Kalafut, Adolph (Interview outline, video, and papers), 2008
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: United States. Army
subject: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
subject: Video recordings
description: Adolph Kalafut was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 3, 1924. His father had been a Polish immigrant that owned and operated a bar during Prohibition. His parents wanted him to have an excellent education and paid for him to go to school at a military academy that was similar to West Point. Adolph enlisted in the Marines on September 15, 1943. Training was very easy for him and he was well prepared. Adolph was sent to Iwo Jima after training and it was a very difficult experience for him. He was wounded while in Iwo Jima and it took him about a year to recover. Adolph later worked in a VA hospital in Los Angeles and in Battle Creek, Michigan. Accounts of Iwo Jima from a Marine are appended to interview outline.
creator: Kalafut, Adolph
source: Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2008-08-05
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Justice, Alfred (Interview outline and video), 2011
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: United States. Army
subject: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
description: Alfred Justice was born in southwestern Virginia. He joined the army in September of 1939 mostly because it was impossible to find a job as a young man during that time. Mr. Justice received his training at Ft. Knox, and was stationed at Fort Custer at the time of Pearl Harbor. For the first three years of the war, he trained other soldiers in tanks and tank destroyers at Fort Custer, Fort Hood and Fort Jackson before finally sailing to England with a tank battalion. Landing in France late in 1944, his battalion participated in the Battle of the Bulge, where he received a battlefield commission, and went on into Germany, where he saw concentration camps and displaced persons, and remained for several months after the end of the war.
creator: Justice, Alfred
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2011-07-07
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
contributor: Kentwood Historic Preservation Commission (Kentwood, Mich.)
contributor: WKTV
contributor: WKTV (Wyoming, Mich.)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Joyner, Ron (Interview outline and video), 2010
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: United States. Army
subject: Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
description: Ron Joyner was drafted into the Army in 1970 as part of the first group to be drafted through the lottery system. He volunteered for helicopter pilot training, which he took at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and was then sent to Germany. From there, he was sent to Vietnam toward the end of American involvement there. Most of his missions in Vietnam involved ferrying troops into the field and bringing them back again, and he does not recall being involved in any large battles.
creator: Joyner, Ron
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2010-06-06
contributor: Blakeney, Julia (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Jouppi, James (Interview outline and video), 2013
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
subject: Peace Corps (U.S.)
subject: Vietnam
description: James was born on Long Island, December 10, 1948. His father was in the Marine Corps and served in Korea. The family moved around during his childhood but they eventually settled back in New York. After graduating from high school in 1966, Jim went to Cornell University. He flunked out and tried another school to avoid the draft. He later graduated from Cornell with a degree in Civil Engineering. He joined the Peace Corps in 1971 and was stationed in Thailand. After being there for three years, he returned home and eventually joined the United States Army and served as a medic in Germany.
creator: Jouppi, James
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2013-05-30
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Jongsma, Herm (Interview outline and video), 2008
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: United States. Army
subject: Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American
subject: Video recordings
description: Herm Jongsma was born in 1931, during the Depression. As a result he moved around a lot as a child, but ended up going to Calvin College for a brief time. He was drafted to the Army in 1952 to serve in the Korean War. He was a light mechanic, but served as a liaison with the Greek battalion on the front line north of Seoul.
creator: Jongsma, Herm
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2008-09-18
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
contributor: Byron Area Historic Museum (Byron Center, Mich.)
contributor: BCTV
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Jones, Williams (Interview outline and video), 2011
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
subject: United States. Marine Corps
description: Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1947, William Jones divided his younger years growing up between Ionia, Michigan and Manchester, New Hampshire. After graduating from high school in Manchester, Jones followed family tradition and enlisted in the military, specifically the Marine Corps. After completing basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Jones went to the Marine Corps' base at Quantico, Virginia for training in supply and logistics. When he finished training at Quantico, Jones deployed to Vietnam, where he served with the 1st Marine Division in Da Nang as part of a supply and logistics unit. Following a yearlong tour in Vietnam, Jones returned to the United States before deploying overseas again, this time to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Once his tour at Guantánamo Bay was complete, Jones returned to Camp Lejeune, where he finished the remainder of his enlistment.
