing he was still here. Monday, May 14 School. Played tennis for the first time at Thorn[e]’s the fifth hour today. I am some player. An English woman [spoke] to us in assembly to-day and she certainly did picture the Prussians as heartless Brutes. No wonder the people over here are so one sided. We never hear any truth. Went to the Maj. to-night and saw a picture in which they made fun of the pacifists. Tuesday, May 15 I had a sore foot to-day and didn’t go to school, but more fun why I never had a better time. I intended to go in the afternoon, but the bunch was over at Tom’s court and we all decided to skip. J. Stacy Harriet McKeon Thorn[e] and I went out to the lake & fiddled around in an old row boat with a couple of boards. Came back & went to mock elections & little party afterwards with Thorn[e]. Sweets. Played at playgrounds at Lincoln Park. Wonderful time. Wednesday, May 16 School Played tenis 5th hour. Thorn[e] asked me to Rifle Club party. Went over to Dorothy’s and planned house party. Thorn[e] asked to come up. Duke & Ave came up. Thursday, May 17 School Came home after school and took the machine down to the garage. Took the folks out riding. Duke came up to-night. The mock elections were as follows. K. Barton – smallest girl Harriet McKeon – wittiest girl Helen Bloomer – most popular girl. etc. [complete list is published in yearbook] Friday, May 18 School 20 �Went out to the Boat Club and played tenis with Margaret Utley, Ruth Minor and Katheryn Baert. I sure am some rotten player. Went to the Senior Play with Thorn[e]. Saturday, May 19 Skipped third hour and saw the parade. Played tennis 5th hour. Took folks out riding after school. Duke came up after supper. [Box around following text] Harriet is going to leave school and go down on the farm Sat. Shoot it!! [end of box] I guess I’m mixed up. Did my smock. Went out to the Imp. with Duke, Dorothy, Jack. Sunday, May 20 Washed the machine. Took Emma and Ella to church. afternoon Went up the river with Duke and Jack. Came home and fried winnies [weenies]. Monday, May 21 School Rain. Majestic with Thorn[e], Eva Prince, and Jack Pluene. Tuesday, May 22 School J.F.E. meeting at Helen Bloomer’s. Planned House party at Macatawa for next weekend. Duke came up. Told him I was coming down the river with Thorn[e]. Wednesday, May 23 School Thorn[e] took me downtown. Met Mrs. Cusick & bought some clothes for Lucille. Wrote to Lucille. Went out to Dorothy’s. Thursday, May 24 School Dorothy came home with me and asked Thorn[e] down on the house party. Took Emma & Bills over on the west end to say goodbye. Got some clothes ready to take to the house party. Emma and Billy left on the 11:55 train and I took them down. Friday, May 25 School Skipped after the 3rd hr. and came home to get ready for the house party. Dorothy and Helen Bradford rode down with the Cassidy’s and Fran Carr, Fran VanLeeuwen, Donna and I went down on the 3 o’clock car. The weather just cleared up at about noon Friday and it sure was great. Roberta, K. Baert, and I left together the first night. Saturday, May 26 Well, I should judge we went to bed at about 3 o’clock last night, or rather this morning. Taffy Spence came down on the eight o’clock car and we certainly did chum up. I’m just wild about her. Had a peach of a time Sat. went to Holland etc. The $50,000 cement walk that was built there last year is almost all washed down & if the water doesn’t stop 21 �coming up there won’t be any Mac. [Macatawa] in a couple of years. Taffy and I lay down and the swing with our clothes on and stayed awake all night. Never slept a wink. Sunday, May 27 The boys came down Sunday. K. Baert – John Stacey D. Baert – Bob MacKinsey [Mackenzie] Ella – Ave Dorothy – Thorn[e] Brown Fran Carr – Jack Fowler Roberta – Mac Marshall Taffy – Doug McCall Doug is a peach Monday, May 28 We just had a peach of a time Sunday. Had a big wennie [weenie] roast and went home on the 8 o’clock car. I heard that Duke & Jack got drunk Sat. night and that rather spoiled it for me. It makes me disgusted and I wish I knew what to do. I had a peach of a time with Douglas & Taffy though so that rather made up for it. Tuesday, May 29 School Monday night was the big opening party at the boat club and I went with Duke. I was rather lame[?] after the house party but I soon forgot that and had a peachy time. I am as strong as an ox, nothing phases [fazes] me. After school I went over to Roberta’s for a while and Taffy was there. Took Mama to the cemetery and then put up our lunch for the Lowell Trip. Wednesday, May 30 Decoration day. Thorn[e], Ave, Ella & I left on the 6:35 train this morning with the boat club bunch. We paddled down from there, about 38 miles, Paddled up the Thorneapple on the way and went to Ada. Got back to the club at about 7 and Duke & Jack were up on the porch to greet us. On the way home our street car & a machine bumped & had an awful smash up. [May 31 left blank] Friday, June 1 [written on Memoranda page] School Night Roberta, Judy Muir, Taffy, John Hancock, Doug and I went out to Ramona and [rode] on the Derby about a dozen times. I like Doug awfully well. [June 1 left blank] Saturday, June 2 22 �Downtown twice bought the best looking blueish [bluish] green sikls [silk] for a sport suit I ever saw. Fran Carr, Duke & Jack came up Sat night. Doug called up and asked to come up Wednesday. Sunday, June 3 I went to church and there sure was some excitement. Some wanted Mr. Freeman to talk about the convention he attended in N.Y. for terms of peace and some didn’t. Everyone talked and a lot [swore] in the church right there. Papa included. Fran Carr and I went out to the G.R.Golf club and played tennis. Monday, June 4 Came home & helped sew on my graduation dress. It was decided to only have one dress instead of three this year on account of the war. My dress is white net with while taffeta bodice. I’ve gotten two cards from Malcolm and from what he says I guess he’s awfully lonesome. He is [at] Great Lake Training Camp in Chicago at present. Tuesday, June 5 To-day we had to practically make my dress & we sure did do some tall hustling. Was out riding in the afternoon as it happened it was raining and Ella and I didn’t have any coats or hats when the machine busted & we had to borrow Papa’s and Ave’s coat & walk home. Tuesday night was class night & now I suppose I’m almost grown up, who knows. I don’t. Wednesday, June 6 Sprained my ankle & didn’t go to school today. Went on a H.G.L. Winnie [weenie] roast tonight with Doug Mcoll[?] Mr. Freeman spoke at Powers on the convention on terms of peace and the repealing of the child labor act that he attended in New York. I think that some of the people are beginning to appreciate him, but not nearly enough. Thursday, June 7 School rained & has been raining every day for just ages. Taffy and I went over to Roberta’s after school & made candy. I sure am crazy about Taffy. I wrote 4 letters Thursday night. One to Harriet, Lucille, and Malcolm. Friday, June 8 School After school Taffy & I went over to Dorothy’s & acted silly. My but I had a good time. Made my sandwiches over there & then went to a Kee [K.E.E.] spread at Alta Thomas’. Went to a meeting at church to vote whether to keep Mr. Freeman or not. Duke came up afterwards & we walked home together. Saturday, June 9 We got the news this morning that Mr. Freeman and quite a few others had been arrested. It’s makes me sick, he’s the most wonderful man I know. Took Mama over on the west side & went out riding. Went on the Derby Sat night & out riding with Taffy, Tubhy Muir, Alworth Christian, and Dwight Coulter. 23 �Sunday, June 10 Went to church and got Fran to go with us. Never spent a bluer Sunday in my life. Duke asked me to go up the river but I couldn’t go. Went over to Taffy’s instead. Duke may have had a rotten reputation once but I think he’s alright now. Mama doesn’t want me to talk with him or have him up so I’ll have to do the next best thing. Some people are unreasonable but we must humor them. Monday, June 11 School Duke wrote a letter to me in care of Gladys Goldsborough Tuesday. I pretty nearly got canned out of school to-day. John Stacey and I were playing tennis and we got caught going back. Miss Daniels took me to Miss James and talked to me for 35 minutes but it all just seemed like a joke to me at the time and I didn’t care a bit. Tuesday, June 12 Still Tuesday Pounded square into her on the way back and didn’t know what else to do so I ran and she sent John after me but I snook [snuck] where he couldn’t get me, in the girlsroom. It was really loads of fun. Went over to Allyn Stinchcomb’s, she just got back from a sanitarium but is looking fine. Mighty pretty. Wednesday, June 13 Had a dreadful headache today and didn’t go to school. Mama[?] and Julia sewed on my silk suit. Lucille came in on the 1 o’clock train & I went down to meet her. London[?] was [?] so Mr. Cusick couldn’t go. She’s looking great and is [a] pretty girl. Took Allyn, Lucille, Roberta & Taffy over on the West side with me. [June 14 through June 30 skipped] Sunday, July 1 I got so sick of writing in this old diary that I thought I would take a little rest. Sunday morning Avery, Ella and I left G.R. for Sturgis at 9:30. We took a bunch of pictures along and went on business. It was raining a little when we started and before long we had an awful rain storm. It soon cleared up and everything was dandy. We came down straight through Kalamazoo and the roads as a whole were good, but there were a few awful pieces. We didn’t have a bit of trouble with Newt [the car] and arrived at 4:30. There wasn’t any train out that night so Ave stayed and took the 3:46 A.M. train. Monday, July 2 Monday morning I washed the machine [car] and then carted Ella around. Did the same Monday afternoon & writing a bunch of cards. [last entry in diary] 24 �25 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mathias J. Alten Collection Subject The topic of the resource Grand Rapids (Mich.) Artists--Michigan Painters Photographs Description An account of the resource Digitized photographs, artworks, and diary transcript from the papers of West Michigan painter, Mathias J. Alten (1871-1938) represent one of the most important collections in the holdings of both the University Library's Special Collections and the University Art Gallery. Alten, a German native who came to Grand Rapids as a youth, is a celebrated American regionalist often referred to as the Dean of Michigan Painters. The photographs and papers document his family life and career and support the collection of Alten paintings owned by the University. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Alten, M. (Mathias), 1871-1938 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/456">Mathias J. Alten papers (RHC-28)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image/jpg Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-28 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1893 - 1929 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Source <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/456">Mathias J. Alten papers, RHC-28</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-28_MAlten_Diary_of_Camelia_Alten Title A name given to the resource Diary of Camelia Alten Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Alten, Camelia Description An account of the resource Diary kept by Camelia Alten, daughter of artist Mathias Alten, during her senior year at Central High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan from January 1, 1917 through July 2, 1917. In it she chronicles the details of her school, family, and social life. Camelia discusses the sentiments and activities in Grand Rapids during the days before and after World War I was declared. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives Subject The topic of the resource Grand Rapids (Mich.) World War, 1914-1918 Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1917 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/7099f06bf3c907857377b07ef649d826.pdf a27ea3d6371ee8b97427ae51bfeb5202 PDF Text Text Cpl. Earl Dennis Diary Highlights April 9th, 1942: Inducted into the Army at Camp Custer, Battle Creek, Michigan April 18th : Arrived at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri June 1st : Arrived at Groton, Connecticut June 2nd : Started to cook July 15th : Boarded Louis Pasteur July 16th : Left New York Harbor for Freetown, Sierra Leone July 24th : Arrived in Freetown, July 25th : Left Freetown for Durban, South Africa August 3rd : Arrived in Durban, South Africa August 6th : Left Durban, South Africa for Port Suez, Egypt August 18th : Left for and arrived in Haifa, Palestine (Israel) August 21st : Haifa bombed. Watched the flashes as German planes flew over all night September 9th : Left for El Alamein, Egypt. October 1st : Promoted to Private First Class October 23-27 : Account of Second Battle of El Alamein October 24th : Made 1st Cook November 16th : Passed through Tobruk, Libya. Described the devastation of the town and the carnage on the road from Alexandria, Egypt to Tobruk December 2nd : Spent the day in Derna, Libya December 7th : Left Derna, Libya for Ajdabiya (Agedabia], Libya December 10th : Arrived in Ajdabiya, Libya December 11th : Attacked by a German bomber. Anti-aircraft shot the bomber down. Two of the crew were killed, but a third survived December 13th : Third German bomber crewman died the night before �December 18th : Became 1st Cook again after sergeant was transferred to another squadron December 24th : American rations come in. Sprains back. December 25th : Went to Doc for sleeping pills and aspirins. Had another sandstorm. Good Christmas dinner December 31st : Left Ajdabiya, Libya for the front. Stopped at night to rest. Watched the bombing of Marble Arch, Libya. Rode in cab of truck with bad back. January 1st, 1943 : Passed through Marble Arch. Roads and bridges shredded from bombs January 4th : Arrived at new airfield. 16 German ME-109’s strafed and bombed the convoy as soon as they arrived. 7 men killed and twenty were wounded. 10 more died the next day January 6-16th : Continued German bombing. 3 Pilots and 5 Enlisted men were detailed as being killed. January 19th : Left the airfield for Dufan, Libya January 20th : Arrived in Dufan, Libya with “A” echelon. Fighters keep harassing the German retreat to Tripoli January 23rd : Tripoli falls in the morning. This was the main task February 4th : Received pay. Recounted baking till 2AM then going back on duty at noon. Made pumpkin pies and bread. February 9th : Passes to Cairo, Egypt cancelled. Move to Castle Banda canceled as well. One stove working. Pancakes for breakfast February 14th : Packages from home came. One from parents, Gertie (his wife), Shirley, and Mary Lou Byrges. Sandstorm let up. February 28th : No missions. Had a fever of 101 degrees and a bad back. Went to see Captain Cook in the 66th squadron. Stayed in bed. Cold wind all night. Went to the slit trench once. Bombs fell all night and almost took out the heater March 1st : Airfield ahead was attacked. Enemy has broken the lines and a group in the squadron is moving up to stop them, followed by more later. Raid to be expected March 7th : Received a new tent. The old one was shredded. Poole helped put the new one up away from the fort. The fort has become the new Non-Commissioned Officer’s club. 2 German planes flew over the kitchen and everyone ran for cover. �March 15th : Big mission. 5 planes and pilots lost. Flares and bombs dropped. American bombers flew over as well. Kitchen and chow line for the 79th strafed killing 20 men. March 21st : Moved up 28 miles. Could see the Mareth Line from the position. 2 German planes flew over at 5:30PM. At night flares were dropped, and heavy anti-aircraft was seen March 24th : Got shots for typhoid. Pilots went on one mission. General Strickland and Gen. Guard (sp) inspected and had dinner. April 4th : Pulled out at 2PM and went to a field 1 mile south of Medenine. Pitched tent in a wadi (valley) under an olive tree. Just west are the mountains of the Mareth Line April 7th : Sfax, Tunisia fell April 9th : Inducted into the service a year ago. One mile south of Medenine and within sight of the Mareth Line. April 12th : Pulled out. Went through Medinine and Gabes and joined “B” party about 50 miles south of Sfax. Headquarters’ stove blew up, fed part of their personnel as well : Pulled out again. Went through Sfax going to a field near El Djem, Tunisia April 14th about 50 miles from Sousse. April 18th : Details Roman colosseum near field. Ju-88 bomber circled the field, but antiaircraft guns drove him away. At 5PM 80 to 100 German transports flew over from Sicily. The group, along with others, went to meet them. 77 German planes were shot down, 18 being credited to the 65th. (This was the “Palm Sunday Massacre”) May 1st : Paid in francs. Rainy. Pilots had 2 missions May 7th : “The Yacht Club Boys” performed for the troops. 3 replacements came in. Tunis and Bizerte fell. May 12th : Artillery still firing all night to the west. Signed payroll. END OF WAR IN AFRICA. Celebrated by shooting flares and guns May 22nd : Went to Sousse and went swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. Souse is 35 miles from Kairouan, Tunisia. Ships sunk in harbor and town is wrecked from battle May 24th : Pulled out and arrived on a beach about 50 miles from Zarzis, Tunisia. Half of the group stayed behind in Kairouan to train new pilots. June 8th were killed : The 33rd Fighter Group was bombed and strafed. 25 men from the ground crew �June 15th : Part of the 65th caught up. 60 men left at Cape Bon. Clothing check and bags have to be packed by 6PM June 16th. No one knows where they are going June 30th : Hot day. Received orders to leave for Tripoli on July 2nd and leave on a ship July 2nd : Left for Tripoli. Arrived at 4:30PM. 136 degrees in the shade July 3rd : Boarded a barge to Malta July 4th : Arrived in Valletta, Malta. Drove about 10 kilometers and set up July 10th : Invasion of Sicily. July 13th : Pulled out to a field on Malta. Received 15 letters from home. Planes from the th 65 Fighter Squadron came in as well July 15th : Moved out to a field near Hamrun, Malta. Kitchens are in old wrecked concrete buildings with the cooks sleeping on the roof July 18th : Left Malta on invasion barges. Lived on K rations for the day. July 19th : Arrived in Pozzallo, Sicily. July 26th : An hour before daylight, German air raid. Italians celebrate Mussolini’s assassination. [He was not assassinated, but was dismissed and arrested] July 31st : Pulled out for central Sicily. Got lost and was 3 miles from the front lines. Heavy artillery was firing over group August 2nd : Hot day. Catania, Sicily was shelled by the British and American Navy. Big flashes seen all night. Mt. Etna is within sight. 2 planes shot down, 1 pilot killed, another in the Mediterranean. August 11th : Lost 2 planes. Mt. Etna smoking August 12th : Germans attacked for an hour overnight. 32 men killed and 45 wounded nearby. 3 fires set and an ammo dump lit up the countryside August 17th : Messina, Sicily taken by the Americans. No more Germans on Sicily, except a few snipers. Very hot day August 22nd : Pitched a game of baseball against the officers and won. During the game a P-40 overshot the runway and crashed. Pilot was ok, but the plane was upside down (Last entry) � https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/d2e84ddf50255e6aaa7807a4f015ec14.pdf f276b6b6b5775069d335cd4420e96b7d PDF Text Text WWII Diary of Cpl. Earl L. Dennis 65th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group Middle Eastern, North African, & European Theaters Transcribed by Thomas A. Dennis, Feb., 2012. Preface: My dad grew up on a small farm, along with 5 other siblings, about 5 miles west of Coopersville, MI. He met my mother, Gertrude R Mosulff, originally from Cheboygan, MI, in Detroit in the late 1930's where both were working. They were married on June 9, 1941. Dad later was drafted at the age of 29, only 10 months after being married. The 57th Fighter Group, consisting of squadrons 64, 65, and 66, was the first American aviation unit to see combat in the North African and Mediterranean theaters. They arrived in Port Suez on August 16, 1942 and were attached to the British 8 th Army to fly support for them and other units later in the war when Sicily and Italy were invaded. The 57th was the first American fighter group to shoot down a German plane in North Africa and had the highest kill to loss ratio of any other unit. They also held the record for shooting down 74 German planes in one single air battle known as the “Palm Sunday Massacre” on April 18th, 1943. In North Africa, the squadrons flew P-40 fighters and later in the war, while stationed on Corsica, they were the first to fly P-47 fighter bombers against the enemy in Italy in operation “Strangle” to cut supply lines. The 65 th squadron was also the first to attach two 1,000 lb bombs to a fighter. This, along with eight .50 cal machine guns, and later six 5" rockets, made the P-47 quite a formidable weapon. By the time the war ended in Italy, the 57th Fighter Group had been awarded 3 Presidential Citations and 2 French Croix De Guerre medals for their actions. My dad didn’t talk much about the war as I was growing up. Not until after his death in 2002, did we find his diaries. After reading them, I have the utmost admiration for him and the others that endured the hardships and “death from above” while fighting that war. Page 1 �April, 1942 9th - Inducted into the U.S. army at Camp Custer Michigan. 10th - 3 inches of snow. Vaccination in one arm and a shot in the other. Swept and mopped the barracks. Fire guard duty, lights out at 9:00 PM. 11th - Fire guard duty and runner. Detail duty at warehouse. 12th - Got up at 6:45. My folks, Uncle Vin., Dorothy, Jay, Carol, and Shirley came to see me today. 13th - Watched men drill and some that got shipped out. Went to a show tonight. 14th - Watched men off. 18th - Boarded the train and landed at Jefferson Barracks Missouri at 10:00 PM. 19th - Different tests and processing for one week. 18 days of steady drill. 20th - Guard duty. 21st - Stand in Retreat, Manual of Arms, and Bayonet practice. 22nd - I drilled a bunch of 40 recruits. 23rd - Drill instruction. 24th - Drilled 6 day men. May, 1942 29th - Boarded the train. 4 hours in Chicago. 30th - Ate breakfast in Philadelphia. Changed trains in New York City. 31st - Arrived in Boston, MA at 4:00 PM. Stayed here about 24 hours. Bad food! Left here in a truck convoy. Page 2 �June, 1942 1st - Arrived at Groton, CT. 2nd - Started cooking today. 8th - Went to Rentscler Field near Hartford, CT, a field of pig weeds and no running water. July, 1942 5th - Went to Fort Dix in New Jersey. 15th - Boarded the Louise Pasteur ship at 8:00 PM. Emergency drill. Slept in the harbor. A 30,000 ton ship, 5,000 men on board. An escort of 2 destroyers and 2 planes. 16th - Left New York harbor at 8:00 AM. Port holes and windows closed. The Louis Pasteur has 4,800 soldiers on board. At noon 2 depth charges were shot at a German sub. 17th - Yesterday afternoon 2 more submarines were depth charged. One of them sank. Oil on the water. We wear our life preservers at all times. Sweating the chow line. Quit sea, flying fish were seen all over. 18th - Our escort sighted a sub today and sank another one. The escort went back, so now we are on our own. Sighted a raft and life belt. We are setting our clocks ahead 1 hour at midnight. 19th - Sea is choppy. Sunday services on the “A” deck. Slept on the deck last night. Flying fish, sharks, and porpoises seen all day. Beautiful sunset. 20th - Sea is choppy. Physical exercises today. Many men are seasick. The ship fired its 20mm guns today as a test. Poor chow - mutton, soup, and tea day in and day out - caused a lot of arguments. 21st - We are now 300 miles off Bermuda Is. Rifle and general inspection. I located Appel on “C” deck today, a friend from Grand Haven, MI. Clocks set ahead I hour tonight. 22nd - Sea choppy. A soldier dropped his rifle overboard today. I was Page 3 �put on a detail for the day. 23rd - We sighted a friendly ship. Two whales and some sharks were seen. Also, a periscope from a German sub was seen sticking out of the water about a half mile away. We made a sudden turn which almost tipped the ship on edge. Physical inspection. 24th - Arrived in Freetown, Africa at 4:00 PM. Docked in the middle of the harbor and stayed there all night. A bunch of natives came over in small canoes. We dropped pennies in the water and they would dive for them. Grass houses and palm trees. Another shot in the arm. 25th - Left Freetown at 5:30 AM today in the rain. Headed towards Cape Town. 26th - Sea rough. Sighted a friendly ship. We are close to the equator and the weather is very hot. Hundreds of flying fish all over. 27th - Sea is quiet. We had a picture show today. Went to intelligence class on “C” deck. Lecture on gas and gas masks. Torpedoed at twice today. 28th - Weather is cooler. Inspection - rifle, feet, mess kits, and gas masks. A wireless picked up that we were sunk yesterday, and all lost, just off of Freetown by the Axis. 29th - Weather cooler and sea rougher. 30th - Sea rough and weather cold. We changed to heavy clothes. Two whales seen today. 31st - I was put on a detail today to distribute some Red Cross sewing kits, etc. All the cooks caught this. We carried them up from the lower deck. August, 1942 1st - We are about 150 miles off of Cape Town. A friendly ship was sighted on the port side. We were paid $5.00 today as a partial payment. Sea is very rough. No sleep at all last night. Guns, mess kits, Page 4 �etc. were thrown about the ship from the high waves. 2nd - Sea very rough. We were all watching for land most of the day, but none was seen. 3rd - Arrived at Durban, South Africa at 9:00 AM. Remained on boat all night. South African soldiers came on the dock and sang for us and we sang for them. A beautiful mountainous harbor. 4th - We had shore leave from 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM and had to keep with at least 5 in a group. The two story buses were free to us. Native rickshaw pullers. I visited a zoo, saw a show, watched the celebration of the King’s birthday, and ate 6 meals today. Blackout on ship, a soldier was injured 5th - Shore leave from 11:30 AM to 7:30 PM. Two fellows and I took a ride on a bus for a sight seeing trip. A very enjoyable day. Bought a few souvenirs and had several dishes of ice cream. Saw some Italian prisoners. 6th - Left Durban at 8:00 AM. Sea is quit. Two whales were seen tied to a boat. One fellow came to the boat late and got left behind so he had someone with a speed boat catch up with us. He climbed up a rope ladder. 7th - Sea is choppy. Rifle inspection today. We are now near the island of Madagascar. 8th - Sea is quiet. Nothing but water. 9th - This is our 4th Sunday on the sea. Church services on the deck. 10th - Sea is quiet. Did exercises. Warmer weather. Lots of flying fish and porpoises. 11th - Rifle and mess kit inspection today. Saw one whale. 12th - Sea is quiet. We had 4 full weeks of sailing today. Weather is hot. Near the equator again. Page 5 �13th - Weather is very hot. We entered the Gulf of Aden early this morning and sighted land. The Red Sea. I saw several sharks, porpoises, sword fish, and whales today. Two ships were seen on the port side. 14th - Weather is very hot. About 12 ships were seen and several small islands and all kinds of fish. Gas mask drill at every formation. 15th - Weather is very hot. Islands were seen today. Physical inspection again. 16th - Arrived at Port Suez today. We got off in small boats operated by natives out in the harbor. Today we passed Mt. Sinai in Arabia. 17th - Another fellow and I worked in the kitchen with some natives. They were driven around with whips. 18th - We got up at 3:30 AM and boarded a wog train. Rode all day thru hot, dusty, and sandy dessert. I stood guard on two cars and pushed one native off as he tried to step on in a wog village. Arrived at Haifa, Palestine at 2:00 PM and went in trucks to Maquibila, (about 45 miles). 19th - We heard that our supply ship was sunk with all trucks, bunks, etc. We have to sleep on a cement floor now. This field is just 20 miles from Nazareth. Our pilots are on the island of Cyprus now, but will be here soon. 20th - The weather here is very hot and dry. Flies are thick. Nightmares kept a lot of guys awake all night. Most of our kitchen tools were lost with the other supplies. 21st - Haifa was bombed last night. We all got up and watched the flashes. German planes flew over us all night. 22nd - Us cooks took a truck today and went swimming in a pool where they say David and Gulyas were at. It was a rock bottom spring near a mountain not far from Nazareth. The water was very clear and refreshing. Minnows would nibble our toes if we stood still. 23rd - Major Salesbury flew here from Cyprus and told us we would go Page 6 �to the dessert soon near the front line. 24th - Tonight at 5:30, Crow, Esperson, and I started out afoot to Haifa, a distance of 45 miles. We got two rides and got there soon after dark. We ate some wog food in a place and then tried to sleep on the sidewalk while one of us stood guard. The Arabs got too thick so we moved on. 25th - We awoke at 6:00 AM and started back to camp. We spent the rest of the of the night sleeping on the floor of an English depot. About half way back, we passed King Solomon’s stables which were on the side of a mountain. Holes were dug all over from curiosity. 26th - The water truck busted down today so we are out of water. We are very short of trucks, as our own were sunk. We had a late supper because we had no water. 27th - Still no water today. The weather is getting hot and quite a few are sick. 28th - A very hot day. 29th - Appel and I went to Nazareth today. We started at 5:00 PM and got one ride. As soon as we got there, we were surrounded by about a dozen kids who wanted to show us around, since we were the only Americans there. We picked out one little kid to show us Christ’s workshop and a few noted churches, etc. There was no place to sleep. It was so dirty around we couldn’t sleep anyway, so we started back to camp, 20 miles distance. We went back down the mountain at 8:00 PM and reached camp at 4:00 AM all tired out. September, 1942 9th - We left for the front today near El Alamein, Egypt in the dessert on an old wog train. 11th - Muqeibila, Palestine bombed and destroyed (the place we left on the 9th). 26th - Spent all day in Alexandria, Egypt. Bought souvenirs and ate. Page 7 �Went with Fisher and Dunnahoe. October, 1942 1st - I was made PFC today. 13th - Dunnahoe and I went to Alexandria, took some pictures, and did my Xmas shopping. Sent Gertie’s package out. Came back in a pickup with the PX supplies, 4 of us. 15th - A terrible sand storm started at noon and blew all night and part of the next day. The worst storm I’ve ever seen. At night when I tried to sleep, sand would come in and cover everything like a snow drift. It was hard to breath without the gas mask. 23rd - The “big push” started in Egypt at 10:30 PM. A steady rumble of heavy artillery all night. 24th - Railroad and 14 cars of our supply line was bombed. Black smoke seen all day. Became 1st cook today. 25th - 3 enemy planes were shot down by one of our pilots today. 26th - 2 more enemy planes were shot down by Lt. Wymond. 27th - Big tank push. November, 1942 9th - We are traveling towards the front and sleeping wherever night overtakes us. Slept under a truck last night. A bomb hit near and shook the truck. 13th - An English truck ran onto a booby trap and blew up right in front of us. The ground is still full of them (mines) which were set by the Germans. 14th - Went thru Hells Fire Pass. While coming down the mountain, we hit another truck on a sharp curve. I was riding on top of the truck as a lookout at the time. Later, the top fell in but no one was hurt. Page 8 �16th - We went thru Tobruk today and saw burning buildings, a terrible destruction. Thousands of trucks, planes, and tanks scattered all over in ruins all the way from Alexandria. Dead bodies were along the road. 21st - At 4:00 AM, we were bombed. A Jerry tried to destroy our water hole. The bombs hit within 100 yards of it. Our ack-ack shells were bursting by the hundreds but couldn’t hit him. Our P-40's were up after him but the gunfire was too hot for them to do much fighting. I made tracks for the nearest hole at a rapid speed. 23rd - A German Messersmitt was shot down over the sea. 30th - A German plane flew over and dropped 4 bombs at the water hole about 4:00 AM but all missed. December, 1942 1st - Bombed early this morning near water hole. Two men killed in a truck by strafing German plane. We all ran for the slit trench. Dive bomber dove 3 times, 7 flares dropped. 2nd - Spent one day in Derna, Libya, a very beautiful scene from a distance down the mountain. All buildings just plastered with holes from gunfire and bombs. Narrow dirty streets. Souvenirs for sale from Germans and Italians. 4th - One air raid last night. Flares and 4 bombs dropped, no damage. 5th - We had 4 bomb raids early this morning. The first at 11:30 PM, then 2:00 AM, 3:00 AM, and then at 5:00 AM. Killed one man and wounded 3 in the 66th Squadron. Running for slit trench all night, no sleep, flares being dropped. 6th - Pilots left for the front near Tunisia. Raining everyday. Trenches very muddy. 7th - Left the field near Derna and headed for Ajdabiya, Libya, a 3 day ride. Beautiful mountain scenery west and south of Derna. Destruction all along the way - planes, trucks, buildings, etc. Page 9 �8th - I rode on top of the truck as a lookout. Near Cyrene, we were stopped by some machine gun fire ahead of us. Nothing happened to the convoy. 9th - A plane came right down the road at one place. We stopped the trucks and ran from the road. It turned out to be a friendly plane. 10th - Arrived in desert 20 miles from Ajdabiya at 5:00 PM. The first thing we did was to dig a slit trench as things were kind of hot. The ground is very rocky here with light sand. 11th - At 3:30 PM today, a German bomber flew very low over us and started strafing but no damage was done to us. We opened up with heavy ack-ack fire and shot him down. I watched him burst into flames and crash to the ground. Two men were killed in the plane and a third badly injured with a broken back and both legs. We buried the dead right there. We all hit the ground before this happened with bullets whistling over our heads. 13th - The other Jerry died last night. 18th - Sgt. Schlemmer got transferred to another squadron. Went back to field 174 near Alexandria. Became 1st cook again. 19th - At 4:30 this morning flares were dropped near Alexandria and bombs blew 3 trucks to pieces. One man’s legs were cut off by shrapnel as he was running for a hole. 20th - Sand storm. 21st - Sand storm. 24th - American rations flew in today. Sprained my back. 25th - Called on Doc at 1:30 AM for sleeping pill and aspirins. Sand blew all day. Swell Xmas dinner. 26th - Thunder storm last night. 28th - Formation Page 10 �31st - Left this field at Ajdabiya 10:00 AM and headed towards the front. Pulled beside the road for the night. Just after dark, we watched the bombing of Marble Arch, a large airdrome. Very pretty fireworks. Rode in the cab with lame back. January, 1943 1st - Passed thru Marble Arch, a large arch over the road. The roads were all cut up and bombed for hundreds of miles. Bridges were blown up, so we went around them on mountainsides. 2nd - Still on our way west thru the desert. Left the main road at Nufilia and traveled southwest across the desert. A bad sand storm came up and blew all night. 3rd - Sand storm so bad that we didn’t move a foot. We were about 1 mile from the field we were going to, about 20 miles from the front line. Low on water and no sign of anymore. 4th - Left here at 1:30 PM and just as we stopped at the new field still in the convoy, 16 German ME-109's attacked us strafing and bombing. They killed 7 men and wounded 20. I ran for a truck and about half way there, I dropped and crawled the rest of the way. Shells and shrapnel were hitting all around me. 5th - Ten more fellows died today from yesterday’s raid. My back is still lame but I managed to help dig my slit trench. No water found yet. 6th - We were attacked today by 20 German ME-109's. We were all gathered around the kitchen eating dinner at the time. They strafed us and dropped 9 bombs on the line. Still no water. Bombed again at supper time, killing 3 men and injuring a few. Everyone is very nervous. 7th - We were strafed and bombed at 9:00 this morning by 6 German planes. Again at 2:00 PM by 4 more planes and again at 6:00 PM by 12 planes. About 21 bombs came down. Watched a dog fight between 2 British Spitfires and 2 German ME-109's. Ack-ack shot 7 planes down in the last 3 days. One tonight. Two more men killed. Page 11 �8th - This morning a bunch of Spitfires intercepted some ME’s. We watched the dog fights. Two Jerry’s were shot down. One English pilot had his foot shot off but jumped safely. We had 5 air raids today, but not much damage was done. Everyone’s nerves are on edge. 9th - At 3:00 this morning 12 German JU-88's bombers flew over us but no damage was done. Some P-40's came in this afternoon from the 66 th squadron. It makes us feel a lot better with more protection. We heard that 1,600 tanks and trucks of the Axis are on their way after us. Today they were bombed and strafed by our planes. 10th - We had 3 air raids today but no damage done. This morning 27 German planes started for us but were intercepted by our Spitfires. Ten more tried it again tonight but were chased back. At 3:00 this morning, a JU-88 flew over but dropped nothing. 11th - Three air alarms today. In the west I watched a dog fight between our fighters and 30 ME-109's. Four German planes were shot down but the 66th Squadron lost 2 P-40's and 1 pilot. Six German Stuka dive bombers were driven back this morning. One of our planes was shot up this afternoon but the pilot safe. 12th - At 8:15 this morning, 30 German planes attacked us. Four were shot down. They dropped 5 screaming bombs at us, one landed 75 yards away from me which shook everything. Pieces of steel shot in all directions. One truck and 5 planes were damaged. Unexploded butterfly bombs lay everywhere. Three air raids today. One dog fight. 13th - At 9:00 AM we had an air alarm but they were driven back. We lost 2 pilots and 2 planes. The “A” echelon pulled in last night. When we told them what we went through, they could hardly believe it. B25's started bombing today. Sand storm starting. 14th - Two air alarms today, no damage to us. Twenty ME-109's were shot down by our fighters. Capt. Clark got 4 of them. Our bombers started the shuttle system today. Heavy artillery was heard all night in the front line. About 104 of our bombers went over the line and 2 were lost. Received my first package from home today. 15th - Our P-40's took off several times today to raise hell with Jerry. Page 12 �Strafing and bombing them with 40 pound bombs. Six to a plane. Tonight some JU-88's were flying around trying to bomb our ammo dump. Went back to cooking today. Pilots all back safe. 16th - No sleep last night. German planes were flying over all night and so we spent most of the time in the trench. Every few minutes they would drop bombs. Cooked by a dim flashlight to avoid giving our position away. Sand blew all night. 17th - The “A” echelon pulled out tonight. Our pilots went on several missions today. One of the pilots made a direct hit on a German chow line and kitchen killing everyone. The Germans are all running wild retreating towards Tripoli. 18th - Last night we had a picture show on the side of a truck for the group. About half way through, a British plane flew over which caused a great panic among about 500 men. We thought it was Jerry. Some men got hurt. When I stopped running, I was half way back to my tent so I kept right on going home. 19th - Left this field at 10:30 AM and headed west. A very rough and dusty ride. About noon a Jerry flew over us up around 20,000 feet and made a cloud of in the sky. 20th - Arrived at Dufan today with “A” echelon. Quiet field. Bombers left here to bomb Rome today. Fighters are very busy night and day pestering the Jerry retreat convoy heading towards Tripli. 23rd - Tripoli fell this morning at 5:00. Great news for us as it was our goal. Our task is finished. 27th - Norris is chasing a couple of wogs with a truck past my tent. Shot at them today. One came right up with his donkey but we soon chased him away. The Germans gave some of them hand grenades to throw at us. Some spies left here dressed in wog clothes. 28th - Some of the fellows took a truck and went out Gazelle hunting today and returned with 15 of them. A Gazelle is from the deer family with single straight horns. They run in herds. 31st - The 65th played a game of ball with the 66th today but lost. I Page 13 �pitched 4 innings. Hudlow and I went out and fired our rifles this morning. The men were playing with an English cannon, a 20mm. Two more Gazelles were shot today. February, 1943 2nd- The 65th called off 38 numbers for passes to Cairo, Egypt soon. I will go next week on a transport a distance of 1800 miles. We are all getting a week’s leave in Cairo. Made some pancakes tonight. 4th - We got paid today at the NCO tent. Received 5 ½ pounds. Last night I baked until 2:00 this morning and went on duty again this noon. Crow and I made pumpkin pies and bread. Two big cow pumpkins came from a wog village. 5th - Caught a bad head cold last night. 6th - I went over to headquarters today and sorted out rations for the 65 th which came in on a DC plane. 7th - A bad sand storm came up at 10:00 AM and is still blowing tonight. It blew away out tent and left our bunks and blankets scattered all over the desert. It was an awful sight to see, lost men being blown about. Only 10 men found the kitchen to eat at noon. 8th - Sand storm 9th - The passes to Cairo were called off today. We were supposed to move to Castle Banda but it also canceled. I had pancakes for breakfast. Only one stove working. 10th - Baked bread and pies tonight. Wind blew hard all night and today. Crow made some pies today but are all covered with sand. Some guys thought it was cinnamon on top. 11th - Our move was called off again today. Sent home a money order of 5 pounds. Only a few showed up to eat today on account of the storm. Out of sugar and no mess kit water. 12th - Sand blew all night and day. Ten men came to eat out of 130. Page 14 �Some got lost in the storm. Four tents blew down today. The “A” echelon didn’t serve dinner so some came and ate with us. Short of water. 13th - I got up at 4:00 this morning and cooked breakfast. Only a few came to eat. The first time in 4 days we could wash any pots and pans. A bowser left today for some more water. Still no sugar and the flour we got is brown with sand. 14th - Four packages came today. One from folks, Gertie, Shirley, and Mary Lou Byrges. The sand storm let up today. 15th - Received one package today from Nellie & Bill. Physical inspection for the cooks. 17th - Hudlow, a cook in my tent, left us today for a hospital. He has been sick for a week from the sand. We all are pretty well filled up with sand and bark like dogs. I was up at 4:00 AM today to get breakfast. 19th - We joined the “A” echelon’s mess today, 2 cooks and a baker on shifts. Movies tonight at headquarters mess tent. The last time they tried to have a show, we had an awful panic when an air plane flew over very low. A British plane. 23rd - We left this field today at 8:00 AM and headed towards Tripoli. Saw a sunken ship in the harbor. Pulled to the side of the road in an olive orchard and slept under an olive tree about a mile from the sea and 150 miles from Tripoli. 24th - We were back on the road at 8:00 AM and went thru Tripoli at 11:00 AM and stopped at Zuara near an old German fort made of stone and cement, full of ammunition. Went on duty at noon. Air field is all plowed up and rough. 25th - Got up at 4:00 AM and cooked by a flashlight. Planes were flying over all night. Yesterday, two JU-88's went over us and took pictures, dropped nothing. Ammunition in the fort set afire and was going off all day. 26th - We are now operating from Zuara, 25 miles from Tunisia. Two Page 15 �missions today. The first time we were driven back by 15 ME-109's Their target were 20mm and 88mm guns. Capt. Clark shot down a ME this afternoon. A camel almost entered our tent today. Some 1,000 pound bombs went off. 27th - We had 2 missions today. Capt. Sneed and Lt. Kimball were shot down and killed this afternoon. Sneed was seen as he hit the Mediterranean Sea in a spin. Almost every plane was shot up some. Tripoli harbor was bombed last night. “A” echelon joined us tonight. Capt. Clark shot down two ME-109's. 28th - No missions today. Sick with 101 deg. temperature and bad back. Went to see Capt. Cook in 66th squadron. Stayed in bed. Cold wind all night. Hit the slit trench once. Bombs fell all night in the distance almost putting out our heater. March, 1943 1st - An air field was strafed and shelled just ahead of us and about 12 Spitfires were forced to land here. One of them cracked up landing after dark. The enemy has broken our line, so a bunch in our squadron are moving up in the morning to stop them with many more to follow. Raid expected tonight. 2nd - Most of the boys were ordered to sleep inside the fort last night. I stayed in my tent but didn’t sleep. Corn fritters for breakfast. Salmon patties for dinner. 3rd - The ack-ack guns went off last night several times as a test. We all got another shot in the arm today. One alert at noon, another enemy plane flew over very high. I drew 35 more rounds of ammunition tonight. One mission after dinner, no losses. One enemy plane shot down. 4th - Two English boys came over last night and we made some coffee. Hutch and Bess, heavy ack-ack men. Another Jerry reconnaissance plane went over this noon taking pictures. Cold damp wind all night. 5th - Hudlow came back from the hospital a few days ago. His lungs and feet still bother. He was in one hospital in Tripoli he said they Page 16 �bombed every night and sometimes the shrapnel would hit the sides of the hospital breaking windows. 6th - Six fellows went to Tripoli on a 3 day pass. The place is bombed every night. Food is very scarce. Our boys get eggs by trading 3 cigarettes for one egg from stray wogs and Italians. Esperson is still back at the last field. 7th - Today we drew a new tent. Our old one was full of holes and all ripped. Poole and I put it up way out away from the fort. Our NCO club is in the fort now. Two German planes came over the kitchen tonight at supper time. All the men ran for a hole. 8th - Hudlow and I walked down to the Mediterranean this afternoon and took more pictures. He borrowed Capt. Mitchell’s camera. It was about a 6 mile walk and we went right thru Zuara. Saw skeletons and human bones along the beach. One mission today. Picked up sea shells. 9th - I sent $42. 85 home today. The wind blew hard all day. Went after rations this afternoon. “Uncle Bud,”(rooster mascot), rode on the axle. Eleven months in the Army today. The advanced echelon were within 7 miles of the enemy and were shelled for 16 hours killing about 20 men and damaged a few planes. 10th - Moved towards the front again this morning. Went thru Zuara and 40 miles beyond. Arrived here in Tunisia about 5:00 PM. Just as we pulled on the field, two ME-109's were above us. Ack-ack opened up on them and they soon left. 11th - The Trans. truck ran on a mine last night which wrecked it but no one got hurt. Pieces flew in all directions. Capt. D. Mitchell and Lt. Gatti ran onto a mine today with a jeep injuring both of them, Mitchell very seriously. The jeep was blown to bits. We had a good mail call today. 12th - Capt. D. Mitchell died this morning. Both of Lt. Gatti’s ear drums were pierced. I took care of E. Mitchell’s photo developing outfit while he and Hudlow went back to pick up an old car. Lots of mail came in today. Water shortage. Page 17 �13th - A German reconnaissance plane flew over again at 5:30 tonight. We had a big mail call today. Hit the slit trench once tonight and found it filled with almost 15 guys in it. I ran about 100 yards to another one. Col. Salesbury went up with a P-40 after him but didn’t get a shot. 14th - Esperson and the rest of the boys that were about 100 miles behind us came here tonight. Heavy artillery heard from the front. Two Scottish boys were here tonight that we got acquainted with at 174 field. Fixed Epie’s bed on the ground. 15th - One big mission today and we lost 5 pilots and planes. Flares were dropped last night and a few bombs dropped. American bombers went over today. The chow line and kitchen of the 79th was strafed today and killed 20 men. Germans came over at meal time. Sent a message home. 16th - Flares and bombs were dropped all night long over our field. We were all up all night and no sleep. I dug my trench a little deeper today. A very uncomfortable night. At one time there were 14 flares in the sky. Heavy artillery heard early tonight. 17th - Sand storm. One mission today on some heavy German guns. Moved out. We had no water for two days, nothing to cook with. Everything is dirty and greasy. Flares and bombs were coming down until about 11:00 last night. 18th - The water truck came in tonight. It broke down on the way back. Sand blew all day. We camouflaged our tents last night because the moon is brighter every night. I took the old Crosley over and got some rations. Right hand steering wheel. 19th - Epie and I went on shift again this afternoon. We had raisin pie that was just brown on top with sand. The wind blew all day. Every drop of the pie was cleaned up, sand and all. Only one stove that’s any good out of 5. The rest are plugged up with lead from 100 octane gas. One blew up today. Made pancake batter tonight. 