creator: Jones, William
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2011-02-10
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
contributor: Kentwood Historic Preservation Commission (Kentwood, Mich.)
contributor: WKTV
contributor: WKTV (Wyoming, Mich.)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Jones, Bobby (Interview outline and video), 2012
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: United States. Marine Corps
subject: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
description: Bobby Jones was born in July of 1925 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated from Creston High School where he was one of eight African American students. After receiving his draft notice two months after graduation, Bobby left for Montford Point Camp in North Carolina for Basic Training. He stayed and helped train new recruits once Basic Training was completed. Bobby then boarded a ship in Virginia for Okinawa. En route to Okinawa, he passed through the Panama Canal, Guam, and Iwo Jima. When he returned to the United States, Bobby reenlisted for four years and became a Drill Instructor. He remembers the training facilities being segregated between blacks and whites. In 1949 he married the sister of Malcolm X.
creator: Jones, Bobby
creator: Jones, Steven
creator: Jones, Deborah
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2012-10-18
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
contributor: Kentwood Historic Preservation Commission (Kentwood, Mich.)
contributor: WKTV
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Jones, Bert R., II (Interview outline and video), 2008
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
subject: United States. Army
description: Bert Jones II was a combat soldier in the Vietnam War for the U.S. Army. He mainly fought in the Tan Yen Province, but was in Cambodia for 45 days, as well. He does not discuss in specific detail what he did during the War, but he does describe the emotional impact it caused.
creator: Jones, Bert R.
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2008-06-01
contributor: Canada, Kelsey (Interviewer)
contributor: Caledonia High School (Caledonia, Mich.)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Johnson, William (Interview outline and video), 2005
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: United States. Army
subject: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
description: William Johnson served in a regimental communications center in the 79th Division in Europe during World War II. He landed on Utah Beach with an advance party shortly after D-Day, and participated in the campaigns in Normandy, France and Germany.
creator: Johnson, William
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2005-02
contributor: Dilly, Keaton (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Johnson, Mae (Interview outline and video), 2012
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
subject: United States. Army. Women's Army Corps
description: Mae Johnson was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1919. She graduated from Leavenworth High School in 1937 and eventually went to nursing school. Because she could not finish nursing school, Mae traveled to California with a friend. After visiting California, she decided she would enlist in Woman's Army Corps (WAC) in New Haven, Connecticut. She was then sent to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia for basic training. After basic training, Mae was sent to Hot Springs, Arkansas where she worked in a hospital as she was assigned to the Surgical and Medical Wards. Once she was finished in Arkansas in early 1945, she was sent to Fort Sheridan, Illinois where she maintained a similar position as before. While at Fort Sheridan she met her future husband and met many German POWs.
creator: Johnson, Mae
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2012-02-08
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Johnson, Forrest (Interview outline and video), 2012
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: United States. Army
subject: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
description: Forrest Johnson, born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Johnson served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After Pearl Harbor, he tried to join the Army Air Corps and the Marine Corps, but both rejected him due to colorblindness. The Army drafted him in 1943. He was eventually sent to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to join the 378th Regiment, 95th Division, and went with them to train in the California desert before shipping to England in August, 1944. In October, they went to France and joined the 3rd Army at Nancy. Johnson participated in several battles near Metz, and was wounded at Amanvillers in November. The wound ended his military career early, sending him to hospitals in France, England and the US, and he was discharged in early 1945.
creator: Johnson, Forrest
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2012-01-10
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
contributor: Byron Area Historic Museum (Byron Center, Mich.)
contributor: BCTV
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Johnson, Fay (Interview outline and video), 2005
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: United States. Navy
subject: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
subject: Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American
description: Fay Johnson, born in Lowell Michigan in 1925, served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945 in the Pacific during World War II. After completing his basic training, Fay was sent to specialty school where he eventually was made a fire controller. After training, Fay was placed aboard the destroyer USS Terry and sailed to Saipan and then took part in the invasion of Iwo Jima. The ship encountered some damage during the invasion and needed to be sent back to San Francisco for repairs, and returned to duty off the coast of Japan before the end of the war.
creator: Johnson, Fay
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2005-11-16
contributor: Blough, Nick (Interviewer)
contributor: Blough, Ivan (Interviewer)
contributor: Lowell Area Historical Museum (Lowell, Mich.)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Johnson, Fay (Interview outline and video), 2008
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: United States. Navy
subject: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
subject: Video recordings
description: Fay Johnson was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and graduated from Lowell High School. After high school he joined the Navy and first trained as a radio tech and then a fire controller. He was assigned to the USS Terry and boarded it in November 1944. They went to Iwo Jima and their mission was to fire at targets on the island given to them by the marines. They were at Iwo Jima for 3-4 weeks and then went on picket duty between Japan and Iwo Jima. On their way back to Iwo Jima they were hit three times and had to go to San Francisco to get repaired. After they were repaired they were getting ready for the Japanese invasion, but the war ended.
creator: Johnson, Fay
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2008-08-25
contributor: Moore, Debra (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Johnson, Ellsworth (Al) (Interview outline and video), 2007
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
subject: United States. Army
description: Al Johnson was born in Columbus, Ohio, and served in the OSS during World War II. He was drafted into the Army after high school, and was selected for OSS after basic training. He was sent to England, and then parachuted into France where his unit helped the French resistance secure a dam. He was then shipped to China where he helped train the Chinese Army to fight the Japanese. After the war, he stayed in China for 30 days to help the Nationalist Army, and was then shipped home.
creator: Johnson, Ellsworth
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2007-06-15
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Johnson, Edward (Interview outline and video, 1 of 2), 2012
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: United States. Army
subject: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
description: Edward Johnson was born in Greenville, Michigan in 1919, and was drafted into the Army in 1941. After training to be a mechanic at Camp Boyd, Texas, Johnson joined Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. He went to England with this unit in 1942, and stayed with it through campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, Normandy, the Hurtgen Forest, Battle of the Bulge and the invasion of Germany, ending up in Czechoslovakia when the war ended.
creator: Johnson, Edward
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2012-02-28
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Johnson, Edward (Interview outline and video, 2 of 2), 2012
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: United States. Army
subject: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
description: Edward Johnson was born in Greenville, Michigan in 1919, and was drafted into the Army in 1941. After training to be a mechanic at Camp Boyd, Texas, Johnson joined Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. He went to England with this unit in 1942, and stayed with it through campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, Normandy, the Hurtgen Forest, Battle of the Bulge and the invasion of Germany, ending up in Czechoslovakia when the war ended.
creator: Johnson, Edward
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2012-02-28
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Johnson, Donald (Interview outline and video), 2007
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
subject: United States. Navy
subject: Veterans
description: Donald Johnson served in the Navy during WW II. He traveled mostly aboard a luxury ship that had been remodeled into a Navy ship. Johnson's crew traveled throughout the Pacific to Australia, Guam, and the Philippines. Johnson experienced combat three times while in the Pacific and also discussed his experience with Japanese Kamikazes.
creator: Johnson, Donald
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2007-05-19
contributor: Sayfie, Aaron (Interviewer)
contributor: Forest Hills Eastern High Schools (Ada, Mich.)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Hayhurst, Robert (Interview transcript and video), 2009
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
subject: United States. Army
description: Robert Hayhurst was born in Wisconsin in 1943. After completing college, he enlisted in the Army in 1966 and trained in military intelligence. He was initially posted to Germany, but requested a transfer to Vietnam in 1967. He was assigned to a military intelligence unit based in Hue. His unit was small and headquartered in the city rather than on a military base, so when the Tet Offensive began in 1968, his unit were besieged in their house and eventually captured by the North Vietnamese and smuggled out of Hue. While being marched overland toward Laos, he and one other prisoner escaped their captors and made it back to American lines. After extensive debriefing, he accepted reassignment to the United States for the last year of his enlistment, and was discharged in 1969.
creator: Hayhurst, Robert
source: Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2009-09-17
contributor: Serafino, Meg (Interviewer)
contributor: Lest We Forget
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Harris, James (Interview outline and video), 2012
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
subject: United States. Army
description: Jim Harris was born in South Dakota on December 29, 1941, and later moved to Minneapolis. After college, medical school and a year of internship, he was drafted into the Army in 1969. He trained at Fort Sam Houston in Texas, and was then sent to Vietnam. He served initially in a MASH unit with the 1st Division at Lai Khe, and when the division pulled out, he was transferred to Phu Loi, and then to the 101st Airborne Division at Camp Evans. In May, 1970 he voluntarily set up the battalion aid station on Firebase Ripcord, and stayed there until the base was evacuated in July. He remained with the battalion for the rest of his tour, serving on several different firebases, and went home late in the year. He completed his enlistment at Fort Pickett, Virginia.
creator: Harris, James
source: Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2012-06-01
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Jillson, Tom (Interview transcript and video), 2008
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: United States. Air Force
subject: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
description: Tom Jillson was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1947 and grew up in East Grand Rapids, Michigan. He joined the Air Force upon graduating high school and was initially trained as an electrical specialist, but was then transferred to accounting. He was stationed at Webb AFB in Texas for two years of his service and was then shipped to Vietnam for the remainder of his enlistment period. His job in Vietnam was a clerk, trading American money for Military bills. He remained in Da Nang for the greater part of his time in Vietnam.
creator: Jillson, Tom
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2008-12-18
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
contributor: Kentwood Historic Preservation Commission (Kentwood, Mich.)
contributor: WKTV
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Jennings, Stuart (Interview outline and video), 2007
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: United States. Air Force
subject: Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
subject: Video recordings
description: Stuart Jennings was born during the beginning of the Depression in Michigan. He said that growing up through that taught him to share, to do things on his own and to treat people well. After graduation Stuart became a cadet in the Army Air Corps in Texas and eventually a Barracks Corporal in the Air Corps. Stuart never experienced combat or went overseas. His job was to fly wounded men back and forth from hospitals in the United States. After his time in the service, Stuart got involved in the post-war house building boom after the war. The business allowed him to make a good living and travel.
creator: Jennings, Stuart
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2007-05-26
contributor: Collins Sr., Charles E. (Interviewer)
contributor: Collins, Carol (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Jeltema, Richard (Interview outline and video), 2009
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: United States. Navy
subject: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
subject: Video recordings
description: Richard Jeltema was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in December 1927. He enlisted in the Navy during high school. Richard chose to go into the submarine service and was stationed in New London, Connecticut. He was assigned to a submarine in Pearl Harbor and went to places like Guam, Okinawa, Australia, China and Russia between 1947and 1948. While working on the sub Richard was a mechanic in the auxiliary systems room. The sub mostly patrolled, but on one occasion searched for mines off the coast of Russia.
creator: Jeltema, Richard
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2009-02-17
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
contributor: Byron Area Historic Museum (Byron Center, Mich.)
contributor: BCTV
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Jelsema, Harry (Interview outline and video), 2008
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: United States. Army
subject: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
description: Harry Jelsema was born to a farmer in Allegan, Michigan and served in the Army during World War II. He was drafted in 1944, and sent to basic training and after that to Europe, where he was a bazooka man. He fought in Northern France, Belgium, and Northern Germany, eventually meeting the Soviets. He was then shipped back to the US and was supposed to go to Japan, but the war ended before this could happen. He worked a desk job at Fort Carson, Colorado until he was discharged in 1946.
creator: Jelsema, Harry
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2008-11-11
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
contributor: Byron Area Historic Museum (Byron Center, Mich.)
contributor: BCTV
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Jefferson, James (Interview outline and video), 2008
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Michigan--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Merchant mariner
subject: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
subject: Merchant marine--United States
subject: Video recordings
description: James Jefferson was born in New Jersey on July 13, 1924 and grew up in an integrated community. After high school James joined the Merchant Marines and was trained on Hoffman Island in New York Harbor. He enjoyed the training and did not feel discriminated against there, despite being the only black man in his class. When he signed aboard his first ship, however, he had to deal with a racist chief engineer who tried and failed to keep him off the ship. He describes some of his experiences in sailing around the world during and after World War II.
creator: Jefferson, James
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2008-05-21
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text