20th - The “A” echelon moved ahead today, we follow tomorrow. Bombers and our fighters were after Jerry all day using the shuttle system. Tonight at 8:30, the heavy artillery started, a continuos rumble. Page 18 �We are very uncomfortable last night. Lame back all day. 21st - We moved up 28 miles. Started at 9:30 AM and pulled in here at 5:00. We can see the Mareth Line from here. Two German planes flew over at 5:30 PM. Last night, flares were dropped and a heavy ack-ack barrage was seen. 22nd - German flares were dropped all night. Some got no sleep. Heavy gun fire heard all night at the Mareth Line. Two German reconnaissances planes flew over at 5:00 PM. 23rd - I got up at 2:30 this morning and fried pancakes for breakfast. Flares dropped all night which kept a lot of fellows up all night. Every few minutes German planes were heard flying over us. We get our water from Medinine, Tunisia, 6 miles from the front. 24th - We got a shot in the arm for typhoid today. Our pilots went on one mission. Our guest for dinner today was Gen. Strickland and Gen. Guard (sp). They inspected the kitchen. Heavy guns were rumbling during their inspection. 25th - German planes flew very low over us all night. About 2 a minute came for 2 hours, but it was so dark, nothing was dropped. Spent most of the night in a fox hole. Heavy guns pounded all night. Big offensive at the Mareth Line. 26th - Baltimore’s, Maryland’s, and Spitfires were flying over all night. Jerry came over early this morning. A very hot wind and sand storm today. Several missions this afternoon. Advanced crew went to Medinine to operate this afternoon. Planes came back tonight. 27th - Capt. Reed was shot down in flames yesterday and an English officer brought him back in a jeep today. He was thrown out of the plane and came down in his parachute. Everybody suffered from the awful heat today. Some were sick from it. Three bombs woke me up at 1:00 this morning. Flares a little ways off. 28th - I went on shift with Sgt. Crow today and he got busted to a PFC for talking too much. One mission at 12:00 noon. An awful sand storm came up at 3:00 PM and blew down the tent we bake in. Some pies and Page 19 �the spaghetti were ruined with sand. Very hot today. 29th - We had 4 missions today. Lt. Wymond and Jaquea are missing. Germans driven out of the Mareth Line at 9:00 this morning. The town of Gabes, Tunisia, was taken today. We were all decorated with a bar for the Middle East and Northern Africa campaign tonight. 30th - A German plane tried to spot us at midnight but failed. Flares were dropped in every direction, a very pretty sight in the clouds. Lt. Wymond made a beach landing near Gabes to try to rescue Jaquea who landed in the sea 2 miles out. Lt. Jaquea was dead. 31st - Lt. Wymond came back today but went back again with some more to get his plane out of the sand. Two missions today. Heavy guns were heard all day beyond the Mareth Line. Cpl. Hudlow is printing some pictures for me tonight. The weather was fine today. April, 1943 1st - A hot sand storm came up tonight and blew down the baker’s tent. Only a few stayed to eat. 2nd - Three bombs went off at 10:00 last night which caused most of us to move pretty fast. 3rd - A cool wind blew sand all day. This morning at 4:30 a Jerry flew over and circled us but dropped nothing. Epie and I were on shift so we waited until he got out of hearing distance before we lighted any stoves. Breakfast was out on time. 4th - Today at 2:00 PM we pulled out and went to a field 1 mile south of Medinine. We pitched our tent in a wadi under an olive tree. The “A” echelon will follow up tomorrow. Just west of us are the mountains of the Mareth Line. 5th - Early this morning our planes came in and later the “A” echelon. P-40's were flying over all day on missions. We hear Gabes fell today. 6th - Today B-25's were going over bombing Jerry. They got him on the run for the sea. English and American P-40's also hit them heavy. Page 20 �Stained back again. 7th - S fax, Tunisia, fell today. 8th - I went to the infirmary and they taped my back up and was put on supervision duty in the kitchen. KP pusher until I get better. Everybody is getting ate up by sand fleas, which stay in their blankets. 9th - I was inducted into the service just one year ago today. We are one mile south of Medinine, Tunisia, in sight of the Mareth Line. The 12 th Bomb Group gave us a scare tonight. They came over us to land after dark. 11th - The “A” echelon pulled out this morning at 10:30. They are going beyond S fax, a two day trip. 12th - We pulled out at 10:30 AM. Went thru Medinine and Gabes and joined the “B” party at about 50 miles south of S fax. Nothing but wild barley, snakes, and lizards. The headquarter’s stoves blew up today and burned down the whole kitchen so we fed part of the personnel. 14th - We pulled out at 9:30 and went thru S fax and stopped at a field near El Djem, Tunisia, about 50 miles from Sousse. We passed thousands of acres of olive trees. Also, a few peach trees which had green peaches about the size hen’s eggs on them. 15th - Our pilots flew in today at 1:00 PM. We are in sight of the great Roman Colosseum, built BC. A two story stone building. It’s wall is about 3 feet thick. The 50 Franc note has a picture of this building on it. 16th - Epie and I butchered sheep until 11:00 PM last night for today’s dinner. Some more fresh meat came in today. We got up at 4:00 this morning and went on shift. The “A” echelon caught up with us today at 2:00 PM. Eight men were killed in an explosion of an ammo truck. 17th - Today, wogs were found setting land mines around camp, so some of the fellows killed 15 of them. From now on we try to keep them away. These mines are some the Germans left for them to set. Some shots were fired at an enemy plane over us. Page 21 �18th - This Roman Colosseum that we are near is one that they used to turn lions in on prisoners of war. The king sat up near the top to look on and watch the lions kill the men. A JU-88 circled over us this afternoon. The ack-ack fired a few shots. Tonight, at 5:00, between 80 and 100 German transports started over here from Sicily. Our group, with others, went out to meet them and shot down 77 of them. The 65th got 18. One pilot, as he came back, landed and tipped over breaking his arm. A few bombs were dropped last night. 19th - The “A” echelon was supposed to pull out today but it was called off. Our pilots broke the world’s record yesterday on their mission at 5:00. The pilot that crashed last night shot 4 Jerry’s down. Three of our pilots are still missing. 20th - We had our worst air attack last night. The first raid was at 9:30 and lasted a half hour. Six German planes came over from Sicily with 500 lb. bombs, butterfly bombs, and anti-personnel bombs which were dropped all over. One man was killed and several injured in the 64 th squadron. A few were injured in the 65th. Some were blown out of their bunks and a lot of men took off across the field. I stayed in my slit trench in the wadi, and two flares came down in a parachute just a few yards from me. Everything was lit up like a Xmas tree. One plane from the 65th was hit and burned up. Everybody is very upset today. No sleep last night. 21st - We were bombed twice again last night. Twelve German JU-88's came over and were dropping 1,000 and 2,000 lb. Bombs which blew holes 15 feet deep. Also, butterfly and anti-personnel bombs were dropped. One truck was blown to bits and a plane hit. Tents also got hits. I took my blankets and went in the field away from everything and slept on the ground along with most everybody. It rained and this morning we were all wet. Most of us got about an hour’s sleep. The “A” echelon is pulling out at 10:00 AM and headed out for or near Kairouan, the city with the most churches in the world. We also moved and joined them at 5:00 PM. 22nd - Rain. I was scared out of my wits about 2:00 this morning when some bombs burst about 15 miles away. The German plane was circling over us but dropped nothing. Yesterday we saw some American soldiers from the 1st Army. I dug a deep slit trench tonight. Our first Page 22 �chance to sleep in 2 days. 23rd - Rain. Some enemy planes tried to find us last night, but nothing was dropped close. Most everyone today is shaking like a leaf from being dive bombed so much at night. Some are getting used to it and some are getting worse. Heavy artillery heard at the front. 24th - Rain. We were up and in our slit trenches most of the night listening to 6 German planes circling over us, but it was too dark for them to spot us. Tunis is expected to be taken in 2 days. Heavy artillery heard in the west. Air raid expected tonight. 25th - A steady rumble of guns heard all morning. At 6:30 AM I went to Sunrise Service at Group Headquarters. About 5 photographers were taking pictures of us to be put in the “Yank” magazine. We met some more American soldiers today and they were asking us how an air raid felt. 26th - The weather today is very hot and the flies were thick and how they did bite. A German reconnaissance plane was taking pictures over us at 1:00 PM. He was up high, no shots were fired. This makes the 4th day without sugar. Two missions today. 27th - One big mission at 5:00 PM. Heavy artillery barrage all night. The fire from the guns made great flashes in the sky. Shelling was heavy and steady all morning. Rations came in tonight. We cut up a beef to be made into hamburgers tomorrow. Went on duty at noon. 28th - Oatmeal and raisins for breakfast. Fried hamburgers all morning in hot tent for dinner. Several men are going into Kairouan every day. The NCO club tent was put up last night. Met some American soldiers, engineers. 29th - We had the chance to send a Mother’s Day greeting so most of us did, (a cablegram). We had 4 missions today. Their objective was ships in the harbor at Tunis. 30th - Cloudy. Our pilots went on several missions today. They hit a German ship yesterday. I ordered my US Theater of Operations ribbon from Sgt. Bertry today. Page 23 �May, 1943 1st - Rain. A quiet day. Pilots had 2 missions today. We got paid in Francs today at 1:30 PM. 2nd - Two missions. Quiet day. 3rd - I went along on the water run today, 8 miles west of Kairouan. Stayed in Kairouan about 2 hours. French and wog people. The place was full of American soldiers. Made out a money order of $27.18 today. 5th - The Major gave us a talk tonight about the present situation. Bizerte is expected to fall any time. Several missions. One plane after another was flying over us all night about 5 minutes apart. It kept most of us awake all night. 6th - Bombers were flying over all night which caused some fear among some. They turned out to be British Halifax’s. The “Yacht Club Boys” were supposed to give us a 50 minute program tonight, but was called off. This is the first thing like this we’ve had so far. 7th - Rain. The “Yacht Club Boys” gave us a program tonight in the rain. Three new American soldiers joined us today. One of them sleeps in our tent. They left the States in February but came her from Cairo. Tunis and Bizerte fell today which was wonderful news for us. 8th - Rain. Bombers were flying over every 5 minutes all night. Heavy artillery heard and flashes and flares seen. One Jerry plane flew over here and dropped his bombs a few miles off. 9th - I attended church today at the NCO tent. A new chaplain gave us a talk on Mother’s Day. 10th - We are going to have movies in the NCO tent tonight, 65th only. “Cross country romance”. 11th - At 3:30 PM today there was no more bomb line in the Bon Peninsula. The Axis are separated into 2 pockets in the mountains and are fighting for their lives. Heavy guns and the Navy were heard Page 24 �pounding enemy positions all night. 12th - Heavy guns were still at it all night just west of us in the mountains. Signed pay roll today. Minor and I got up at 4:00 AM and fried French toast for breakfast. END OF WAR IN AFRICA! Tonight we celebrated by shooting flares and guns. 13th - Yesterday, 5 Canadian sailors stopped here for dinner. The 79 th Fighter Group accidently bombed their ship and they were on their way back to Tunis. Sun helmets were issued today. 14th - Some fellows went into Tunis and picked up several trucks and cars which were taken from German and Italian prisoners. 15th - We were over seas just 10 months today. 16th - Our squadron started giving 2 day passes to Tunis yesterday. The 65th has rented a building to sleep and eat in. 18th - Rain. 19th - Rain. The “A” echelon moved out today and are going to a field near Zuara. We will go soon. Passes then will be in Tripoli. It was just a few weeks ago that we were stationed there. 20th - Weather is hot. 21st - Weather is hot. 22nd - I went to Sousse today and went in swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. Ships sunk in the harbor and buildings badly wrecked through the heart of town. This place is 35 miles from Kairouan. 23rd - Very hot. A swimming truck left again for Sousse. 24th - We pulled out at 10:30 AM and arrived at a place on the beach about 50 miles west of Zarzis for a rest. Half of the squadron is staying here at Kairouan to train pilots. Page 25 �25th - Weather hot. Some of the boys went fishing today but the wogs won’t take them out where the best fishing is. 26th - We played a game of baseball with the 64th tonight. June, 1943 8th - The 33rd Fighter Group who are stationed on Cape Bon, 10 miles from the 65th, were bombed and strafed this morning at 6:00 which killed 25 men of the ground crew. 9th - I sent a pillow case home today that I bought. We all went on a hike this morning and swimming this afternoon. Those who could swim had to swim 50 yards in rough water. I was classified as #2. The orders are now to drill an hour in the morning and go for a swim in the afternoon. 10th - We all swam 100 yards today and did other exercises. Picture show tonight - “The Hard Way”. 11th - I went deep sea fishing today, out about 12 miles. One fish was caught. Archer, a Red Cross man, a wog, and I had one little sail boat about 15 feet long. The wog dove for sponges, clams, star fish, etc. for us. On the way back, the sea got real rough and we all got wet. 14th - Our planes came in today and landed on the beach. 15th - Part of the 65th caught up with us tonight. Only 60 men left at Cape Bon. Sand storm. Clothing check. Our bags have to be packed by 6:00 PM tomorrow. Nobody knows where we are going. 20th - Yesterday, the rest of “B” echelon pulled in after being broken down for 4 days near Sousse. We had our teeth checked and issued our needed supplies. There are 110 of us on the advanced commando raid. We are taking 2 blankets and a pup tent and food enough for 10 days. 21st - Movies last night. 22nd - Most of “A” echelon moved towards Zarzis, a field 10 miles from there. Page 26 �23rd - The rest of us moved today to a field in an olive orchard near Zarzis. I am in “A” echelon now with the advance party. They say we will stay here about 10 days. 29th - Rifle inspection, equipment with sun glasses, and everything we are short of for a party. I took another bath at the sulphur springs. Very hot today. Movies about every night. 30th - Very hot. We got our orders to leave 7:30 AM on the 2nd of July for Tripoli and board a boat. July, 1943 1st - We got paid today, “A” party only. We are leaving here at 7:30 AM for Tripoli tomorrow to board a boat. Nobody knows where. Appel went to a hospital today. 2nd - We left at 7:30 AM for Tripoli by truck. Arrived at 4:30 PM at transit camp. Very hot, 136 deg. in the shade. 3rd - We left here and boarded a barge at Tripoli harbor. Six barges in a convoy. About 300 men to a barge. Slept on wooden seats below deck, rather tried to. 4th - Arrived at Valletta on the island of Malta at 4:30 PM. Loaded our baggage on English & Maltese buses and drove about 10 kilo’s and set up. 5th - Formation at 9:30 AM. Passes started today. At 12:00 midnight, we had an air alert, siren, etc. This afternoon 3 fellows and I walked to the sea and went swimming. Stopped at a spring on the way back and washed the salt off. Island very hilly and rocky. 6th - One air alarm last night, search lights, etc. Walked to St. Paul’s Bay. Sent laundry out by a native kid. Went on shift this afternoon. Three sheep to cut up. Made stew. 7th - I had a half day’s pass this afternoon to Valletta and Sliema. Went across to Gazo in a ferry and back in a small boat. Took some pictures. Page 27 �8th - McFall and I hitched hiked to Valletta and Rabat and bought a few souvenirs and took some pictures. We are located near Imgarre (sp), a small village. 9th - A Maltese boy took me to his home tonight and showed me the garden, etc. Went into the house and his mother made a cup of tea for us. 10th - Invasion of Sicily. Spent a few hours in the village after I got off duty and ate apples and mulberries. Took another bath in the side of the cliff. A native came to the kitchen with his mule and cart and took me for a ride. 11th - Two airdromes were taken in Sicily. My name is on the board to move to Gazo in the morning. 13th - We pulled out today and went to a field near Rabat, Malta. From here we will operate to Sicily. Our planes came in tonight from Africa. Received 15 letters, the only ones in 2 weeks. 14th - I walked over to Mosta and found a place to have laundry done. 15th - We all pulled out today and went to a field near Hamrun. Here we have our kitchen in an old wrecked cement building and us cooks sleep on the roof. 16th - A year ago today we sailed out of New York. We are operating to Sicily from this field in Malta. 17th - No operations all day. Rumors of moving. 18th - We left Malta by invasion barges tonight headed for Sicily. We waited just outside the harbor until 11:00 PM before we took off. Lived on K rations. 19th - We got up at 6:00 and landed at Pozzallo, Sicily at 9:00 AM and walked ashore on a floating pier and waited for our trucks. They came about 4:00 PM and we went to a near by field. Bridge was bombed. 20th - Our pilots had several missions all day, 2 planes cracked up. Page 28 �Capt. Wymond bailed out, but is reported safe. Last night a great fire bomb dropped a little ways off. 21st - We had several air alarms last night. German planes flew over us but dropped nothing. A heavy barrage was seen a little ways off. Also, a sniper during the night fired a few shots at some of the boys. 22nd - German planes flew over us several times last night and dropped bombs not too far away. We hit the dirt 3 times from 2:00 AM to 4:30 AM. Several missions all day. Col. Salesbury is missing. Capt. Wymond is in the hospital. Sgt. Poole was sent back to US on account of asthma. 23rd - Col. Salesbury came back after being shot down and bailed out. Two German planes came over at 11:00 AM. Four missions today. 24th - Early this morning the enemy sunk an oil tanker in a harbor near by. Black smoke rose several thousand feet and made a big cloud. From 1:00 AM to 4:00 AM ack-ack tracers light the sky. 25th - At 4:00 this morning, the guards saw 3 German planes shot down. The guns woke us up, but we didn’t see them burst. 26th - About an hour before day light this morning, the Germans flew over and gave us another air raid. I skinned my leg and cut my foot getting to the slit trench. Shrapnel whistled by but no damage was done. Cheering of Italians over Mussolini’s assassination. 27th - Very warm. We had another raid early this morning. One German plane was seen shot down. A steady ack-ack barrage over Syracuse was going on for two hours. 28th - The “B” echelon came here today from Tripoli. At 11:00 AM, a German ME-109 tagged our pilots back from the front and circled our field at about 500 feet and probably took plenty of pictures. We fired at him but it was too late before he was identified. We have 2 German planes captured of the same kind. 29th - “B” party pulled out today at 10:00 PM. Last night, another field was bombed near Syracuse. Page 29 �30th - At 10:00 last night, we were raided by 9 German JU-88's. About 15 flares and a few bombs were dropped but caused no damage. The ack-ack didn’t open up on them because it would give away our position. 31st - Very hot. We pulled out today from southern Sicily and went towards the center of the island. On the way, we got on the wrong road and was just 3 miles from the front lines. Heavy artillery was behind us and were shooting over our heads. August, 1943 1st - Hot. Two Jerry JU-88's came over at 11:00 AM. We are now 5 miles behind the line. Heavy guns steady all night. 2nd - Hot. Catania shelled all night by British guns and American Navy. Big flashes seen all night. We are in sight of Mt. Etna, which is beyond the front line. We lost two planes, one pilot killed, with the other in the Mediterranean afloat. 3rd - At 4:00 AM, we were awakened by German dive bombers. A heavy barrage seen over Catania near Mt. Etna. 4th - Hot. A fire started in a wheat field and burned all afternoon. We finally got it put out before dark. Fighters flew over all night. 5th - We hit the slit trench at 3:30 AM when dive bombers were playing around upstairs. No flares were dropped. 6th - Hot. We lost 6 planes. Two of them crashed landing and others shot up. Capt. Wymond came back from the hospital. 7th - One pilot was shot down and killed. German planes circled us all night. Big flashes seen near Catania and Mt. Etna. 8th - Hot. Our pilots went on strafing and bombing missions. One pilot killed. 9th - Hot weather. We got a shot in the arm and Small Pox Vaccination. Page 30 �10th - Last night at 10:00 PM, several German planes circled over us and dropped most of their bombs on Syracuse. We watched 3 planes get shot down and burst in flames. 11th - We lost 2 planes. Mt. Etna smoking. 12th - We were attacked last night at 10:00 which lasted an hour. 32 men were killed and 45 wounded near by. Three fires were set and an ammo dump which lighted the whole country. 13th - Some fellows took off for the hills last night. Nothing happened. 14th - One new pilot was killed when the motor stopped over a mountain. Our firing squad turned out at the funeral. 15th - Yesterday, “C” echelon pulled in from Africa with “Uncle Bud”. Eclipse of the moon tonight. 16th - Weather very hot. 17th - Messina taken at 5:00 PM by Americans. No more enemy existence in Sicily except for a few snipers. Weather very hot. 18th - Doc. Sayouge (sp) brought 2 German busses back from Messina. Dead people were piled up 4 feet deep. 19th - Rifle inspection. A few Canadian nurses visited the officers. 20th - Sent a cablegram home. Issued mosquito boots which we should of had a year ago. 22nd - I pitched a game of ball tonight against the officers and we won. During the game we were chased off the field by a P-40 which over shot the field and crashed. We all ran over but the pilot was not hurt. The plane was upside down when it stopped. My dad’s diary ends here. The preceding pages were taken from two very small books measuring approximately 2 ½” x 3 ½ inches. I don’t believe he ended his detailed recordings here, but another diary probably existed, but was lost. He did record his movements and dates Page 31 �in another small book where he goes on to air fields in Italy near Bari in 9/25/43, Foggia in 10/3/43, and near Mt Vesuvius in 3/2/44. He later moved in 4/5/44 to Bastia, Corsica and on to Alto air base 18 miles south of Bastia where the pilots of the 57 th fighter group (64th, 65th, & 66th fighter squadrons), bombed the Germans in Italy less than 100 miles away. After about 5 months, he and his outfit moved back to Italy in 9/11/44 to a field near Grosseto. This was his last recorded place and date that was written in his travel log. He returned to the States sometime during the summer of 1945 and was discharged from the service at Ft. Sheridan, IL on August 15th, 1945. Earl L Dennis Page 32 �65th Fighter Squadron, Corsica Page 33 � https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/c4c61b46945d223618675413adf13bb4.pdf e63f0ec9a8e622babe78c5ab0085a855 PDF Text Text �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27_Earl_Dennis_Diary_Contents Title A name given to the resource Diary of Earl Dennis (Outline, transcription and scan) Subject The topic of the resource World War, 1939-1945 United States--History, Military Army Air Corps Military life Soldiers Diaries Description An account of the resource Diary kept by Earl L. Dennis grew up outside of Coopersville, Michigan. He was drafted into the Army in April, 1942, at the age of 29. He trained at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, and was then stationed in Groton, Connecticut, where he became a cook for a fighter squadron 65th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group, 9th Army Air Force. He shipped out from New York and sailed around Africa to Egypt, where his unit supported the British 8th Army from the Second Battle of El Alamein through the conquest of Tunisia. They then went to Malta and supported the invasion of Sicily, and then went on to bases on Sicily. His diary covers his time in the service through the Sicilian campaign. Both the scanned version of the diary and a transcription are provided, with an outline acting as a table of contents. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Dennis, Earl Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-1943 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Veterans History Project Interviews, (RHC-27) Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant World War II Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/3585b531be9c11125be7e3c1533a8f58.jpg c21402af80b91a6ec04c8046d34ed81d https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/7cfd5835372bfc12be7e55e246aaf75c.jpg aaf6c900e98f81db4cca6907cd9e542b Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Insel-Bücherei Series Description An account of the resource The German publishing company Insel Verlag was founded in 1899 by Anton Kippenberg in Leipzig. In its early years the firm only printed expensive, beautifully-produced volumes, until demand led to the publication of the more modest Insel-Bücherei series in 1912. Relatively inexpensive but with the same careful sense of design and typography, these smaller-format books reprinted shorter works from a variety of German, European, and world authors. The series numbers considerably more than a thousand titles and is still being issued. The Digital Collection contains the scanned covers of 140 titles held by Grand Valley State University Libraries. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1904-1987 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seidman Rare Books Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Book covers Covers (Illustration) Graphic arts Publishers and publishing Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-05 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpg Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Language A language of the resource ger Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-09-29 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-05_IB0499 Title A name given to the resource Dichtung und Weisheit Subject The topic of the resource Book covers Covers (Illustration) Graphic arts Publishers and publishing Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</A> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1936 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-09-29 Description An account of the resource Cover of Dichtung und Weisheit, by Zhuangzi, published by Insel-Verlag, 1936. Insel-Bücherei Nr. 499 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seidman Rare Books. Insel-Bücherei. Z315.I5 B83 no.499 Language A language of the resource de Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/5c70769e0e5318afad29e63ab1ec7814.jpg 8a8f7a4c801a55eb520de90cb1bf94c4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource GVSU Concert & Event Posters Subject The topic of the resource Posters Events Michigan Universities & colleges--Michigan Description An account of the resource Division of Student Services provides programs, services, and environments that enhance the personal, social, and intellectual growth of undergraduate and graduate students at the University. Events including concerts were managed by the office of Student Life. Posters for music, speakers, poetry readings and other campuswide events are included. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. Division of Student Services Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/106">Student Services concerts, events, and posters files, (GV028-06)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-07-17 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpg Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GV028-06 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1963 – 1981 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GV028-06_GregorySahl Title A name given to the resource Dick Gregory, and Mort Sahl, October 9 and October 10, 1972 Subject The topic of the resource Grand Valley State University Grand Valley State College Michigan Allendale (Mich.) Universities & colleges--Michigan Events Posters Description An account of the resource Funky Funnies presents comedians Dick Gregory and Mort Sahl, in the Calder Fine Arts Center Louis Armstrong Theatre, October 9 and October 10, 1972 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1972 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/106">Student Services concerts, events, and posters files, (GV028-06)</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/612f06b4053895de77cada624baa1853.mp4 002e39c10f8fd4bd1c376a9594793f78 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/7a122a652de439360ed11eb8a0f10363.pdf 1b3ae003246b07bff37cdbd6dc104be9 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Special Collections & University Archives RHC-88 Fei Hu Films Flying Tigers Interview Interviewer: Frank Boring Interviewee: Richard “Dick” Rossi Date of Interview: 02-06-1991 Transcriber: Frank Boring [TAPE 1] FRANK BORING: Dick, we'd like to start off with this: what were you doing prior to your first contact with the AVG? DICK ROSSI: I was instructing in the Navy in Pensacola and I was instructing in a primary squadron, and I'd been doing that for almost a year when the recruiters came around, and of course, there was an opportunity to get away. One of the things that the people are like when you're first learning to fly, you keep going through more and more advance airplanes, and when you finally get your wings, you've flown, as they call them, service type planes, now you want to get out into the fleet so you can fly nothing but the heavy equipment and the powerful equipment. When you get assigned back as an instructor, to teaching, again you're back into the ones you started with instead of getting to fly that, and so I think there were a bunch of us in that category, we were really eager to get out and do something that was a little more interesting. FRANK BORING: What were you doing prior to your first contact with the AVG? DICK ROSSI: When I first heard about the AVG, that they were recruiting pilots for China, I was instructing primary training down in Pensacola and I'd been doing that for about a year. Naturally, I was anxious to get out into the fleet to fly service planes and do more combat type training than instructing in primary, and so this was a good �opportunity to do something like that, and I think there were quite a few in our group down there in Pensacola at the time that kind of the same feeling that they wanted to get out and do something that was just a little more challenging. FRANK BORING: How did you first hear about the opportunity in China? DICK ROSSI: It was kind of a long-winded thing. I had heard that the Dutch were hiring people to train their air force down in the Netherlands – I mean the East Indies, and so I wrote to the Dutch Consul and tried to get information on it, and he advised me that they had all they wanted and they appreciated the interest, but there weren't any openings at the time, because they had had quite a few of the navy pilots who were trained in flying boats. So some of the people that knew I was interested in this, pointed out an article, I think it was in Life Magazine, a very small article that said that pilots were being recruited to go to China. It didn't give much information. You gonna get the telephone? FRANK BORING: Let's have the second part again. DICK ROSSI: Where were we? FRANK BORING: We'll start right from top. Basically what we want to know is, how did you hear about the AVG and what happened after that? DICK ROSSI: He showed me this article in Life Magazine and it said that they were recruiting pilots in the services, and mentioned the army and the navy, so this friend of mine, he was from California also, Rickets, we sent in a letter to the Bureau of Naval Operations saying that we would like to be involved in this, said that we'd like get in on it, and the way the things runs in the navy, when you have a request or a letter to go to Washington, it has to go through your squadron and your Base Commander and all this stuff. We got okayed from our squadron personnel leader, and when it got down to the base, we got called up on the carpet and told them that �there was no such thing, the navy didn't do this type of thing, and whereas they have to forward your letter, if they want to, they can write "Disapproved" on it but they still have to forward it. But they advised us to tear it up, which, being new ensigns, we did. But in the meantime, the same weekend, the executive in my squadron, had a father who was an admiral, and he was going up that weekend in Washington to visit his dad. He knew I'd put this letter through, he was the one that had to sign it, and so when he came back he told me that, yes, this was going on. He said, "I think you're crazy to go but I'll put in a good word for you," and I said – in the meantime, they called us down to the Commandant and told us to tear the letters up, so he said, "Okay, that's navy procedure," Later, because of our interest in it, somebody told us that this wasn't being done to the service it was being done to a private organization, and they had the address which was Intercontinental Aviation in New York, and that was Bill Pawley's organization. So then Rick and I both wrote to Intercontinental and told them that we were interested in it, and we got a letter back from them saying they were going to have recruiters at Pensacola in a few weeks, and that they would look us up when they got there, so when they arrived down at Pensacola, they had authorization to come on the base, post notices of the different squadrons, and they scheduled a meeting for a Sunday afternoon downtown at the San Carlos Hotel. So Rick and I of course, went down there. There was a whole flock of other pilots, we had a whole roomful, we must have had 50 or 60 pilots down there. They had already put my name and Rick's name down on their list and we were the first two on the list. During the course of explaining what it was all about, we were told it was go out and protect the Burma Road, that Roosevelt had okayed it, but because of the neutrality laws that we had to resign our commission and go out, but we would be allowed to go out, that we would be allowed to come back in without any loss of seniority when our year's contract was up, and they signed up 36 pilots that day. But unfortunately they didn't all get to go. Our Commandant at that weekend was out in the North Atlantic with Churchill where they had their meeting out in the North Atlantic, �and we signed off that weekend, we got our discharges and our resignations approved and turned in our flight gear, and when he got back on Sunday night, Monday morning and heard about this, he cancelled everything before we could get away. So he had quite a bit of clout, he was – Captain Read he was the first guy to fly the ocean in the NC4 and he had quite a bit of clout, so he cancelled everything, the wires and the telephone calls started going back and forth between us and Intercontinental Corporation in New York and they started getting hold of Washington, and the next thing you know, they worked out a compromise. They said, out of 36 you'll have to leave half of them, 18 can go and 18 can't. So they just cut off the last 18 guys that signed up and since Rick and I had our name at the top, we were right on the list and they just took 'em in order the order they'd signed up, and so the rest of us got to go. FRANK BORING: (Inaudible) DICK ROSSI: I don't know if you remember but there was a big pre-war meeting between Roosevelt and Churchill out in the North Atlantic and our Commandant was one of the aides with Roosevelt on that, and while he was out there, was the same weekend that we signed up to go to China and we turned in our equipment and our flight gear and filled out our resignation certificates. By the time that he got back on Sunday night and hear about this, he cancelled everything and they got on the phone between some of our group and the company in New York and Washington, so they finally settled on a compromise, and agreed to let half of us go and the other half were denied the right to go out. It was similar I guess they had some sort of a problem similar to that when Arnold told that they were gonna take a hundred pilots, because originally they were talking about getting them all out of the air corps because the air corps were the only ones that had people who flew the P-40's and Arnold made the remark that if he lost a hundred pilots it would ruin his whole air force, and he was told by the President that if a hundred pilots would ruin his air force, he didn't have an air force. So, I guess �they were in that same category. Because they were expanding as you know – in '41 the expansion program was already on, so they didn't want to lose instructors because they were building up the number of cadets and everything, but I don't think our small group made that much difference. FRANK BORING: Did you have any idea what you were getting into, what did you expect of them, what made you decide to go? DICK ROSSI: When they gave their spiel pitch on what we were supposed to do, it was to defend the Burma Road which was the last supply line or supply rock open to China. So we were sort of given the impression that the Japanese would be sending bombers over there and that it was up to us to chase them away and see that they didn't close the Burma Road. Some people may have different deals. They talked about this $500 bonus, I don't even remember them mentioning this in the beginning. It wasn't in anything that we signed in our contract with them, and ostensibly because we weren't supposed to be going to war or anything in that category, we were just signing up to work for the airplane factory. Now this company in New York built Pawley's, had built and operated a small aircraft factory out in southwest China and it was called Central Aviation Manufacturing Company. Now that's where we were assigned, they paid our salary, we just called them CAMCO which was their initials. Our contracts were with CAMCO, our pay came from CAMCO. Indirectly though, I guess our pay was financed by the US Government Lend Lease Program because it was just about that time that they were making more aid available to China because the Japs were causing some trouble elsewhere out there, that the government began to worry about letting them get too strong and figured there should be some kind of force, something to blow 'em down. So I think everybody went out there with pretty much of an idea that we would be going against Japanese bombers mostly and of course, we didn't think we were going to be out there to be World War II either. �FRANK BORING: What made you decide to go? DICK ROSSI: I don't know, I'd been out in the Orient before, it interested me. I think one of my main reasons for going was to get a different experience than I was having in the navy at Pensacola, and I also thought that if I have to go out there and put a year in duty out there, that when I come back to the navy I would have an advantage over having not gone out there and it would put me a little bit ahead and a little bit more of a better position as far as the navy went. FRANK BORING: What was the process in your leaving Pensacola and then going to China, the actual process? DICK ROSSI: They okayed our resignation and we severed our relationship by we had our travel pay home and then we were ordered to report to San Francisco within a certain time, because this particular group was almost all coming out of Pensacola as I was being. There were a few others that weren't. We all had orders to report to San Francisco, my home was in San Francisco so I just went out to my house, my parent's house, and Ricketts who came from the bay area too, we'd been at the University of California in Berkeley, he went to his home. All the rest of the group went to a hotel in downtown San Francisco and we had, I don't know, how many days there before the ship sailed, but they kept in contact with us and gave us updates on the sailing and this sort of thing. But most of the guys who were out there and were away from home, spent most of their time in the local bar down there. I guess a few shiploads before them had done the same so they were pretty well known at this bar downtown. FRANK BORING: The next step was, you got onto the ship, what was the trip like? DICK ROSSI: We boarded this Dutch ship, we were on the Boschfontein, and I think that in our group there were maybe 30 or 32 people together. �Some air force pilots were on it a few that had come from Pensacola, we had a few ground personnel, and we had a couple of Chinese personnel and it was kind of a typical combination passenger freighter ship. We left San Francisco and headed out. Of course, it wasn't really new to me. I hadn't been on a ship in the navy but I'd spent five years in the merchant marine, so I was familiar with being at sea, and since Ricketts and my name were on the top of the lists, by some lucky coincidence, we got a nice cabin topside, instead of one of the ones down below. So we had really nice quarters on board, the food was great. The only other passengers were some missionaries and a few Chinese, and it was one of those deals where you don't have much to do. The guys were – not much to do except lay in the sun or swim or go to the bar and the first few days there the weather wasn't all that great that you wanted to go to the pool, so I guess the bar did a pretty good business. When we got to Honolulu, our first stop, we were there just during the day, I took the opportunity to go and visit one or two of the friends that I had there during the days of my merchant ship days, and some of us went to a barber's ship and got our hair clipped real short and it turned out like most, a big part of them did, and most of the others when they come back on board, had the ship's barber give them a short haircut, and we had one marine with us, Curt Smith, who was a Captain, he was the highest rank of anyone who signed up in our group, so he was put in charge of the group, and he refused to get a haircut, get his hair cut down, and so one night we all got a hold of him, pinned him down and cut it for him. It looked like a bunch of mice had been in there. Of course, he had a few band aids around here and there where while he was struggling, the scissors slipped a few times. When we got down to – usually when you cross the Equator, they have an initiation ceremony when they turn the pollywogs into shell backs and those who have cross the Equator already are the ones who do the initiation. There were only three of us who had crossed the Equator before, myself, Charlie Bond and Lou Bishop. So we needed a couple more guys to help us out on this, so we took the two biggest guys we had, Tex Hurst and Gunvordahl, old Zipper �Gunvordahl, and made them act as the policemen. We had a pretty good ceremony – the missionaries stayed out of sight pretty much that day. Another thing, while were on board the ship, we also used to stand watches of the crow's nest. We'd line up the schedule for the day and we'd each take a two hour shift during the daylight hours and go up in the crow's nest for an anti-submarine watch because the Japs did have submarines and the Germans actually had submarines sometimes out there. We did have a submarine deal and we were blacked out at night. You couldn't smoke a cigarette on deck or anything like that. All the portholes were blacked out and the doors were doubled with curtains so you couldn't open the door and let light get out. Other than that, it was kind of a pleasant trip, because we stayed in Surabaya for seven days, two weeks excuse me. We were in Java for two weeks and we were between Surabaya and Batavia, because they had a lot of cargo to load and unload, and the ships, even though they're passenger ships, they're primarily freighters and that category. While we were there we ran into a bunch of our friends from the navy who were there instructing the Dutch, because at that time was under Dutch control, and we had a chance to go over to Bali and visit the island of Bali. These were all nice interludes and then we were at Singapore and we spent time at Singapore several days and had a chance to go round and see all the sights in Singapore. A handful of us got an invitation to go out and visit the Sultan of Johor in his palace. We were in the Raffles Hotel one day and I saw him come in with a group, and I recognized him from a previous trip I had out there in the merchant marines and so I sent him a note telling him we were American pilots, we were going out to China and we'd like to be able to go and visit his palace. So he came over and bought us all drinks, and one of the boys came in there about the time he'd finished and he said, "What are you going to have to drink?" and he said, "No thanks, I'm not drinking," He all of a sudden looked at him and said, "The last guy that didn't take a drink I offered him, his head was floating down the river. He said, "Okay, I'll have a drink." Anyway, he gave me a nice hand written letter to take out to his sentry on duty, and he said to me, �"You'll be wanting to keep this letter as a souvenir, but it has instructions that the officer on duty is supposed to take it away from you." Unfortunately, we didn't have copy machines in those days, or I'd have had a copy of it. But we did go out there and he… � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Flying Tigers Interviews and Films Subject The topic of the resource Oral history United States--History, Military China--History, Military Veterans China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Chinese World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Description An account of the resource Collection contains original 1940s films and interviews conducted in the 1990s, documenting the history of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Flying Tigers." The Flying Tigers were organized by the United States to aid China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Original filmstrips were recorded by AVG crewmen Joe Gasdick and Chuck Misenheimer, as well as Chinese Air Force Interpreter P.Y. Shu, who was assigned to assist Col. Claire Chennault as he trained Chinese pilots and established the AVG. Interviews with members of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) “Flying Tigers” were conducted by Frank Boring for the documentary film Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers, which he co-produced with Frank Christopher under the production company Fei Hu Films. The AVG Flying Tigers were a group of American aviators, mechanics, medical and administrative military personnel, led by Col. Claire Chennault to assist the Chinese Air Force in their defense against Japanese air strikes from 1941-1942. The AVG Flying Tigers also flew in defense of the Burma Road, a major Chinese military supply route. The group disbanded and returned to regular U.S. military service after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Boring, Frank Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/540">Fei Hu Films Research and Production Files (RHC-88)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1938/1991 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Fei Hu Films Christopher, Frank Gasdick, Joseph Misenheimer, Charles V. P.Y. Shu Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4; application/pdf Language A language of the resource English; Chinese Type The nature or genre of the resource video; text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-88 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1938-1945 World War II Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-88_Rossi_Dick_1991-02-06_v01 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rossi, John Richard "Dick" Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1991-02-06 Title A name given to the resource Dick Rossi interview (video and transcript, 1 of 6), 1991 Description An account of the resource Interview of John Richard "Dick" Rossi by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Dick Rossi served in the American Volunteer Group (AVG) as a Flight Leader for the 1st Squadron, "Adam and Eves." He joined the AVG in 1941 after being discharged from service in the US Navy, where he had been assigned as a flight instructor at Pensacola Naval Air Station. He arrived in Burma in November 1941 and began training on the P-40 airplanes, but had not yet completed his training when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Though officially attached to the 1st Squadron, he was also temporarily assigned to both the 2nd and 3rd Squadrons. In this tape, Rossi discusses his time instructing in the Navy prior to being recruited with the American Volunteer Group, in addition to their journey overseas from San Francisco aboard the Boschfontein. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Boring, Frank (interviewer) Christopher, Frank (director) Fei Hu Films Subject The topic of the resource Oral history United States--History, Military China--History, Military Veterans China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/540">Fei Hu Films research and production files (RHC-88)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/ea192ff72fc0a44e2c309dd1bd3a563b.mp4 780219a890680c30a589002bccf0f84f https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/5b0d52e6751925d52215eca1996d3acf.pdf 3a84989b8043a0a75cbcee2913a1daec PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Special Collections & University Archives RHC-88 Fei Hu Films Flying Tigers Interview Interviewer: Frank Boring Interviewee: Richard “Dick” Rossi Date of Interview: 02-06-1991 Transcriber: Frank Boring [TAPE 2] DICK ROSSI: Our crews out there were pretty interesting crews. We went on board the ship, we were all supposed to be sort of incognito and around San Francisco, we didn't go out there as pilots, we went out there as a whole bunch of different things. Boyington was a missionary, I was a skilled laborer, we had farmers, and we had a little bit of everything on the list. Nobody was really paying that much attention to us, I guess, except possibly one bar in San Francisco and the people on board the ship weren't exactly sure who we were at first, but I think after a week or so watching us, they decided we weren't missionaries, though I believe they had made the mistake once of offering Boyington conduct services, and he got out of that one all right. But it didn't take them too long to – they started to stay a little bit to themselves, but there were a few that got a little friendly, and were telling us somewhat about the Orient, most of them had been out there before. There were also amongst them a couple of navy pilots who were still on their way to Surabaya, so we had kind of a different kind of group there and nobody really questioned us very much. I guess the Japs probably heard and knew we were on the way, I don't know, they had enough spies going around, but it didn't seem to be much of a deal. We were told naturally, not to discuss this and tell anybody where we were or why we were going there. I don't know just how much curiosity evoked from other people. �FRANK BORING: What were your first recollections of your arrival? You arrived in Toungoo first, is that right? Or Rangoon? DICK ROSSI: Rangoon. After we left Singapore, the ship went up to Rangoon and we pulled in at Rangoon, and then we had to go through the customs clearance and all this stuff and we were met by some members from the group and we were gathered and put on a train to ride up to Toungoo which was maybe 180 miles or so north from Rangoon. Somewhere along the way – I didn't take part in looking around town or anything like that because when I arrived I already had a telegram that my dad had passed away while I was on the ship. So I was feeling too much to go out and celebrate and look around much, so I just waited and got my baggage and boarded the train with the rest of us, and we arrived up in Toungoo in the evening. FRANK BOSSI: If you could go over again the first AVG, second AVG, the third AVG and what happened in Cherlamar [?]. DICK ROSSI: When we were recruited amongst some of the information that we were told was that – we signed up as the first American Volunteer Group and we were a fighter group. We were told the second American Volunteer Group would be a bomber group, and that the third group – all three were authorized would be another fighter group and they would be following us out there. Part of the deal that we understood was that they had planned to do some bombing against the Japanese, naturally not as Americans, or not as American Air Force, but this information was generally known throughout our group and Charlie Mott was told by General Chennault that he would be put in charge of the bomber group when they arrived. They were on the high seas on their way out when Pearl Harbor happened so they were diverted to Australia and put back in the air force. I don't know if they were all army or not in that group. �FRANK BORING: Who were the first people, the official representatives from the AVG that you met when you first got there? Was it Chennault right away or…? DICK ROSSI: I didn't see Chennault right away, he wasn't there at the time when we arrived. He'd been up in China and we were met by some of the members who had come down, some of the squadron leaders, and some of the people from CAMCO. At that time, CAMCO was pretty active in looking after the people, seeing that they arrived and were sent up to Toungoo, that they were paid or whatever they needed. Almost everybody ran short of money by the time they got there. We didn't start out with too much in our pockets, and then during stays over in Singapore and Java, we spent more than we had, and so everybody was a little hard pressed for money and CAMCO had someone down there to take care of that so that we got advances and whatever. They sent us on up to Toungoo and when we arrived at Toungoo it was late in the evening and everybody, most everybody had someone there they knew because they were either class mates or squadron mates or something like that. So you'd run into somebody you knew and you didn't even know that they had gone to Burma. Like I'd run into a class mate, I'd been with him in Pensacola but then he'd gone to the fleet and I didn't know he'd signed up. Everybody it seemed ran into somebody that they'd known previously in the service. FRANK BOSSI: What were your first impressions when you arrived in Toungoo? What were the first things that were going through your mind? DICK ROSSI: We were all a little bit surprised that we were gonna be in Toungoo, because we all thought we were going directly to China. China was supposed to have everything set up for us, our quarters and living accommodations, and they were behind schedule on all this stuff and a lot of people were arriving, they didn't have their living accommodations ready, and they made an arrangement with the British that we could borrow and use this field in Burma for training purposes, and as kind of a waiting place also until our �quarters and accommodations in China were prepared. So we were all surprised at that, but we were lucky because we got there late in November and we weren't there much over a month. Some of the boys had been in that area since the beginning of the summer, and accommodations were fairly primitive and GI style. We were living in one big, long barracks, the whole squadron, our squadron was all in one long open barracks, but it wasn't much worse than we had as cadets I guess, other than the mosquitoes and the bugs and the scorpions and stuff, but it wasn't all that different and we weren't all that old that we were worried about it. A few were, there were guys who turned around and went home as soon as they saw the place. I think most of us were curious to see what the future held, what was going happen later, what it would be like in China. Because we'd heard some real favorable stories about our accommodations in China that we were gonna have, quarters that were built down along the lake, and we'd have real pleasant housing and that there'd be cabaret girls up there for dancing and parties, that would be up from Shanghai and Hong Kong. A lot of this, of course, didn't materialize and they ended up converting a university into one of the hostels and the other one was a small hostel that was out near the field, it was a whole series of small adobe buildings, but they were new, they had just been repaired for something like this, I don't know exactly what it was. The Chinese they took care of all our accommodations and food and housing in China. They had a group called the War Service Area Corps and they handled all that part of it. But when we were down in Toungoo it was a little more complicated, I don't know exactly how it was done originally because I guess CAMCO was responsible for the food, the British were supplying the field and the housing, and when later we went down to Rangoon to help the British, they also supplied the housing and the food down there. FRANK BOSSI: How was the relationship between the AVG and the British? DICK ROSSI: With the British pilots and the British RAF personnel, we got along pretty well. We didn't do too well with the higher up British �or the colonials, as we called them, the Colonel Blimps. These guys were guys who were mostly cast-offs that couldn't make it in the service and they'd farm them out into the empire. They were the ones in charge and as everyone saw later, how woefully inadequate they were, and they were the dregs really. But the actual RAF people that we worked with in Burma, we got along very well with them. A lot of them had been in the Battle of Britain already and had combat experience and some pretty rough times. The pilots that we were associated with came from everywhere. There were Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, English, they were from all over. We got along very well with them. The ground personnel, the enlisted personnel were British, they were very good to get along with because they – we treated them a lot better I think than they were used to and they became very friendly with us, and they just wanted to work for us – be assigned to us. FRANK BOSSI: When you first arrived there, a lot of you did not have the training experience, specifically before you experienced – what did you talk about – Chennault taught kindergarten I guess. If you could begin by saying when you first met Chennault and then go into perhaps an explanation of what it was like to train under Chennault. DICK ROSSI: I don't have that much background as many of them did because we arrived there very close to the middle of November, and as you know, Pearl Harbor came along the 8th December up there. When Chennault came – when we first met him and he was introduced to us, I think everybody was impressed by him. He was sort of commanding man. He seemed to know what he was talking about, he had a nice attitude. He could make you want to do your most, your best for him. The training that we had, of course, because of our late arrival, and originally Chennault had talked about running a kindergarten. It turned out that very few of the pilots who were signed up and went out there had every flown a P-40. As a matter of fact many of us had never even seen a P-40. The navy didn't �have any and I didn't see any, and I don't know how many of the army pilots had flown them, but it was very few. So they had to get used to it, and amongst that group we had pilots from everything. We had B17 pilots, we had patrol boat pilots, we had sea plane pilots, we had dive bomber pilots, and we had a minimum really of fighter pilots. The ones who were most likely in our group, or the navy group, to be fighter pilots were the ones who had come out of the marine corps but then as it turned out the majority of the pilots there were from the navy and the marine corps. So that wasn't that much army background. On the other hand, the only terminology that we had about the airplane was from the army boys, so we immediately were calling it P-40 most of the time, and when we were in Rangoon it was frequently called the Tomahawk because that's what the RAF and British pilots called it. It was a matter of getting used to the airplane, and since it's a single seater, you have to go up and make your first flight by yourself. We had quite a lot of them, not so much when I was there but the group that had been there already had smashed an awful lot of airplanes in proportion, figuring that we were already trained pilots and had already had their wings, that they didn't break up a large percentage in the training program. When one of the group in our last shipment broke up an airplane, the old man come out and said nobody could ride in the P-40 until they took up advanced training and had a few hops in the advanced trainer, which was a two seater type, like the AT6 or the SNJ, and so that slowed things down a little bit, because when that was out of commission, you couldn't get a ride in it. At any rate, they worked it out that we all took some hops in that, which was a good idea because it got you back. We'd been out to sea for six or seven weeks and the guys hadn't flown for several months, and a lot of us weren't familiar with that airplane. That airplane flew along real nicely, but when you chopped the throttle on it, the nose just fell right up. They aimed for the ground immediately. Some of us that had been stuck in the primary, you could stop the engine, it didn't make any difference. You'd just float it right along the same as before. But in that P-40, when you cut the power off, that nose just when right for the ground. You �had to be ready for it. It took a little time, but then too they explained that all to you before you'd get in the airplane and go. We didn't do too badly in our group in checking out. FRANK BOSSI: You were trained also in who you were going to be fighting, the Japanese Zero itself in that war, or the airmen you were going to be fighting. Chennault was, as I understand it, rather specific as to what you were gonna be up against. DICK ROSSI: Chennault had been giving flight instruction ever since the summer, and of course a lot of people had heard all these lectures and all. Our lectures were pretty limited because we only had a few weeks, and then a lot of them hadn't even checked out and gotten around to flying the P-40 in our group, when Pearl Harbor hit. I'd only been in it a few times myself when it hit. We hadn't had time to do formation flying or gunnery flying or any of that stuff. Of course, our course of instruction was very limited compared to the ones that arrived out there early in the summer. FRANK BORING: Did you feel prepared when you first got out there to go to fight, did you feel prepared? DICK ROSSI: Not really. I'd only fired the guns about once or twice on the airplane before. About the third time I fired the gun on the P-40 I was firing at a Japanese airplane. Some of the training – even at the end of January, some of the people hadn't even been checked out in a P-40 of our group. As a matter of fact, that's why some of them left and went home. They were at war and they wanted to get in it, so they went back to the navy or wherever they were from. FRANK BORING: On November, I guess it was the 8th where you were, you were in Rangoon at that time, when Pearl Harbor happened? DICK ROSSI: In Toungoo FRANK BORING: Toungoo, okay. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Flying Tigers Interviews and Films Subject The topic of the resource Oral history United States--History, Military China--History, Military Veterans China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Chinese World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Description An account of the resource Collection contains original 1940s films and interviews conducted in the 1990s, documenting the history of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Flying Tigers." The Flying Tigers were organized by the United States to aid China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Original filmstrips were recorded by AVG crewmen Joe Gasdick and Chuck Misenheimer, as well as Chinese Air Force Interpreter P.Y. Shu, who was assigned to assist Col. Claire Chennault as he trained Chinese pilots and established the AVG. Interviews with members of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) “Flying Tigers” were conducted by Frank Boring for the documentary film Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers, which he co-produced with Frank Christopher under the production company Fei Hu Films. The AVG Flying Tigers were a group of American aviators, mechanics, medical and administrative military personnel, led by Col. Claire Chennault to assist the Chinese Air Force in their defense against Japanese air strikes from 1941-1942. The AVG Flying Tigers also flew in defense of the Burma Road, a major Chinese military supply route. The group disbanded and returned to regular U.S. military service after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Boring, Frank Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/540">Fei Hu Films Research and Production Files (RHC-88)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1938/1991 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Fei Hu Films Christopher, Frank Gasdick, Joseph Misenheimer, Charles V. P.Y. Shu Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4; application/pdf Language A language of the resource English; Chinese Type The nature or genre of the resource video; text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-88 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1938-1945 World War II Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-88_Rossi_Dick_1991-02-06_v02 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rossi, John Richard "Dick" Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1991-02-06 Title A name given to the resource Dick Rossi interview (video and transcript, 2 of 6), 1991 Description An account of the resource Interview of John Richard "Dick" Rossi by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Dick Rossi served in the American Volunteer Group (AVG) as a Flight Leader for the 1st Squadron, "Adam and Eves." He joined the AVG in 1941 after being discharged from service in the US Navy, where he had been assigned as a flight instructor at Pensacola Naval Air Station. He arrived in Burma in November 1941 and began training on the P-40 airplanes, but had not yet completed his training when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Though officially attached to the 1st Squadron, he was also temporarily assigned to both the 2nd and 3rd Squadrons. In this tape, Rossi describes his first recollections of the AVG's arrival in Rangoon and later in Toungoo by train, in addition to his first meeting with CAMCO and General Chennault. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Boring, Frank (interviewer) Christopher, Frank (director) Fei Hu Films Subject The topic of the resource Oral history United States--History, Military China--History, Military Veterans China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/540">Fei Hu Films research and production files (RHC-88)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/33346dd391a7e72530d113817d91b00b.mp4 959467a9c2d5d7d0cdcc8ba45bd4deae https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/b6f2af6dee38d032e46c81c1f1dda00e.pdf bfccfa212b554939b20d48827520aaf1 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Special Collections & University Archives RHC-88 Fei Hu Films Flying Tigers Interview Interviewer: Frank Boring Interviewee: Richard “Dick” Rossi Date of Interview: 02-06-1991 Transcriber: Frank Boring [TAPE 3] FRANK BORING: The P-40 itself, the actual details of turning the thing on and having to pull this and push that, it was pretty complicated wasn't it? Just to start the engine and get it off the ground? DICK ROSSI: Not any more I think than the dive bomber or another service plane. FRANK BORING: In December, when you heard about Pearl Harbor, what was your reaction? DICK ROSSI: When we got up - we were up and had breakfast, were down at the field as was our routine because, out there, it was a Monday and we'd had the weekend off. We went down Monday for our routine stuff, and someone that early morning – one of the guys came down and told us that we were at war, the Japs had bombed Pearl Harbor. Of course, we were all waiting for the gag line, we thought it was a joke of some kind. By that time, the guy who printed our old bulletin, we had a little bulletin that we put out there that came down with all the scoop and the radio broadcast. Now everybody began to believe it, everyone was getting excited. They started to issue gas masks and steel helmets, and one had a couple of planes up in the air on alert because we had been observed a few times by high flying Japanese observation planes in Toungoo, because they had taken part of Thailand and some of the places over there and �they had a field not too far away. A couple of times we saw one of their observation planes flying overhead. So we thought that the first thing they'd do was come over there and try to wipe us out. They had two planes in the air all day and they never ever did come over. FRANK BORING: So now you were on alert. What were the next few days like? DICK ROSSI: Everything was a little chaotic. They were – we had been prepared to move to Kunming anyway, and now, of course, they wanted to speed the move to Kunming, convoys were being prepared to go up the road and haul all the material up that they could, and the airplanes were being prepared to fly up and the British wanted us to go down to Rangoon and, of course, the higher authority was deciding what was gonna happen in that case. Everything was kind of on a– immediately went to a, you might say, restricted type of operation. You couldn't just take off and go to town if it was your day off; you had to get permission from the squadron. It was just being prepared that we were in a war and we'd got to be watching it if we weren't gonna get caught with our pants down. We fully expected that they'd be over and try to put our planes out of commission. FRANK BORING: But it wasn't until the 20th, from the 7th to the 20th, that they actually did come over. DICK ROSSI: They didn't come over Toungoo, they came over Kunming. But they had been coming over Kunming – they were over Kunming, I believe, on the 18th and that was the day we went up there. We flew up – the 1st and 2nd squadron went to Kunming on the 18th. In the meantime, before this, the 3rd squadron had been sent down to Rangoon to work with the RAF and our convoys were going up the road – as a matter of fact, some of the convoys had already departed before Pearl Harbor and before we heard about it, because the bulk of our ammunition was on trucks going up the road. We were a little short of ammunition in that early phase. Fortunately �we didn't get into any action or need it. But the bulk of it was on the trucks going up the road. Our group, we got up there on the 18th and there was quite a bit of damage in Kunming that had bombed that day, and then nothing happened on the 19th, and then on the 20th, they came over. And that was the first contact we had with them, and then they didn't come over to Kunming again for more than a year. I don't know when they came back again. In the meantime, a few more days went by, then the action really started heavy in Rangoon. I think on the 23rd it started. FRANK BOSSI: What was your first battle? What was your first actual confrontation with the Japanese? DICK ROSSI: Our squadron was up in Kunming when we had the first deal, but it was my day off so I didn't get in that one. Then the 3rd squadron was in very heavy action on the 23rd and the 25 of December, so Chennault decided to replace them right around the first of the year, and the 2nd squadron went to Rangoon to replace the 3rd, and they were down there for about a week and the action was picking up pretty good, so they said they would like some more help. So Chennault said he'd send eight members from our squadron down there to help out with them. So I was in that eight that was going down there. Bob Neale was taking us down there and we went down to Rangoon, and we were there for a while and we got a call one morning that they wanted two P-40's to escort some British bombers over to the Moulmein area. They had two Brewster Buffaloes, the RAF, two of our P-40's and we were supposed to escort, I thought, three Blenheim's, and we were over there to evacuate a field called Tavoy, which was south of Moulmein. We were going over to evacuate some British personnel. As it turned out there were actually six bombers, the other three joined later and I didn't hear anything in the briefing. We didn't get much briefing, they just said follow the RAF boys, and I was flying on a Brewster and the other fellow, Frank Raleigh was flying on one, and we started to cross, escorting these three Blenheim's. The three others joined us down below, I never even �saw them and we ran into a heavy fog bank, and we lost each other. So I just moved in closer to the Britisher, I figured he had the full briefing, he knew where we were going, and I stayed very close to him, and in the fog you've got to stay pretty close to not get lost. When we came out along the coast across the Gulf of Martaban and come along the coast there at Tavoy? Where we were supposed to ask. We were just supposed to stay there and fly cover on them while they picked up these people, evacuated them and go back to Rangoon. When we come out there, it was clear and sunny, the fog ended right at the water line, but there was nobody around but myself and the other Buffalo, the RAF pilot. So we just started circling the field and we hadn't climbed up very high, so we just went down to around 1,000 ft. and we were circling the field. What we didn't know was that Japanese had captured it in the meantime. So when we were circling around, he was one side of the field, I was on the other. We were just going around in circles, kind of keeping an eye on each other. I happened to be heading towards the sea side where there were some more mountains on the north side of the bay there, I saw three planes come over the horizon, over the trees there at that hill, and I thought they were Japanese. It turned out they were the Blenheim's, the British planes. I thought they were Japanese and I flew immediately across the field to motion to the RAF pilot what was going on so he'd turn around and look because he was flying with his back toward them at the time. I started out in that direction and about then I saw some Japanese fighters diving on these planes and I saw three more appear over the hill, so there were six of the Blenheim's and the Jap fighters were diving on them, so they hurriedly dived and took off, went back into the fog and the fighters came over towards the field and so that's where we ran into them. I started making head on passes at one, or he started at me and I started at him and that was my first time in combat. We made about four head on passes at each other and neither one being able to get the nose up high enough to get him because of the bullets falling short, he kept diving underneath me and I couldn't get my nose far enough to put a lead in front of him to lead him enough, and then as soon as he �got behind me, he'd immediately roll right up and turn over [?] to get on my tail, but we were much faster than they were and I'd be far enough away that I could go out a little bit and turn around again and about the third time I thought I was gonna really get him this time, I'll put the nose down and start firing about twice as early as I should so he'd have to fly through my line of fire to go underneath me, and when he made that last pass at me and I pulled up – I was getting ready to pull up and turn around and see what happened to him, when I had run right into a nest of them. They'd seen us making these deals and three of them were there waiting for me to make my turn. I saw all these tracers flying around so I forgot all about that other airplane. I put the nose down and went heading out for the fog bank. I went out in it and climbed up until I could get the high altitude and headed up north because I didn't have enough gas by then. You use quite a bit of gas when you're into that type of thing, because you've got your throttle pretty far open. I didn't have enough to get back to Rangoon so I knew we had this field up north at Moulmein so I went up there – figured I could get some refueling up there. Before I got there I climbed up to 12,000 ft. and just got over the field, getting ready to let down – I had the field in site, I wasn't quite over it – when I saw some more fighters up there and I thought, oh, no, here I am out of gas. It turned out they were P-40's going on a mission somewhere into one of the fields in Thailand, so I landed there. The other British pilot, not the one that was with me but the other one, was also there. He'd got some holes in his oil tank and he was already on the ground refueling and patching up his oil tank. When I got on the ground I saw I had a hole in my propeller, but it turned out I had fired – it was my own bullet from 50 calibers shot right through the propeller, got out of synchronization. We refueled but it took a while to refuel – you had to take it out of 50 gallon drums, strain it through a chamois, into your tank, and by the time you'd do that and fill up your tanks, quite a lot of time goes by. So we finally got our gasoline replaced and were heading up for – were gonna go back but he had this hole in his oil tank again. He was afraid that if the thing came apart and he lost all his oil, he'd have to put it down �somewhere. So instead of flying across the bay or the gulf, he said, "I'd like to fly along the shoreline and have you follow me. If I go down you can tell them where I am", which I did because we'd patched his oil tank by just putting a plug of wood in and tying a rag round it. He made it all the way back and I made it, but we were about two and a half, three hours long overdue past our fuel range, and they were already dividing our stuff, you know, because they figured they'd had us already. FRANK BORING: If you could describe, when you're up in the air with your squadron with a bunch of the other guys – you didn't have radios. DICK ROSSI: Yeah, we had them, they didn't always work. FRANK BORING: Could you talk a little about that – how you communicated with each other. DICK ROSSI: In those days, radio was just kind of new to us to a certain extent and you'd been trained to do a lot of your stuff with signals, especially if you're fly in formation in smaller airplanes, single engine airplanes. But we did have radio, they just didn't work half the time. If the radio didn't work we'd just go back to hand signals. If the radios worked, then we'd use 'em. Sometimes you'd be talking to somebody and realize nobody's hearing me, my transmitter's out or something. You don't realize it for a while. It was a kind of hit or miss type of thing. A lot of the radios weren't military radios, they were like radios that should have been in a cub or something like that, like small, light commercial planes. They just used whatever they could get their hands on. FRANK BORING: How about the gun sights? As I understand the gun sights weren't exactly conventional either. DICK ROSSI: The gun sights were a little bit primitive. We had some that were electric gun sights and some that were the sights like you have on a rifle with a cross hair and the little one out in front which are – I �forget the name of it – on the tip of a rifle. You just had one up on the far end of your engine and one up close and you lined the cross hairs up on that other, but then we had those sort of calibrated to where they were supposed to hit at about 600 ft. If you were about 600 ft., you'd make a direct aim otherwise you had to allow a little bit to raise it or lower it. But of course, as you got closer, it still would bear in, and every 3rd or 4th round, whatever it was, we had an incendiary bullet, so you could see the smoke. So you knew pretty much where your firing was going, it was kind of like aiming a hose of water or something. You can see where it's going. With incendiary bullets, tracers as we called them, you could see where your firing was going, so you had a pretty good clue as to when it was falling short or going over them, or whatever. FRANK BORING: What was your fiercest battle, where was the one you think out of all the ones that you had was really a… (break) DICK ROSSI: ……………… a light fragile sight to a certain extent, and they had a speed limitation. If they tried to dive too fast… FRANK BORING: Go ahead, talk about the P-40 and the Zeros. DICK ROSSI: One of our advantages in the P-40 was the speed we had. We had pretty good flat speed, but we had exceptional diving speed, and what we would like to essentially was to try to get above them. When we came down on top of them we'd be going so much faster that even if they turned to try to follow us, they were just too late, we were gone. The Japanese Zero had kind of a restriction on their diving speed. If they dived too fast, they got to a point where they lost the control of [?]. They were like frozen, and they lost their maneuverability, and so they could only dive and their planes were much more fragile and not as tough. They couldn't take the beating that our planes could take. Our planes could take a real heavy beating and still be structurally sound whereas they would come apart a lot easier when they got hit in a vital spot. We came up �against a lot of their 97's which was a fixed gear type of plane and it was even more so, slower and more fragile, but on the other hand, was maneuverable, they could turn inside of a dime. They could really just maneuver those things, they could just pull up and get behind you so quickly, you wouldn't believe it. FRANK BORING: This was one of the innovations that Chennault came up with and he taught you, as I understand it, not to take on the Japanese one on one, that there was a certain pattern, there's a certain thing that you should do. What was that, what was the training that he gave you in terms of fighting the Japanese Zero? DICK ROSSI: One of the first things that we heard when we were there was that we couldn't maneuver with them, that we couldn't maneuver, we couldn't maneuver sometimes say like a Brewster Buffalo hardly. That was one of the first things that we hear people talking about. Like I say, our group, the group I went out with got there late, we missed a good part of that, but when we got down to Rangoon, we're talking to the guys who'd already been up in a half a dozen or more fights, and after every fight, we sat around and talked about it, and everybody's giving some ideas, and you pick up a lot of things that help guys get out of trouble, and it starts building up. You just build up a background in that. FRANK BORING: What kind of things came up in these conversations? DICK ROSSI: The main thing was like, the guys who bailed out, got shot at on the way down. "When you bale out, don't pull the rip cord too soon. Try to maneuver things so you're moving. You're not just hanging there, a dead target. You wanna yank on your rip cord's and keep that thing swinging, so that it's harder for them to strafe you and if you see anybody in a parachute going down, get over right away so that somebody can't come in, so you can help them or save them, protect them. Things like that would come out of all the bull sessions after each fight, and course, guys would tell about the mistakes they'd made, firing too soon or whatever. A lot of �things happened – dive to get away but dive too much, instead of diving down about 3,000 ft., they'd dive about 10,000. You learned quite a lot just in the bull sessions after each engagement. When our squadron was down there, especially in the last weeks, they were coming over so often, that everything was getting chaotic. It was hard to remember from morning to night what the heck happened. Was that today or yesterday? They were just going up – we were getting three or four alerts a day. It was really hard to remember to recall a lot of that stuff. You start thinking and trying to recall back of certain things that happened to you and it's hard to pin it down to this – was it the afternoon or was it the morning? One flight we were on with Bob Neale, we had planned a mission over to Moulmein, because by this time it had been taken by the Japanese, and we were gonna take eight airplanes and go over there see what we could find, see if we could strafe them, see if we could catch any. About the time we were getting ready to go, we get an alert that the Japs were coming in and we took off. Our group went up, one of them had an engine problem and had to go back, but the rest of us went up. So by the time we climbed up to altitude and we usually start out to the east if we feel we got enough warning because that's where they come from. If we feel we don't have enough warning we'd fly out to the west and climb to get our altitude before they got a chance to get above us. This time we were flying out in that direction and by the time we got up there, they said it's a false alarm. Nobody coming. So Bob Neale says, "We might as well go and finish our mission then, we'll go on our mission." So we did. We went across to Moulmein and got near the water and came down, and there was a little field over the hill from Moulmein south of it which was just an auxiliary field. FRANK BORING: Stop there. (Inaudible) � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Flying Tigers Interviews and Films Subject The topic of the resource Oral history United States--History, Military China--History, Military Veterans China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Chinese World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Description An account of the resource Collection contains original 1940s films and interviews conducted in the 1990s, documenting the history of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Flying Tigers." The Flying Tigers were organized by the United States to aid China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Original filmstrips were recorded by AVG crewmen Joe Gasdick and Chuck Misenheimer, as well as Chinese Air Force Interpreter P.Y. Shu, who was assigned to assist Col. Claire Chennault as he trained Chinese pilots and established the AVG. Interviews with members of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) “Flying Tigers” were conducted by Frank Boring for the documentary film Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers, which he co-produced with Frank Christopher under the production company Fei Hu Films. The AVG Flying Tigers were a group of American aviators, mechanics, medical and administrative military personnel, led by Col. Claire Chennault to assist the Chinese Air Force in their defense against Japanese air strikes from 1941-1942. The AVG Flying Tigers also flew in defense of the Burma Road, a major Chinese military supply route. The group disbanded and returned to regular U.S. military service after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Boring, Frank Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/540">Fei Hu Films Research and Production Files (RHC-88)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1938/1991 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Fei Hu Films Christopher, Frank Gasdick, Joseph Misenheimer, Charles V. P.Y. Shu Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4; application/pdf Language A language of the resource English; Chinese Type The nature or genre of the resource video; text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-88 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1938-1945 World War II Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-88_Rossi_Dick_1991-02-06_v03 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rossi, John Richard "Dick" Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1991-02-06 Title A name given to the resource Dick Rossi interview (video and transcript, 3 of 6), 1991 Description An account of the resource Interview of John Richard "Dick" Rossi by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Dick Rossi served in the American Volunteer Group (AVG) as a Flight Leader for the 1st Squadron, "Adam and Eves." He joined the AVG in 1941 after being discharged from service in the US Navy, where he had been assigned as a flight instructor at Pensacola Naval Air Station. He arrived in Burma in November 1941 and began training on the P-40 airplanes, but had not yet completed his training when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Though officially attached to the 1st Squadron, he was also temporarily assigned to both the 2nd and 3rd Squadrons. In this tape, Rossi discusses his reaction to the news of Pearl Harbor and the following days being on alert. He also goes into detail on his first battle with the Japanese and how Chennault's training was put into practice. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Boring, Frank (interviewer) Christopher, Frank (director) Fei Hu Films Subject The topic of the resource Oral history United States--History, Military China--History, Military Veterans China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/540">Fei Hu Films research and production files (RHC-88)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/46f8d91f9fe47368df9c8f656628ed21.mp4 ed1f9063c42c1aeb0f7978d2444b3217 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/90548cf2f5d8815a97f91cc193b8319d.pdf 157336cacd7a6f32bf3e829d5f58e54b PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Special Collections & University Archives RHC-88 Fei Hu Films Flying Tigers Interview Interviewer: Frank Boring Interviewee: Richard “Dick” Rossi Date of Interview: 02-06-1991 Transcriber: Frank Boring [TAPE 4] DICK ROSSI: Bob Neale brought us in south over this little auxiliary field and – there were seven of us – and there were two airplanes on the ground, so we all went screaming down in single file to get a little strafe shot at them and set those on fire, and then he let us up over the hill, which was only about ten miles away to their main airport in Moulmein. I was flying on his wing and then George Burgard was flying on me, he didn't have a wing man because he was the one who had turned back and the rest were following us. I was flying on Bob Neale's right side, and Burgard has just moved up to my right side, because whenever you didn't have a wing man you'd usually just join up with somebody else, so Bob Neale came over the field and looked down and there were three airplanes had just taken off and three more were rolling down the runway. Bob started diving to the field and I was following him and George was following me. Normally, if you're flying and your wing man's on your right side, you'll pick out the plane on the left. I don't know, for some unexplainable reason, Bob Neale fired at the plane on the right, so I slid underneath him and took the one on the left. Burgard came in from somewhere, I don't know where he went, but we got two of the planes out of that flight, the three that had just gotten airborne. By the time that we got down there on top of them, they were just only, probably less than a hundred feet in the air. Then we turned around because some others had already taken off. One of them was coming right at me, I thought he was trying �to ram me, so I put the nose down and it brought me right over the little bay there of the town and we were at low altitude to start with so when I pulled up the nose I was only 25, 30 ft. off the ground or off the water, because I was going across the bay and then right in front of me was a ferry boat full of Japanese soldiers. It was right in my sight so I pulled the trigger, had all six guns flying there. I could see them diving all over the place and glass shattering on the boat, then pulled up over the top of it on the other side and came back around towards the field. Then I saw one plane chase them for five minutes and it turned out to be an RAF plane. I don't know where he was going but he wasted all that time, and by the time he got back, the action's practically all over and all gone again, so then we joined up and went back to Rangoon. While we were in Rangoon, most of those alerts we got, when they did materialize, were always in very large numbers. Bombers would be coming up in flights of anywhere from 18 to 30 or 40 or even 50 and they'd have a fighter escort of anywhere up to 40 airplanes and the fighters would fly in some real weird – the first time I saw them I couldn't believe it. It looked like a bunch of bees swarming around. They were at all altitudes, just weaving in and out, back and forth. I don't know exactly what the strategy was on that, figuring that there'd be someone from any place they could, and they were behind the bombers. So we'd usually hit the bombers first and then some guys would go off towards the fighters, some would stay on the bombers. When they were in this, beehive we used to call it, about all you could do was to kind of get up and get a little bit above them and then dive right through them and just pick out one that was the most likely to be able to do it, because they maneuver so fast, you picked one out too soon he wouldn't be there by the time you could close in. Because they were just flying around, just like a swarm of bees. So we'd dive through them. A lot of times you'd dive through and you might have one or a second picked out and by the time you get there, you might just be going through and not even get a shot at anybody, pull up the other side and come again, and do it again but were gone. When they got into that they was none of this two plane formation because if you did, you'd be �wasting half your airplanes. There wasn't much that you could do if you flew watching the other guy and not watching the enemy, because there's no way you're really gonna protect him, unless some guy's pretty far behind him because if you're right on him, you're semi flying formation and you can't watch all that stuff. It's not like when you're doing so much long range and like today's fighters that take some six and seven miles to make a turn because of the speed they're going, but we could make turns pretty sharply and of course they could make them about five times as sharply. So there's a lot of milling around goes on up there. The bombers always stayed pretty much in formation if they were able to. If they got an engine shot out and had to drop back they might do it but then they were usually gone, that was probably their swan song. But they generally kept their really good formation; if any of them were shot down they'd move right up and just keep filling the formation, tightening up. One guy went down, another guy would move into his place, they kept pretty good formations. FRANK BORING: When you engaged the enemy, just generally, how many AVG planes would be up there to take on these groups that you're talking about? DICK ROSSI: That would vary quite a bit and some of our days in Rangoon especially when it really started getting bad when we were having several alerts during the day, we might start out in the morning with as many as 14 airplanes and maybe only have four, five or six ready to be able to go up on a last alert. Then of course, there were always a few of the British that were going up there also. It varied quite a bit. Then overnight, we'd try to get all the planes back in commission, so usually in the morning, we had the most airplanes available, and we were only putting together maybe 16 airplanes maximum in one of those deals. But it was kind of hard to have all 16 of them flying. �FRANK BORING: You started to describe this daily routine of two or three alerts a day. How often was this going on? How did you get to sleep? What was your routine like during that period? DICK ROSSI: One of the things that we began to appreciate down there was cloudy nights, because usually on cloudy nights, they didn't come over, and they didn't come over much on really dark nights. But on the moonlit nights, they always had some planes come over, but they'd only send maybe three at a time in a formation. But they'd send them over two or three times a night, just enough to ruin your sleep. But they didn't come over all the time. Maybe we'd go two or three days, or even maybe just two days with some pretty heavy alerts and some pretty good scores, they might not come back for about a week or five or six days, so if about two days would go by with nothing happening, then we'd go over and kind of flush them out, or see what was going on, because we figured they'd got a build-up on somewhere. So we would usually send out some flights to go over to the closer airports that we knew they had, and see what they had on the ground, and of course, every time we did that, they'd be over the next day. And every time we'd go over to – or even if we went early in the morning, they might even be over in the afternoon, but almost inevitably every time we ran one of these missions over there, they would retaliate. FRANK BORING: One of the last major battles of the AVG was at Salween Bridge and we have very sketchy information regarding that. Were you involved in that? DICK ROSSI: No, I was on a ferry trip at that time, I missed that whole thing. Charlie Bond was in that heavily and Bob Neale. FRANK BORING: What would you say was your most ferocious battle? What was the one that sticks out in your mind? DICK ROSSI: I don't know, it's kind of hard to say. I'm not even sure the most ferocious sticks out the most. Actually my first one sticks out more �because a week after that battle over there, I picked up a hitchhiking British officer and was talking to him. Of course they all knew our group and was talking to him about that fight over Tavoy. And he said he was on the ground at that time, that the Japs had taken the field and they were hiding out in the jungle, and they had to walk quite a distance before they could get out. He was there and witnessed my fight and he told me that that plane on my last pass that I hit him and he crashed into the hangar there, but unfortunately that was long after the combat report went in. Now that one stands out. The ones in the last days – the ones that were really the worst, they're like blur's to a certain amount, because there was so much going on in one day and they were so busy when you were there, they got to be blur's. It's hard to remember them. I think it's easier to remember the ones that were a little less hectic, like when we went to Kweilin and they bombed Kweilin just before we got up there. We sneaked in in the evening and then we were up in the morning early. We expected they'd send an observation plane over, which they always did. So we said, "When they send that over, as soon as he goes home we'll send some and we'll be up." Then we decided, "Let's not wait." So we went up in the air, and sure enough they come over and we were already up in the air, and they come over with the bombers and the fighters, and this got really interesting, even though it wasn't that big an engagement, they had a fair amount of bombers and they sent some twin engine fighters that we weren't familiar with. Most of the guys that were up fighting them mistook them for bombers. They thought they were just small, light bombers. They were twinengined fighters, and I remember Joe Rosbert – he was ordered not to get behind the bombers and get in their rear gunner's view. He was making head on passes at them, and then when he shot a couple of them down, they had canons in the nose, and he was making head on passes at canons, so it wasn't all that good strategy as it turns out, but we were pretty lucky that day. Two planes I guess got hurt. I think Charlie Bond might have had to bail out that day and Al Wright got hit and he crashed, he tried to land but he come up a little short and he busted up the airplane just at the end �of the runway. But the fight took place right over the field. It was smaller and there were fewer airplanes involved but it was interesting and they got anywhere from ground level up to about 18,000 ft. because they ended up finally around Kweilin. I think you've probably seen terrain pictures at Kweilin with these cones where they were chasing each other round the cones, around these little mountain type cones, and down there all our stuff was in operations, our stuff was in caves because most of these cones or these mountains had caves in them. They were just like they were air-conditioned there. Chennault had his headquarters in one of the caves in the field. It was pretty interesting then. FRANK BORING: In terms of the last few days, it was a lot of hectic fighting. It was heard I believe that AVG was going to disband and Bissell arrives on the scene, if you could just explain about that particular period of time. DICK ROSSI: The rumors started as far back as January and February that we were going to be pulled back into the service and nobody really knew for sure what was gonna happen and somewhere along in that area Chennault was given his commission in the air corps and was still of course in charge of us, but he actually was in the army, and we kept wondering what are they gonna do. We kept hoping they'd keep us a unit and let us continue that way for a while, but everybody I guess had mixed emotions it, then when this induction board finally arrived, they were very undiplomatic. They were colonels that had overblown egos I guess, like Colonel Bissell and they didn't really come out and request you join, they threatened with what would happen if you didn't join. Now there's a lot of stories about it and they stories vary a little bit for the simple reason that they were recruiting or doing this induction in several different places. They had some that took place in Kunming, some that took place in Chung King and I was down in Kweilin when they came down to Kweilin and asked for them, because our group went up to Chung King, but we were only there about two days, our squadron, and then we were sent to Kweilin, so we were down �at Kweilin, and like I say, we had action right away when we got there. They had already bombed the city before, then we got there and had this battle over the city and capturing Japanese airmen and shot down a bunch, so the town really threw a big party for us and everything, the city was really great, they had these school kids singing songs for us, they took up collections and they had fruit and all kinds of stuff, they gave a party for us, gave us leaflets, "Our heroes" and that sort of thing. It wasn't very long after though than they were heading for Hengyang and Ling Ling which were two more bases along that same line, so one day they told – in the meantime some B-25's from the army air corps arrived, and they were gonna go on a mission. Chennault wanted them to go down to Hankow and hit some of these Japanese airplanes there, so they wanted some of us to go up and escort them on a mission. They were gonna take off from Hengyang and go to Hankow, so they sent about half a dozen of us up there. He said, "Go up to Hengyang, escort the bombers over and then come back. So we took off, went to Hengyang, the weather turned out that we couldn't have the mission, so we landed and I was there with no baggage, ten days in the same clothes, very uncomfortable living and conditions, the food was pretty bad. Fortunately I always carried my toothbrush in my shirt pocket because I never knew where I was gonna end up. But all I had was the toothbrush and nothing else. It rained in for ten days, and there were a few breaks in the clouds at night, and the funny thing was they'd come over and bomb at night, but just one or two or three airplanes. So you'd miss your sleep, because I remember running out of that house one night and seeing this little tiny hole there, and Bus Loane and I were both running for it and there was no way it was big enough for two people, but some way or other we both got in it. We were close enough to that string of bombs that the mud splattered and the mud hit us, where the bombs hit the ground. We were splattered with mud from the concussion. I'll tell you though, the biggest relief you can have is when you hear bombs coming closer and closer and the next one's passed you. That is one of the greatest sounds you ever heard, they've passed us! �FRANK BOSSI: When Bissell arrived, what did you do, they called you together into a room or…? DICK ROSSI: I can't remember the speech. I was at Kweilin and they were just trying to get different guys, whoever weren't doing anything, between mechanics between their working on the airplanes and the pilots that weren't standing on alert by the airplane, one guy would relieve another guy and go up there and I think one of the hardest things that we had was to say no to the old man. None of us minded no to Bissell, but the hardest thing was saying no to the old man, because everybody respected the old man and they hated to see him stuck there with nobody staying, I think that was the hardest part. But it turned out only five pilots really stayed and I know Tex Hill and Rector didn't plan to stay, they just didn't have the heart to leave the old man there. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Flying Tigers Interviews and Films Subject The topic of the resource Oral history United States--History, Military China--History, Military Veterans China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Chinese World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Description An account of the resource Collection contains original 1940s films and interviews conducted in the 1990s, documenting the history of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Flying Tigers." The Flying Tigers were organized by the United States to aid China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Original filmstrips were recorded by AVG crewmen Joe Gasdick and Chuck Misenheimer, as well as Chinese Air Force Interpreter P.Y. Shu, who was assigned to assist Col. Claire Chennault as he trained Chinese pilots and established the AVG. Interviews with members of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) “Flying Tigers” were conducted by Frank Boring for the documentary film Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers, which he co-produced with Frank Christopher under the production company Fei Hu Films. The AVG Flying Tigers were a group of American aviators, mechanics, medical and administrative military personnel, led by Col. Claire Chennault to assist the Chinese Air Force in their defense against Japanese air strikes from 1941-1942. The AVG Flying Tigers also flew in defense of the Burma Road, a major Chinese military supply route. The group disbanded and returned to regular U.S. military service after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Boring, Frank Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/540">Fei Hu Films Research and Production Files (RHC-88)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1938/1991 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Fei Hu Films Christopher, Frank Gasdick, Joseph Misenheimer, Charles V. P.Y. Shu Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4; application/pdf Language A language of the resource English; Chinese Type The nature or genre of the resource video; text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-88 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1938-1945 World War II Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-88_Rossi_Dick_1991-02-06_v04 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rossi, John Richard "Dick" Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1991-02-06 Title A name given to the resource Dick Rossi interview (video and transcript, 4 of 6), 1991 Description An account of the resource Interview of John Richard "Dick" Rossi by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Dick Rossi served in the American Volunteer Group (AVG) as a Flight Leader for the 1st Squadron, "Adam and Eves." He joined the AVG in 1941 after being discharged from service in the US Navy, where he had been assigned as a flight instructor at Pensacola Naval Air Station. He arrived in Burma in November 1941 and began training on the P-40 airplanes, but had not yet completed his training when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Though officially attached to the 1st Squadron, he was also temporarily assigned to both the 2nd and 3rd Squadrons. In this tape, Rossi describes the conditions in the air when the AVG pilots were engaging with the enemy, in addition to the hectic fighting that was taking place during the final days of the AVG and around the time of General Bissell's arrival. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Boring, Frank (interviewer) Christopher, Frank (director) Fei Hu Films Subject The topic of the resource Oral history United States--History, Military China--History, Military Veterans China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/540">Fei Hu Films research and production files (RHC-88)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/4329cfe26f728c0017471d1616f09772.mp4 92f7c86e346f0be114253f51a69021ba https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/41227cd27e4581da9d4a0e000034c611.pdf dd88f29f17c86981ebe90a867d3800a2 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Special Collections & University Archives RHC-88 Fei Hu Films Flying Tigers Interview Interviewer: Frank Boring Interviewee: Richard “Dick” Rossi Date of Interview: 02-06-1991 Transcriber: Frank Boring [TAPE 5] FRANK BOSSI: If you could just, in your own words and in your own feelings of why you were ready to go at the end, because the world was at war and you were aware of that. There were reasons why you guys were all fed up and ready to go home. I know a lot of the guys just wanted to take a vacation and come back, but if you could talk about that aspect of it. DICK ROSSI: When July 4th rolled around – actually the group of us that got out later, our contracts weren't even nearly up, we would have to stay up until November, but because the bulk of them that came out early, they were ended, they figured there was no practical way they could phase them out a few at a time. So they just said that at this time they'd cancel all the contracts as of the 4th of July. As it turned out the air corps didn't have anybody there so a bunch had to stay an extra two weeks to make the transition. The main reason I think that they got such a little turn out other than the attitude that Bissell and some of these had is that they didn't want to give anybody any rotation or any leave. Some of the guys like myself and Bob Neale, we'd gone down to Rangoon in early January and now it was 4th of July, and when the first squadron left Burma, I went back down with the 3rd squadron, so all this time we'd been in action. It was a certain amount of stress and nervousness. Bob Neale, because he had more responsibility being a squadron leader and in charge of so many stations, he was practically a nervous �wreck. He lost a lot of weight, he was jumpy. He was just kind of a physical thing. I think the stress was building up on the majority of people, or a bunch of them. Of course, a lot of them were really anxious to get home to see their families and this sort of thing. I think that if they had said we'll let X number go off for a week or two over to Calcutta and come back and rotated them, they'd have probably got a bunch more, but then at that time I thought, I think I'll go back in the navy, I had decided I'd go back in the navy. But that didn't really affect it that much because Chennault had been authorized to give us a navy rank and some people keep saying that we were promised this and it wasn't given to us, but that wasn't my case because I left the navy as an ensign and Chennault was authorized to give commissions in the air corps as high as Majors and in the navy as high as Lieutenant which was a two-striper, so if I would have gone in the navy, which was a two-striper, so if I would have gone in the navy, he would have given me a full Lieutenant's two bars, which would have been the equivalent of Captain. That would have been better than if I'd have – I'm pretty sure better than my class mates had and I was really thinking very seriously about it, that if I did stay I would go in the navy. He was authorized even to give Bob Neale a Lieutenant Colonel, because Bob had been doing quite a lot of the work and was the squadron commander that had been in more action than most, than the others. So he was authorized to give him a Lieutenant Colonel, and for the extra two weeks that he stayed out there, he was a Commanding Officer of the army group, which was a little unusual to have a civilian as the Commanding Officer but Bob Neale stayed on for two weeks to help out, he was the CO of the group down there and Kweilin. Then when I started to come out of there, I don't think any of us thought the war was going to last 'til 1945. We all still had the idea we were gonna beat them a lot sooner than that and then when I got over to Din Jan and some of the guys had already stopped, they were flying the Hump, and actually before I joined the navy I was trying to get on to Pan Am working as a steward on their flying boats across the Pacific and I had a call to report the same time as I got a call to report for flight training so I �figured I'm not going to go work as a steward if I can go back as a pilot. So I went in the navy and I still had it in my mind that somewhere along the line when this war's over and I do my hitch in the navy I'm gonna work for Pan Am. When you live in San Francisco the flying boats on the Pacific were a pretty big thing there and so when we got over to Din Jan on our way out, they wanted to put us to work right then and there, flying the Hump, and a bunch of our guys did it, they stayed right on there and flew the Hump, but I said I want to go home first and then come back. FRANK BORING: How difficult was it to get home, to get your [?] back? DICK ROSSI: It got a little tough getting home because the word came out not to help anybody get home and the poor guys that stayed the extra two weeks had the worst of it. You would think they would have got the best of it for volunteering to stay two weeks, but they got the worst of it. They were completely cut off. The ones that left a little early, they got by before the word got out. By the time I reached Karachi which was the jumping off place, I was with two other AVG guys, Hennessy and Cavanagh, and we had all been talking to CNAC, and we had all said, "Yeah, I'd come back." "But," we said, "We’re gonna home now." So they said, "Okay, when you get to New York, report in to Pan Am," and they gave us a letter of introduction to Pan Am. So when we got to Karachi, there was a Colonel and a Major there that were out at the airport. They were sort of controlling the traffic, and when we got there, word had already come out from Chennault and Stillwell, and Bissell saying don't give AVG people any passage home. But too I had been over there earlier to pick up some P-43's for the Chinese Air Force and I'd met these Colonels and the Major in charge, and we had these letters from CNAC on Pan Am stationery, so he let us go through as Pan Am ferry pilots, as kind of a favor. We didn't appear as AVG, we appeared as Pan Am ferry pilots, because Pan Am was ferrying airplanes out there. So he gave us permission to buy a ticket on Pan Am. So we got on Pan Am and when we showed Pan Am these letters, they didn't even charge us for the ticket and once �we left Karachi we were okay. We hedge-hopped all the way across there on different planes 'til we got out to the west coast of Africa where we had to cross the Atlantic. A stratocruiser was going back to South America by way of Ascension Island, and so we got permission from Pan Am to ride on that. When we got out to Ascension Island, the plane broke down, – lost an engine. They were going to have to fly one in, and we spent the night in Ascension Island and they talked to the guy who was in charge of it – we got a tour of the island. Next morning there was a B24 came through from England and they were bringing some ferry pilots home so they could bring over some more B-24's and they had empty seats on there so they asked us if we wanted to ride to South America with them, so we said fine. We got on that and when we got to South America to the hotel, we went into the Pan Am office and said, "We were on the stratocruiser out there and so save our seats, we just came in on the B24 as we're heading for Miami." "Here we've got a plane in from Miami right now. You wanna get on it?" So we went and got on that and some navy pilot that I knew from before was flying it so we got up to Miami on that without even paying, so the three of us lucked out pretty well on that deal. FRANK BORING: How did you feel about having to go to all those lengths to get back? DICK ROSSI: I don't know. I didn't really give it that much thought as long as it was working, because the majority of people waited around Karachi until they saw it was hopeless, then I guess on the advice of the American Consul there, they went down to Bombay, where they a troop ship was going back, and one of the Matson liners had been converted, so they all got passage home on that ship out of Bombay. So we had quite a group on that one ship. FRANK BORING: But you felt no resentment after this year of combat and volunteering to be cut loose and told (inaudible)…? �DICK ROSSI: I guess we weren't that happy about it, that's for use. I think at that time, for a short period, there was a little period in there when there was a certain amount of resentment built up against Chennault. After he got to be a General, some of the guys got to thinking he's getting a little over eager, sending these damaged and patched up airplanes over enemy territory for no purpose. Not to catch anything but only as morale builders. You were over enemy territory, if the engine quits, you were down. If you were flying down to 1,000 ft. over the troops to build their morale, but anybody down there could take a rifle and take a shot at you. I think there was a certain feeling that he's pushing harder than he ever did. Of course, the airplanes were getting in worse shape, the guys were getting a little physically run down, so I guess it was kind of a culmination of all this, and then when over in Karachi they told us that the word came from Stillwell and Chennault that we weren't supposed to get rides home, not to help us, that didn't make anybody feel very good either. FRANK BORING: Looking back now, you'd think at least you could have got a ride home. DICK ROSSI: Bissell outranked Chennault just be an hour you might say. They both were given their promotion to Brigadier General but they definitely saw to it that Bissell got his ahead of Chennault, and when they had been in the service before, Chennault was senior to Bissell. So I got a feeling that it pretty much originated with Bissell because he was teed off that his message – he told the guys that if you don't stay out here, if you do go home, that we'll have the draught board waiting for you when you step ashore in the States, and you'll be in the walking army and this sort of thing. I think he was chagrined that he got such a small response is probably what caused it because, it wouldn't have hurt him to give 'em rides home. All their stuff was going home empty, they were bringing stuff out and going home empty so to speak. I rode in one C47 across one part of Africa that had nothing in it but a bunch of mattresses they were sending to some barracks somewhere. Of �course, we had it easy, we just went in the back, laid down on mattresses, although the cabin was full of iron mattresses! FRANK BORING: Looking back on it now, Dick, what do you feel about those days? What has remained, no so much the memories, but just what kind of feelings do you have looking back on that time? DICK ROSSI: Having gotten home from it okay, I'm certainly glad that I was there. I think that it was probably one of the major experiences and challenges in my life. It was something that was interesting, it was something that I felt was worthwhile. If I had foreseen probably that the war would have lasted this long, I would have probably stayed there and gone in the navy because that was another thing, I knew if I'd gone in the navy there, that they wouldn't let me there too long, that I would get to go home probably by the end of the year at least. But you can't foresee what's gonna happen tomorrow. No, I don't regret having gone out there at all. I think all of the stuff – there's a certain amount of things you tend to put up with and when a war comes along, you know you're gonna have to put up with a lot more things because – when we were in Magwe, conditions there were really primitive. It was kind of an unusual area, it was a desert area type, whereas the other parts were in Toungoo and Rangoon, they were more jungle type, lush greenery. Here in Magwe it was like a desert. We had sandstorms there that blew our tents away, we only had a couple or three tents out in the field. We were all living in one house. It was kind of rugged, yet when a war is on, you figure, this is it. What else can you do? Nobody's going to come out here and build a barracks. You just learn that this is how it is. All in all, I'm glad I went. FRANK BORING: What do you feel personally about what you did there in terms of your accomplishments there? What do you feel you did? DICK ROSSI: I don't know, I just felt that I went along and did my part, contributed to the group as much as I had the opportunity to and �was able to. When it came time to do anything, I was sent anywhere, I went. FRANK BORING: What do you feel about the AVG itself, what they did for that particular period of time? What sets them out from everything else that was going on in the war? DICK ROSSI: I think one of the things was that they were there when it started, and they were off of U.S. territory. They weren't, say, in Manilla where we in control, or in Hawaii, we were in a foreign country and we were there. One of the things that gets to be like a misconception, they have a tendency to say it was like a pick-up group. Actually every pilot out there came out of the service, was in the service in 1941 and was a trained military pilot. It wasn't like the Eagle Squadron was made up of people who couldn't make it in the military, or wanted to learn to fly or, maybe had never had – most of them probably had never had military training or weren't able to complete it. Everyone out there had been a military pilot in one phase or another, they weren't all in fighters, but adapting to that wasn't all that difficult because, when you were a cadet, you went through the different phases, so if they wanted you to be a patrol pilot, they put you in a patrol plane, if they wanted you to be a sea plane pilot, they put you in a sea plane, if they wanted you to be a carrier pilot, they put you in a carrier type plane. Of course, the carrier types weren't all fighters because they had the dive bombers and the scout planes. It wasn't just a pick-up group, everybody out there had been to military training and had put a certain amount of time in the service. FRANK BORING: There are not too many people that you could say that – what you did is in the history books and will probably always be in the history books. It was certainly in the minds and in the souls of the Chinese people, and as a major aspect of our own history, American history. How do you feel though personally, how do you feel the AVG fits into the scheme of things, so to speak? �DICK ROSSI: I don't know. If think if we had been a military outfit – say for example, if we had been a military unit out there, I don't know that it would have been all that different. If we'd had the same equipment, the same deal, and we'd been a military unit instead of a civilian unit, I don't know if there'd have been that much difference. We worked side by side with the RAF, and they didn't act like we were civilians instead of military pilots at all. We happened to be out at a time when two major – good news came to the States during a real idyllic time and that was Doolittle coming through and our group out there was some of the only good news they had from the Orient during that early months of the war. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Flying Tigers Interviews and Films Subject The topic of the resource Oral history United States--History, Military China--History, Military Veterans China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Chinese World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Description An account of the resource Collection contains original 1940s films and interviews conducted in the 1990s, documenting the history of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Flying Tigers." The Flying Tigers were organized by the United States to aid China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Original filmstrips were recorded by AVG crewmen Joe Gasdick and Chuck Misenheimer, as well as Chinese Air Force Interpreter P.Y. Shu, who was assigned to assist Col. Claire Chennault as he trained Chinese pilots and established the AVG. Interviews with members of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) “Flying Tigers” were conducted by Frank Boring for the documentary film Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers, which he co-produced with Frank Christopher under the production company Fei Hu Films. The AVG Flying Tigers were a group of American aviators, mechanics, medical and administrative military personnel, led by Col. Claire Chennault to assist the Chinese Air Force in their defense against Japanese air strikes from 1941-1942. The AVG Flying Tigers also flew in defense of the Burma Road, a major Chinese military supply route. The group disbanded and returned to regular U.S. military service after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Boring, Frank Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/540">Fei Hu Films Research and Production Files (RHC-88)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1938/1991 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Fei Hu Films Christopher, Frank Gasdick, Joseph Misenheimer, Charles V. P.Y. Shu Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4; application/pdf Language A language of the resource English; Chinese Type The nature or genre of the resource video; text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-88 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1938-1945 World War II Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-88_Rossi_Dick_1991-02-06_v05 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rossi, John Richard "Dick" Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1991-02-06 Title A name given to the resource Dick Rossi interview (video and transcript, 5 of 6), 1991 Description An account of the resource Interview of John Richard "Dick" Rossi by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Dick Rossi served in the American Volunteer Group (AVG) as a Flight Leader for the 1st Squadron, "Adam and Eves." He joined the AVG in 1941 after being discharged from service in the US Navy, where he had been assigned as a flight instructor at Pensacola Naval Air Station. He arrived in Burma in November 1941 and began training on the P-40 airplanes, but had not yet completed his training when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Though officially attached to the 1st Squadron, he was also temporarily assigned to both the 2nd and 3rd Squadrons. In this tape, Rossi describes his own feelings in the final days of the AVG and their difficulties in returning to the United States, in addition to his overall thoughts on the group's success and place in history. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Boring, Frank (interviewer) Christopher, Frank (director) Fei Hu Films Subject The topic of the resource Oral history United States--History, Military China--History, Military Veterans China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/540">Fei Hu Films research and production files (RHC-88)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/a774ff9886c510b9a0dbe9b9476c26b8.mp4 f8ac1d1c2db269ba5a57fb62d400c401 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/b03434cb918665a18e27a5d63414a1d0.pdf f4704e59be9639b01f950b1a7fdff31c PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Special Collections & University Archives RHC-88 Fei Hu Films Flying Tigers Interview Interviewer: Frank Boring Interviewee: Richard “Dick” Rossi Date of Interview: 02-06-1991 Transcriber: Frank Boring [TAPE 6] FRANK BORING: When you first joined the AVG, what was your main motivation? Did you think in terms of defending China or fighting Japan? DICK ROSSI: When I joined the AVG, I didn't really think the Japanese would dare to attack us to tell you the truth. People talked about war as being inevitable, but I really didn't think that they were gonna attack us from all the way out there, I figured any conquering they did would be in Asia. I wasn't really all that familiar with China as a country or the people as a whole. To me it was more of a challenge, and I really thought it was something that would further my navy career, if I would have put in that year out there. There was one thing that did impress me from that whole experience in China was the appreciation that our unit, our group got from the Chinese people, and even to this day, they carry it on. They still appreciate and thank us for being out there and stopping the bombing of their cities. Before I went out there, the only thing I saw about that was the newsreels. When they had the newsreels at the movies and showed Chungking be bombed and Shanghai being bombed, and Nanking. But it was kind of long range at that time; you're sitting in a comfortable theater seeing it. But when we got out there, bombing of Chungking stopped, the bombing of Kunming stopped, and when we got down to Kweilin, we slowed down the bombing down there so, those people were very appreciative. We didn't really have that close a contact with them �while we were there because – I spent a lot of my time even in Burma. But even when we were in China, we didn't really have that much contact with them. We were living in our hostel out by the airport, we got to town to go to the stores, but you weren't meeting people personally, you were going into a restaurant or shop and seeing a shopkeeper, we didn't have that close a contact so much. Especially the ones in the lower echelons. Naturally, Chennault and the others, they were in constant contact with the Chinese and the ones who were in authority there, but the average person in our group wasn't really that close. But at the different places, like in Kunming and Chungking and Kweilin, these people would come out and give these parties and express their appreciation and I thought that part made it feel a little more worthwhile too. FRANK BORING: Did you know P.Y. Shu or Tiger Wong at that time? DICK ROSSI: Didn't know Tiger Wong at that time, I just knew of him. He was Colonel Wong at that time, but I just knew that he was in the higher command of the CAF, but P.Y. Shu was with Chennault all the time that he was in the office, so anytime you saw Chennault, P.Y. Shu wasn't far away, so I got to see P.Y. quite a lot more. FRANK BORING: How was his relationship with the Tigers? Did he get along with you guys? DICK ROSSI: There again, we didn't have that much direct contact with him. He was Chennault's interpreter and translator, and he was with Chennault and all, but he didn't come to our squadron or to our quarters or anything like that. Mostly we would see him when he was with the old man, driving around somewhere, coming into the field or whatever. FRANK BORING: What was Greg Boyington like? �DICK ROSSI: He was a hell raiser! We were instructors together down at Pensacola, so I knew Greg from before. We signed up together, went out on the same ship together. He had a drinking problem which we all knew about. Some of us who were down at Pensacola probably realized it a little more. From a personal point of view on board the ship with him and the squadron, I had no problem with him. When he got a little obnoxious with his drinking, I just stayed out of way, because when he got really well along, he would want to take on anybody. He could pick an argument with anybody once he got drunk. But when he wasn't drunk, he just was not much different from anybody else out there, from my point of view, and as I say, I'd known him for a couple of years before, so I wasn't surprised by anything he did. FRANK BORING: In terms of his flying though, he was considered one of the better fighters or pilots, but how did he treat his airplanes and how was that relationship with – if he flew a plane then the next day someone else would have to get in that plane. What kind of things happened regarding that? DICK ROSSI: I think that was pretty much like everybody else. I know one time in Toungoo during the early period when they were checking out. Being a marine, he had fighter training, so he was a little bit ahead of us who didn't, and I think he had – so much power you were supposed to put in those airplanes, you could put more on but you didn't know what the results would be, they weren't built for it, and I know that one day he had some kind of a problem and had to go around and put the throttle on way past the limits, and I think the next someone flew that airplane and the engine quit on them, but he wasn't the only who did that, that's for sure. FRANK BORING: Why did he leave the Tigers? DICK ROSSI: That's a good question. Pappy was a little bit – he didn't like authority very much for one thing, and why he decided to go home and leave the group I really don't know. He just suddenly up – �because he had a position of responsibility in the squadron and he didn't because of his drinking, he would let that responsibility slide pretty much, he didn't get along very well with Bob Neale, because that reflected on Bob, so they had a lot of friction at times between them, although by the same token, Bob Neale had recommended him and he was given promotion to a Vice Squadron Commander, and that wasn't too long before he took off and left, and a lot of people say that he was fired, but he wasn't really fired, he just quit, he just said, "I'm going home." and he went. FRANK BORING: I know you became very close with the guys when you were in training and also when you fought and everything, what was your reaction to the first death in the AVG, the first one that didn't come back or was even shot down. DICK ROSSI: We started having deaths before anything ever happened, just in the original training, but was before I was there. I didn't know any of the people that were involved. When the first two pilots were killed in Rangoon, I didn't know either of them. Because operated in separate squadrons, living in different quarters we didn't even see some of these guys. I didn't even meet Arvid Olson who commanded the 3rd squadron until I went down to work for him in Burma and it's when, I think, somebody that you know more closely. When somebody in our squadron started getting it, you feel it a little bit more. When Hoffman and Christman who we knew pretty well because of working with the 2nd squadron, when they got it of course, you're down there on the scene at the same time. Then Sandell got it and then it hits a little bit more, but I guess in wartime you sort of expect it. FRANK BORING: The last time we talked you were rather descriptive about the fall of Rangoon. I just wondered if you could go over that again, there were a lot of stories that came out of that one. DICK ROSSI: The last days that came out of Rangoon were pretty chaotic. We kept getting all kinds of rumors. We'd have rumors that the Japs �had announced they were dropping paratroopers, we had rumors that the British were sending in a whole brigade of tank corps and they were gonna drive the Japs back, we had all kinds of rumors that were frightening and encouraging, and none of them really seemed to materialize. I don't know where they started, but I guess even when they were having some of their conferences, and they would demand that the British would do something to hold Rangoon, they'd say, "Yes we will," and we'd get a big rumor but no action took place. And we even heard one time when the ships were already out there with these people, we would put up two planes to go over and make sure when they got to the dock, that they wouldn't be jumped or anything. They never came over and the last few days, so much of the population had left, storekeepers had left, administrators had left, families had left, houses were abandoned, we were living with families at that time, and the families, or the owners of the families would take off and just leave you with the house. At the same time, stores were boarded up or abandoned, you could just go in and help yourself and go down to the docks that were loaded with all kinds of equipment, durable, commercial and more stuff, you could go in there and load a truck full of anything you wanted. And you could go and get the truck too, and that's what we were going quite a lot, we were scrounging a lot, we were lining up trucks and material. I remember one truck came back loaded with nothing but sherry and wine. Another truck we loaded with gabardine, we were all going to have gabardine uniforms made. We would take these big six by [?] of the army military and take two jeeps and stand them up on their back end, so that one guy could drive three pieces of equipment up towards China so we'd have wheels. There was a lot of that going on. It got to the point where we didn't have any food supply, regular food supply because we'd be living in an abandoned home or something like that, and we'd just send a couple of mechanics down town with tommy guns and a truck and just scrounge around the warehouses and come back with whatever food – I remember one day all they came back with was cases of canned peaches.so we ate canned peaches for two meals. Everything was chaotic, they let all the �people out of jails, they let them out of insane asylums, they were closing down the hospitals, the sick were on their own. So things got real chaotic. Then all of a sudden, the word comes out, "We're gonna hold at all costs." Then the next day, that would disappear somewhere. The last day that we did any action in Rangoon, that night we took all the airplanes out and dispersed them, out at these little fields around the area, so that they wouldn't be there for the night bombing. Except we had one airplane still there that the mechanics were gonna work on. And somewhere in the early morning, Bob Neale came around and told us, "We've got to get the heck out of here because the British have left, and the direction finders have all gone." He had a station wagon and he took me down to the – our mechanic said that that plane was ready to go, Bob drove me down there to pick up that last P-40, I think it was number 89 or something, I don't remember, but he got down there and it was like a Hindu sitting straddled on the fuselage of that airplane, kind of leaning against the vertical stabilizer, and he was sort of covered with blood. First I started thinking, sabotage, because there were a lot of Japanese agents in there, but this guy was like he was shell-shocked, and I never did figure out what the heck happened to him, whether he was one of the guys from the insane asylum, got hit by some shrapnel or something because they had bombed during the night, or what, or whether he was okay to start with and maybe he was shell-shocked from the concussion, but we got him off the airplane and he just mumbled and didn't want to fight or anything, he just left, so we took a pretty good examination of the airplane and except for a few shrapnel holes in it, it seemed to be okay, so I took it off and flew it off to one of the other fields where I was gonna had some more gas to it and then we were gonna fly up to Magwe to get out of there and by the time we got out this other field and got rid of the gas, we got another alert and the bombers were back over and we just still had some ack ack going, it was about eighteen miles out of town, so they could aim it up over as these planes circled away, so he said, "Get the heck out of here and head for Magwe," so we jumped in the airplanes, I was sure low on gas by then, anyway, we took off with �the British ack ack, we didn't know whether they were firing at us or who, we were flying through their forest of ack ack out there and took off – that was another kind of a chaotic deal. We had left one guy there who had disappeared a day or so before, Ed Leibolt, we were still worried about whether he might still be alive or whether we were abandoning him or not, but he was never seen again. FRANK BORING: Did you ever meet Chiang Kai-shek or Madam Chiang Kai-shek? DICK ROSSI: Yeah, I met them, when I say met them, I didn't have any conversation with him, he didn't speak English. One day, Michelson and I picked up Madam at the airport and took her down to the hostel to serve her tea or have the houseboy serve her tea, but we didn't realize at the time, she was the Madam, we just thought she was a good looking gal! We asked her if she'd like to go down and have tea, she said yes, and went with us. When we found out when we got back and there were all these secret service types of the Chinese fuming around the place and everything, we found out what we'd done. FRANK BORING: What was your impression of her? DICK ROSSI: She was very charming, good looking gal and she spoke English with a Georgia accent. I didn't have any communication or anything with her other than say that one occasion there when she came down for tea. But as a politician or leader I never had any contact with her. At the two parties they gave for us, I was out somewhere with the squadron when they both took place so I didn't get to those. FRANK BORING: Can you describe the attitudes about the Japanese as pilots before you actually went up against them and heard what Chennault said about them, and then after you actually had contact with the Japanese as fighters. �DICK ROSSI: I always heard the old prototype stories that they all wear thick glasses and have spiked haircuts or something, but naturally none of these things ever hold up. I think they were just like anybody else, they had a lot of good ones, and a lot of them that weren't that good, and they had some that were very experienced, and some that were really inexperienced and I think we came across all kinds of them. Because sometimes you'd come up against one by surprise and he'd look as shocked as you would if it happened to you. I tried to shoot one down over Kweilin one day. I was tearing down on him and I figured I'm not gonna shoot him until I get so close that it's gonna break up the airplane. When I got that close and pulled the trigger, every gun jammed. Not a bullet came out of any one of six guns, and I had picked up so much speed that I went right passed him, pulled up right alongside of his wing to turn away from him so I could go out and charge my guns but I was close enough to look in the cockpit and I saw that look of surprise on his face, he didn't know I was there at all. His eyes were as big as saucers almost you might say. There was a shocked look on his face, and of course, he peeled off immediately to the left and I peeled off to the right so I could get out. I kept going fast because I figured if he turned after me, he'd get a good shot at me, so I wanted to get away from him as soon as I could and as far enough to charge my guns and come back instead of him coming after me, he peeled off the other way, and by the time I got out and charged my guns and came back, I couldn't find him, I'd lost him, and that broke my heart because I was right over the field and Chennault was down there, I could have dropped one in his lap. FRANK BORING: Wasn't there a fantasy that these Japanese really couldn't carry on the war, they couldn't fight. DICK ROSSI: There was a certain amount of that conversation about them that they would do everything by the book and they wouldn't do this and that, but they didn't all follow that. They had some pretty sharp guys too. When you stop and think about it, you can't hardly figure any way than they had some sharp guys. �FRANK BORING: ………………… of the Flying Tigers DICK ROSSI: Talk about the image, I think it depends on whose eyes you're looking through because a lot of people like to write it up as a bunch of mercenaries and drunks, and other people like to write it up as a really fine-honed fighting group and some are in between. It was just, I'd say, an average group. If you could put brought them up against an equal sized group in any of our own services, they'd have probably been darn near the same. FRANK BORING: The one on one battle you had, the most vivid kill. DICK ROSSI: I still have to go back to the most vivid one was my first one because they were head on passes, I mean, you're just looking at one guy shooting straight at you and you're shooting at him. The others, like when you jump somebody from behind, they don't see you and you don't see them or maybe they know you're there, but there's nothing they can do about it. Usually, if there are a lot of airplanes the activity is a lot more chaotic. There was a deal where for a certain number of minutes, there were just two of us together, and this continually coming back and trying to get the other guy and I think that's more vivid just because it was strictly one on one for enough time until I finally got jumped by his buddies and got out of there. I think that always seems to be more memorable. You're looking down that guy's guns a few times in a row and you keep wondering who's gonna hit first, and that makes it a little more vivid than when you're in a melee of some kind with everybody going in all directions. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Flying Tigers Interviews and Films Subject The topic of the resource Oral history United States--History, Military China--History, Military Veterans China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Chinese World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Description An account of the resource Collection contains original 1940s films and interviews conducted in the 1990s, documenting the history of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) "Flying Tigers." The Flying Tigers were organized by the United States to aid China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Original filmstrips were recorded by AVG crewmen Joe Gasdick and Chuck Misenheimer, as well as Chinese Air Force Interpreter P.Y. Shu, who was assigned to assist Col. Claire Chennault as he trained Chinese pilots and established the AVG. Interviews with members of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) “Flying Tigers” were conducted by Frank Boring for the documentary film Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers, which he co-produced with Frank Christopher under the production company Fei Hu Films. The AVG Flying Tigers were a group of American aviators, mechanics, medical and administrative military personnel, led by Col. Claire Chennault to assist the Chinese Air Force in their defense against Japanese air strikes from 1941-1942. The AVG Flying Tigers also flew in defense of the Burma Road, a major Chinese military supply route. The group disbanded and returned to regular U.S. military service after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Boring, Frank Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/540">Fei Hu Films Research and Production Files (RHC-88)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1938/1991 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Fei Hu Films Christopher, Frank Gasdick, Joseph Misenheimer, Charles V. P.Y. Shu Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4; application/pdf Language A language of the resource English; Chinese Type The nature or genre of the resource video; text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-88 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1938-1945 World War II Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-88_Rossi_Dick_1991-02-06_v06 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rossi, John Richard "Dick" Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1991-02-06 Title A name given to the resource Dick Rossi interview (video and transcript, 6 of 6), 1991 Description An account of the resource Interview of John Richard "Dick" Rossi by filmmaker Frank Boring for the documentary Fei Hu: The Story of the Flying Tigers. Dick Rossi served in the American Volunteer Group (AVG) as a Flight Leader for the 1st Squadron, "Adam and Eves." He joined the AVG in 1941 after being discharged from service in the US Navy, where he had been assigned as a flight instructor at Pensacola Naval Air Station. He arrived in Burma in November 1941 and began training on the P-40 airplanes, but had not yet completed his training when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Though officially attached to the 1st Squadron, he was also temporarily assigned to both the 2nd and 3rd Squadrons. In this tape, Rossi describes his main motivation for joining the American Volunteer Group and his reaction to experiencing loss among the group. He also goes into detail on the fall of Rangoon and the attitudes of the Japanese as pilots. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Boring, Frank (interviewer) Christopher, Frank (director) Fei Hu Films Subject The topic of the resource Oral history United States--History, Military China--History, Military Veterans China. Kong jun. American Volunteer Group World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/540">Fei Hu Films research and production files (RHC-88)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng