816 24 26018 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/84dca377baaadd09ee9998a0dd5dc0b9.pdf e7ea7075e0302285bfd6e4f8c7d8a69f PDF Text Text Rainbow Social! Join the LGBT Resource Center for ice cream and socializing as we greet our LGBT and allied students and welcome back returning ones! Live music by Liz Snavely of LVNMUZIQ! @ GRANDVALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY LGBT RESOURCE CENTER www.gvsu.edu/lgbtrc/ � 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 Sexuality and Gender Flyers Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Rainbow Resource Center Women and Gender Studies Department Women's Commission Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity Description An account of the resource Digitized posters, flyers, event notices, and other materials relating to gender expression and sexuality at Grand Valley State University, with materials spanning from 1974 to 2019. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1974/2019 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digitized from collections at the Rainbow Resource Center (formerly the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center), Women and Gender Studies Department, Women's Commission, and Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Subject The topic of the resource Gender identity Gender expression Sexual orientation Women's studies Queer theory Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-09 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 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre 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/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-09_SGF_LGBTQ_2013_Rainbow-Social_Flyer.pdf Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2013-09-04 Title A name given to the resource Rainbow Social Description An account of the resource Flyer with information on the 2013 social to welcome back students, and information of the event, including the place, time and date. Subject The topic of the resource Sexual minorities Community centers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Rainbow Resource Center Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Rainbow Resource Center https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/f28134fdb820c514530385c94e896c8d.pdf 9e00e425ddadad6ccc15517d3cf76943 PDF Text Text Rainbow Social! Join the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center for ice cream and socializing as we greet new students and welcome back returning ones! Live drag performances by Gabriella Galore and Ginger Ambrosia. @ GRANDVALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY. MILTON E. FORD LGBT RESOURCE CENTER www.gvsu.edu/lgbtrc � 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 Sexuality and Gender Flyers Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Rainbow Resource Center Women and Gender Studies Department Women's Commission Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity Description An account of the resource Digitized posters, flyers, event notices, and other materials relating to gender expression and sexuality at Grand Valley State University, with materials spanning from 1974 to 2019. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1974/2019 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digitized from collections at the Rainbow Resource Center (formerly the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center), Women and Gender Studies Department, Women's Commission, and Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Subject The topic of the resource Gender identity Gender expression Sexual orientation Women's studies Queer theory Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-09 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 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre 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/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-09_SGF_LGBTQ_2015_Rainbow-Social_Flyer.pdf Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2015-09-11 Title A name given to the resource Rainbow Social Description An account of the resource Flyer with information on the 2015 social to welcome back students, and information of the event, including the place, time and date. Subject The topic of the resource Sexual minorities Community centers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Rainbow Resource Center Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Rainbow Resource Center https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/b67fad66e20d88f53a670620c2afe613.pdf 7fe00c24c01affa72326842e5f5de526 PDF Text Text Rainbow Social! Join the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center for ice. cream and social izing as we greet new students and welcome back returning ones! Live drag performances! W.ednesdaY,, Segtemlleli i7. iZ:00 Qm LGBm Besource Center; ~ ~ 6~ Ki r:khot @ GRANo\MiEv STATE lJNivERsrn: MILTON E. FORD LGBT RESOURCE CENTER www.gvsu.edu/lgbtrc If you need accommodations to attend this event contact us at lgbtcenter@gvsu.edu or (616) 331-25 � 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 GVSU Sexuality and Gender Flyers Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Rainbow Resource Center Women and Gender Studies Department Women's Commission Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity Description An account of the resource Digitized posters, flyers, event notices, and other materials relating to gender expression and sexuality at Grand Valley State University, with materials spanning from 1974 to 2019. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1974/2019 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digitized from collections at the Rainbow Resource Center (formerly the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center), Women and Gender Studies Department, Women's Commission, and Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Subject The topic of the resource Gender identity Gender expression Sexual orientation Women's studies Queer theory Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-09 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 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre 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/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-09_SGF_LGBTQ_2016_Rainbow-Social_Flyer.pdf Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2016-09-07 Title A name given to the resource Rainbow Social Description An account of the resource Flyer with information on the 2016 social to welcome back students, and information of the event, including the place, time and date. Subject The topic of the resource Sexual minorities Community centers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Rainbow Resource Center Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Rainbow Resource Center https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/87f29d90785fa874711a9b9e2d7a1223.pdf a811044c423d79f4c5b26964e754912b PDF Text Text MILTON E. FORD RESOU RC CEN ER 7PM @ 1161 KC GRAND~ STATE lJNrvERSITI. MILTON E. FORD LGBT RESOURCE CENTER For additonal information contact us at: lgbtcenter@gvsu.edu I gvsu.edu/lgbtrc � 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 Sexuality and Gender Flyers Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Rainbow Resource Center Women and Gender Studies Department Women's Commission Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity Description An account of the resource Digitized posters, flyers, event notices, and other materials relating to gender expression and sexuality at Grand Valley State University, with materials spanning from 1974 to 2019. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1974/2019 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digitized from collections at the Rainbow Resource Center (formerly the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center), Women and Gender Studies Department, Women's Commission, and Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Subject The topic of the resource Gender identity Gender expression Sexual orientation Women's studies Queer theory Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-09 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 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre 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/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-09_SGF_LGBTQ_2017_Rainbow-Social_Flyer.pdf Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-09-06 Title A name given to the resource Rainbow Social Description An account of the resource Flyer with information on the 2017 social to welcome back students, and information of the event, including the place, time and date. Subject The topic of the resource Sexual minorities Community centers Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Rainbow Resource Center Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Rainbow Resource Center https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/0172bcb00966df9aea84412da25651f2.jpg 2ba6673988c2c88dff36a98c531c6690 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_LS00092 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource circa 1918-1919 Title A name given to the resource Raking fuel from field Description An account of the resource Black and white lantern slide of a Chinese farmer holding a large rake against his body with one arm, while holding the handle of a wicker basket with the other. On the man's back is a large bundle of hay or grass. Subject The topic of the resource Lantern slides China Farmers 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/63f5d217662a92cb662f62b00c68c577.pdf d5e9828b9896510aa390dc9887577df6 PDF Text Text Young Lords In Lincoln Park Interviewee: Ramon Rodriguez Interviewers: Jose “Cha Cha” Jimenez Location: Grand Valley State University Special Collections Date: 6/23/2012 Biography and Description Ramón Rodríguez is a semi-retired school teacher who lives in the Lao Frío section of San Salvador, overlooking the home of his father Dimas Rodríguez Flores. He first met his cousin, José “Cha- Cha” Jiménez in 1963 when Mr. Jiménez was forcibly deported to Puerto Rico. Mr. Jiménez, who was 14years-old at that time, pleaded with his parents to send him to Sheraton, a juvenile prison where he would have remained until the age of 21, instead of being sent to Puerto Rico where he was born but had no understanding of life there. In Puerto Rico, Mr. Rodríguez and his older brother Juan became close to Mr. Jiménez. They also tried to dissuade Mr. Jiménez from forming a branch of the Young Lords in Puerto Rico because Mr. Rodríguez and his brothers were already leaders and did not want anything to do with a Chicago type gang in the barrio of San Salvador. Mr. Rodríguez recalls what San Salvador was like in those days. This was a stable area and family influence and networks were strong. Drugs did not start to enter -- not even in rural areas of Puerto Rico – until much later. The only thing that closely resembled a gang was the Titeres de La Plaza. These young men sat on the many boulders near the banana leaves, across from the store of Don Félix García, and got into petty mischief. Ultimately Mr. Rodríguez and others compromised and agree to call their group, Jovenes Nobles. Of course Mr. Jiménez remained a Titere because that bunch included many other cousins, and they were located in La Plaza, closer to where he was living with his grandparents, Tino and Don Goyo. The Jovenes Nobles set up a �recreation clubhouse for their young members. They began fundraising and someone donated a baby pig to raffle. The members traveled from house-to-house and hilltop-to-hilltop in the tropical sun to sell the tickets. On the day of the raffle, Mr. Rodríguez’s mother won the ticket. The Jovenes Nobles had to endure the gossip, but they kept the money and they ate the pig.Mr. Rodríguez also describes his move from San Salvador to Aurora, Illinois. In this interview, he bravely talks about the brief substance abuse problem he battled and the ways he hopes young people today might learn from his experiences. Today he once again lives in San Salvador. He remains a strong family person and is a well-respected leader. � https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/aae856fffa8a07b8fa5897177e1603b0.mp4 1776b48f96c2c86d0d6571524066af58 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 Young Lords in Lincoln Park Collection Subject The topic of the resource Young Lords (Organization) Puerto Ricans--United States Civil Rights--United States--History Lincoln Park (Chicago, Ill.) Personal narratives Social justice Community activists--Illinois--Chicago Description An account of the resource Collection of oral history interviews and digitized materials documenting the history of the Young Lords Organization in Lincoln Park, Chicago. Interviews were conducted by Young Lords' founder, José “Cha-Cha” Jiménez, and documents were digitized from Mr. Jiménez' archives. The Young Lords in Lincoln Park collection grows out of the ongoing struggle for fair housing, self-determination, and human rights that was launched by Mr. José “Cha-Cha” Jiménez, founder of the Young Lords Movement. This project is dedicated to documenting the history of the displacement of Puerto Ricans, Mejicanos, other Latinos, and the poor from Lincoln Park, as well as the history of the Young Lords nationwide. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jiménez, José, 1948- Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/491">Young Lords in Lincoln Park collection (RHC-65)</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 2017-04-25 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 eng spa Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-65 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 2012-2017 Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Título Spanish language Title entry Ramón Rodriguez vídeo entrevista y biografía Sujetos Spanish language Subject terms Young Lords (Organización) Puertorriqueños--Estados Unidos Derechos civiles--Estados Unidos--Historia Lincoln Park (Chicago, Ill.) Idioma español--Relatos personales Justicia social Activistas comunitarios--Illinois--Chicago Puertorriqueños--Vida social y costumbres Juventud--Puerto Rico Source <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/491">Young Lords in Lincoln Park (RHC-65)</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-65_Rodriguez_Ramon Title A name given to the resource Ramón Rodriguez video interview and biography Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rodriguez, Ramón Description An account of the resource Ramón Rodríguez is a semi-retired school teacher who lives in the Lao Frío section of San Salvador, overlooking the home of his father Dimas Rodríguez Flores. He first met his cousin, José “Cha- Cha” Jiménez in 1963 when Mr. Jiménez was forcibly deported to Puerto Rico. Mr. Jiménez, who was 14- years-old at that time, pleaded with his parents to send him to Sheraton, a juvenile prison where he would have remained until the age of 21, instead of being sent to Puerto Rico where he was born but had no understanding of life there. In Puerto Rico, Mr. Rodríguez and his older brother Juan became close to Mr. Jiménez. They also tried to dissuade Mr. Jiménez from forming a branch of the Young Lords in Puerto Rico because Mr. Rodríguez and his brothers were already leaders and did not want anything to do with a Chicago type gang in the barrio of San Salvador. Mr. Rodríguez recalls what San Salvador was like in those days. This was a stable area and family influence and networks were strong. Drugs did not start to enter -- not even in rural areas of Puerto Rico – until much later. The only thing that closely resembled a gang was the Titeres de La Plaza. These young men sat on the many boulders near the banana leaves, across from the store of Don Félix García, and got into petty mischief. Ultimately Mr. Rodríguez and others compromised and agree to call their group, Jovenes Nobles. Of course Mr. Jiménez remained a Titere because that bunch included many other cousins, and they were located in La Plaza, closer to where he was living with his grandparents, Tino and Don Goyo. The Jovenes Nobles set up a recreation clubhouse for their young members. They began fundraising and someone donated a baby pig to raffle. The members traveled from house-to-house and hilltop-to-hilltop in the tropical sun to sell the tickets. On the day of the raffle, Mr. Rodríguez’s mother won the ticket. The Jovenes Nobles had to endure the gossip, but they kept the money and they ate the pig.Mr. Rodríguez also describes his move from San Salvador to Aurora, Illinois. In this interview, he bravely talks about the brief substance abuse problem he battled and the ways he hopes young people today might learn from his experiences. Today he once again lives in San Salvador. He remains a strong family person and is a well-respected leader. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jiménez, José, 1948- Subject The topic of the resource Young Lords (Organization) Puerto Ricans--United States Civil Rights--United States--History Lincoln Park (Chicago, Ill.) Puerto Ricans--Personal narratives Spanish language--Personal narratives Social justice Community activists--Illinois--Chicago Puerto Ricans--Social life and customs Youth--Puerto Rico Language A language of the resource spa 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 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012-06-23 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/7bd70447e62db54bbcca4a45d17d7d6d.mp4 3c4fa8ad8ef273c3d50a2c23c5487734 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/eacc49e68c27448f93acbfa2b887cf14.pdf 78d5252dd7fff167f2b528938695a218 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: Edward Ramon Interviewed by James Smither Transcribed by Grace Balog Interviewer: Alright. We are talking today with Edward Ramon of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The interviewer is James Smither of the Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project. Alright. Ed was, among other things, a helicopter pilot in his military career and as such, he served as a cavalryman. And that’s why he is sporting a cavalry hat here. It’s also got his captain’s bars and then you’ve got—now what are the wings on the hat for? Veteran: Those are senior Army aviator wings. Interviewer: Okay. Veteran: I was a senior Army aviator. Interviewer: Alright. Okay, good. And now you can take the hat off because it’s shading your eyes a little. Alright. Veteran: I’ll put on my other hat. I don’t have my hair combed. Interviewer: Okay, well it shades your eyes a little bit which is— Veteran: Oh, it does? �Interviewer: Yeah. So, okay, that’s better. Okay. Now, let’s begin at the beginning. Where and when were you born? Veteran: I was born in San Antonio, Texas during World War 2. I was born at Fort Sam Houston. Interviewer: Okay. And was your father in the military? Veteran: My daddy was a gunner’s mate in the United States Navy in the South Pacific. And he served a good portion of the war. Interviewer: Okay, now you have other relatives or ancestors who were in as well? Veteran: Oh yes, quite a few. Interviewer: Now, talk about your grandfathers. Veteran: Well, my Comanche grandfather was Marshall Chikoh-Chikoh-Ko. And he was killed in France 4 days before the end of the war. Had another grandfather. He was 14 years old. He was in the horse drawn artillery in France. He survived the war. He served in World War 2 in the U.S. Army Air Corps, which became the Air Force. So, he stayed with them and became Air Force and he served in Korea with the Air Force. So, he served—he got his share. Had uncles that were infantrymen and combat medics. World War 2 mostly and Korea. And several cousins that were Marines. They were all killed in Korea. So, quite a family. (00:02:32) Interviewer: Okay. Now, when you were growing up, what kind of job did your father have? Veteran: My daddy was an employee at the Lonestar Ordinance in Texarkana. He started out there as in the bank department. He ended up in security. His principal occupation was after he �got off work; he was sort of a handyman. Built houses, kitchen cabinets. He worked his butt off; he was a hardworking man. Interviewer: Alright. And then, did you go to high school in San Antonio? Veteran: No. We moved to Decatur, Texas. Up in the northeast corner of Texas. Interviewer: Okay, so that’s about— Veteran: Until I was about 3. Interviewer: Okay. Alright. Because your father worked up there? Veteran: That’s where I grew up. Yeah. Interviewer: Okay. Veteran: My mother’s father owned a farm up there and when he passed, my young mother, my young daddy, and my baby brother and my sister, we moved up there and that’s where I grew up. Interviewer: Right. Okay. And then, when did you finish high school? Veteran: May of 1960. Interviewer: Okay. And what did you do after high school? Veteran: Well, knocking around. There wasn’t much for me to do. I hauled hay and I worked and I did a few little things. And that fall, I got a scholarship. Football scholarship. My father couldn’t afford to send me to school because he elected to send my sister. She was a very hard worker. I was kind of like a wild kid. So, dad decided to invest what little he had into my sister’s education. Interviewer: Okay. (00:04:31) �Veteran: He was pleased that I got a football scholarship. Interviewer: Okay, now what school did you go to? Veteran: Texarkana Junior College. Interviewer: Okay. Veteran: We were national champions, junior college champions. Tough football team. Interviewer: Alright. And then, what happened to you after you started college? Veteran: Well, I broke my leg. My girlfriend dumped me. My little brother wrecked my car. And my two best buddies joined the Army. So, I followed along: I joined the Army. Interviewer: Alright. Veteran: And I reported for basic training at Fort Hood, Texas— Interviewer: Okay. Veteran: --on January the 17th. Interviewer: Alright. Now to back up a little bit, when your friends joined, how exactly did they do that? Veteran: Oh. Back then, you could volunteer for the draft. And they would draft you and you would do a 2-year hitch and get out. If you enlisted in the Army, it was 3 years. If you enlisted in the Marine Corps, the Navy, or whatever, it was 4 years. So, I thought it was appealing to do 2 years to find out what it was like and continue my education. GI Bill. Interviewer: Yep. �Veteran: But they were trying to send—they wanted to send me right before Christmas. I said, “No, I don’t want to go before Christmas.” So, this shrewd recruiting officer, he said, “Well, you can enlist.” And so, I did. Interviewer: Okay. Veteran: And I started my career. Interviewer: Alright. And so, where did you go for basic training? Veteran: Fort Hood, Texas. Interviewer: Okay. And what was basic training like in 1961? (00:06:12) Veteran: Little different from what it is today. I showed up at Fort Hood about 3 o’clock in the morning. And there were dirt trails, tack trails. Wooden barracks with the windows broken out. And I had been traveling all night. I got there at 3 in the morning. When I got there, I still had on civilian clothes. They put me on KP. No kidding. And I was on KP for 11 hours. Peeling potatoes, washing pots and pans, and then we got put into this barracks. They issued us our clothing and stuff. And it was tough. We did forest marches, lots of calisthenics, and a corporal was God. So, you imagine what a sergeant was or a lieutenant. So, it was an eye opener. And I wanted to make my uncles and grandfather and my dad proud so I stood up and I was sharp. Interviewer: Okay. Alright. And how long did the basic training last? Veteran: Basic training was 8-weeks. About 8-weeks. Then from there you would advance to individual training. I went to an infantry center at Fort Ord, California. Interviewer: Okay. Veteran: And did the—I think about 8-10 weeks there. �Interviewer: Alright. Now, how was the advanced training different from basic? Veteran: Well, you had been a soldier for 2 months. You’ve learned how to behave yourself and most of it is academic pursuit so it’s not really a challenge to what…You know, if you were a Rambo or not. It’s just they’re going to teach you something. And then during this time, you were always wondering where you’re going to end up. You know, where you are going to go. So, when I was at Fort Ord, California, I went on to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. And I took finance training. I thought that sounds pretty good: you don’t have to walk around in the hot sun, you know. (00:08:42) Veteran: So, I had completed that. That was about I think 4 weeks or 8 weeks. I can’t remember. So, they sent me to Fort Sam Houston, Texas. I thought that was great. Got back to my old country then. I got there. 566th ambulance company. 82nd—37th Strike medical battalion, 82nd airborne. And they didn’t need a finance clerk. They had one. You know? So, I was sitting there, you know, a private. So, they decide they are going to make me a combat medic. A 9-10 and a 911 was the MOS. So, I became a medic. And that was interesting. I was oriented towards that kind of stuff. Interviewer: Okay. So, what were they actually teaching you? Veteran: I am sorry? Interviewer: What were they teaching you? Veteran: Oh. I think quite a bit, really. You know, just to be an enlisted corpsman or a medic. Lifesaving things. You know, heart functions, bleeding—stop the bleeding. Elevate this. Tourniquet that. Blah blah. Chemical warfare. Atropine injections. But a lot of it was just ABCs. Aspirins and drinking water and treat the blisters. That was a bad thing about being the medic: �you had to carry extra water because these other guys would drink all theirs and you had to give them some of yours and water is heavy. (00:10:20) Veteran: So, I decided I would—we had a battalion. Part of our mission was to put on combat exercises and the doctors sat on their butts up on the bleacher and I thought they got their basic. They watched us fight. We had casualties and we would put them in the litters and carry them to these old cracker box field ambulances and take them to sorting stations. And they would sit up there and they would watch all this. So, that’s what I ended up being: I was an infantryman. I was a machine gunner shooting out at one of the bad guys. And so, I would shoot at all of the guys coming up the hill. And they had a pit right behind me with a dummy in it. And that these fighters were to come over from the Air Force place. And they’d set off these charges. So, I’d bounce off the ground and end up with a mouthful of dirt and then I had to pick up all my brass and get stung in the butt by scorpions and crap and have to go back down. That was part of my PFC job. That was it, you know. Interviewer: So, how long did you do that? Veteran: Oh, from ’61…Half of ’61 on up to…I left the Fort Sam Houston in January, ’64— February, ’64. But I went in the Cuban crisis with the 82nd. We showed up at Ocala, Florida. My company struck with a battalion. We showed up in Ocala and it was kind of like up until that point, I had been painting fences and hiding from the first sergeant. And now, it looked like this was what it’s all about and we are going to war. And I was, back then, a medic. I had this little pack of crap and I said, “How the hell am I going to save somebody’s life with this stuff?” And we were—I was scheduled with a third wave to go over the shore. And the third wave would be, you know, very high casualties. And so, what are you going to do? You know? You going to lay �out there on the beach and treat guys and get shot yourself? What you going to do? What you going to do? (00:12:41) Veteran: And I was a brand-new father. I was 19 years old and had a little baby boy. And it was—I think that’s when I became a soldier. I realized they wouldn’t listen to grandpa or Uncle Glen or none of that. It was here you are boy. Here’s your job, you know, you’re going to do it. And they had the Bay of Pigs. You know how tragic that was. But I had an uncle at the Normandy invasion. Uncle Charlie. He was Charlie Bee. And he was the last living Comanche Code Talker. He died a few years back. And he was a funny guy. He was tough. He’s a boxer. A little guy. Interviewer: Alright. Okay, so for you. So, you spend several years at Fort Sam Houston. You were a medic. I am just revealing a little bit. So, you spent several years at Fort Sam Houston— Veteran: No, not 7. Interviewer: Several. Several. Veteran: Several, yeah. Interviewer: Like 3. Yeah. And you—and then you went to Florida briefly at the time of the missile crisis. Veteran: Oh, yeah. But that was just for the crisis and then I went back to Fort Sam Houston. Interviewer: Right. Right. Okay. Veteran: And then, January of ’64, my 3-year enlistment was up. So, here I was: 20 years old and had a baby, had a baby on the way, had no idea what I could do for a living. You know? It �wasn’t too good when I left. I didn’t think there would be much when I went back. So, I guess my family—my daddy was not military—but I decided I would make a military career. (00:14:33) Veteran: So, I enlisted. And I asked to go to Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Infantry center there. When I got there, I had a hearing impairment from a hand grenade blast and so I applied for this defense information school. So, they teach you how to report things, how to write things, how to do the…And so I was selected. I was sent to the—and right before I was supposed to go to Fort Slocum, New York, they called me. Told me they had cancelled my orders. “Well, why?” “We have a hearing profile. H-3 hearing profile from this grenade.” “Oh, god.” You know, so I said, “Well, can I go take another hearing test?” And the authorities said, “Yeah, sure.” So, I went down to the hospital. Sit there. I took this hearing test. And I marginally passed. So, then I was off to Fort Slocum. Wonderful school. Really good school. Went to Fort Slocum. Made it—I was E-5 already. I made E-5 pretty fast. So, while I was at Fort Slocum doing all of this stuff, I said—oh, I had applied for flight school and was turned down for my hearing—so, I said, “Well, maybe I ought to apply for flight school again.” I got home to Fort Jackson and I did. (00:16:27) Veteran: And I scored very high on the test and things. They sent me to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. You know Fort Bragg. Went over to Simmons Field and they flew you around on an orientation ride. See if you get airsick or vomit or, you know, wet your pants or what you’re going to do. So, I enjoyed the orientation flight so that—I passed that. I did really good on all the testing. And I went to take the physical. Passed it. So…And there was a waiting period to go to flight school. They sent me right away that month so this was all like in December of ’64. Interviewer: Okay. �Veteran: And January of ’65, I was at flight school. Interviewer: Okay. Now, was this flight school for fixed wing aircraft or for helicopters? Veteran: Rotor wing. Interviewer: Okay. Helicopters. Veteran: So, I went from Fort Bragg—Fort Jackson—I went to Fort Wolters, Texas. Little old facility. I think they were active during World War 2 or something but they were kind of—well, they had become now the primary helicopter training center. That’s where you go for your primary. So, I reported to Fort Wolters, Texas. And they taught me how to fly a helicopter. And when I finished that portion of the program, they sent me to Fort Rucker. Fort Rucker, Alabama is for your advanced helicopter training. Interviewer: Okay, now to back up a little bit, you said they taught you how to fly a helicopter? Veteran: Yes. Interviewer: How easy or hard was that? (00:18:08) Veteran: Well, I was a pretty good athlete. I was agile and bidextrous—ambidextrous—and I thought I was a stud, you know, and I was cool. And I looked at the literature and stuff: helicopter flying? That is easy. You push the stick forward to go forward, pull it back you go backwards. Obviously, left, right. You want to turn around, you step on one of the pedals and you turn around. If you want to go up you just pull up and down on the collective. That’s easy. Hell, anybody can do that. I remember my first flight. And a Mr. Reeves was my flight instructor; I will never forget him. And took me on this roughage: big open field in a helicopter. �He’s sitting—we’re sitting in the helicopter just like this, you know. And he said, “Okay, you take the cyclic.” So, I took the cyclic. And we starting running around, just...And then he said, “Okay, you take the pedals.” So, we started going around with like a spin. And he said, “Now, you have got the collective.” So, we are going up and down, around and around. And it’s like…I am remember getting on that bus going back to the barracks. And I said, “There ain’t no way in hell I will ever fly one of these things. There ain’t no way. I mean, it’s—there ain’t no way.” And I looked around the bus and everybody else had their lip down in the dirt. We had all learned that this was complicated. So, by little increments, we began to bring it down where we could control it. Make matters worse, we flew Hillers, OH-23s. Worst helicopter ever designed. It is just a piece of junk. And you really had to work to fly the thing. But that’s when I learned to fly in. (00:20:16) Interviewer: Okay. Veteran: And if you didn’t solo pretty damn quick, you get washed out. They didn’t cut you no slack. You better catch on quick. And I was probably the worst helicopter pilot student they ever had in the military. But I made it. Over half of them didn’t make it. So, I made it down near the bottom of my class but I—still, I made it, you know. Interviewer: Right. Now, did they have a lot of accidents? Veteran: No, we had very few—no accidents. No fatal accidents. Interviewer: Okay. Alright. Veteran: Then. But later on, they started having a few. Interviewer: Okay. �Veteran: Because they were just pushing everybody through. Anybody that could fog up a mirror could graduate, you know? Interviewer: Okay. Veteran: And we had…We had a lot of cowboys. What you call cowboys is our Vietnam veteran pilots that were—they were good pilots but they weren’t—they didn’t teach good, safe, steady practice. They were kind of like wild boys. So, they were training guys. And they had one of my friends that hit some wires and killed himself and his student. They had midairs. Really a very safe record compared to how much they were doing. Interviewer: Right. Okay. So, you go on now to Fort Rucker? For the next stage? Veteran: Yeah, I went…When I finished up at the Fort Wolters, I went to Fort Rucker, Alabama and started different phases of training. More sophisticated navigation and more maintenance training and more different maneuvers and blah blah blah blah. And transitioned into the Huey. I flew an old H-19 Chickasaw. That’s another piece of junk. World War 2 stuff. You know, if this heavy iron wouldn’t oughta lift itself off the ground but that’s what we trained in. And then I went over into Hueys, which is state of the art then. And both the—actually it was an accident looking for a place to happen. But there I was, flying the Hueys. And we had had to have so much flight training, a lot of stuff: navigation, formations, organizational things, heavy on maintenance, meteorology. I mean, just lots of stuff. And you got cranked out of there, it was straight to Vietnam. (00:22:56) Veteran: You knew that. And this was kind of frightening. I now had 3 babies. Interviewer: Okay. �Veteran: My little baby girl was born in February of ’64, right after I reenlisted. And then, September of ’65, found out my youngest boy was born. And I graduated in December. But before I graduated, the class ahead of me—you knew these guys because they—boy, you talk about harassment. They were on you. You would always lose-lose. You never win-win. You had to run everywhere you went. And they’d say, “Whoa, candidate.” And if you stopped, “Sir, Candidate Ramon, yes sir.” They’d come over and say, “Are you a mule? Only mules stop when you holler ‘whoa.’” You know. So, they’d chew you out for being a mule or mules, stupid mule. The next guy you run by, he’d holler “Whoa.” And you just keep running, he’d halt you. He says, “Sir, what’s wrong with you? You stupid or something? Even a mule knows to stop when you say ‘whoa.’ You don’t know that?” You know, they’d say—it was kind of—but you got to know these guys. (00:24:21) Veteran: And the harassment eased up right when you got near the end. Not a whole lot but it did some. But you did have these guys. And they put rosters up on the bulletin board with all their names on it. As they were killed, they drew a red line through their name. And you started seeing entire rosters disappear. And you knew that’s where you were going. I went to Texarkana. I bought a 4-bedroom brick house with a chain link fence on a one acre lot. Payments were $106 a month. I had no idea how I was going to make that much of a payment. But I knew it was a great possibility that I would be killed. And I wanted my children and my wife to have a home. Interviewer: Okay. Veteran: Well, I didn’t get killed and I got a battlefield commission to lieutenant, which was a pay raise exactly what my house payment was. �Interviewer: Alright. So, when you become a helicopter pilot, then you become a warrant officer? Veteran: Yes, you get commissioned as a warrant officer and they give you your wings and your… alright, tell you a funny story: this is—my daddy was a sailor. They don’t have sergeants in the Navy, they have chief petty officers. But from my uncles and grandpas and stuff, he knew that a sergeant was a pretty important person. Well, as luck would have it, I was a specialist. I was an E-4, an E-5, but I wanted to have the hard stripes. And I was always telling my daddy when I was home every so often, “Boy, I sure would like to make sergeant. You know, be a sergeant.” My daddy would nod his head. You know, he is non-military. (00:26:23) Veteran: And then…So, I went to flight school. I became a warrant officer. That’s way higher than a sergeant. And my daddy, bless his heart, he came to my graduation at Fort Rucker. So, I was late for the damn ceremony. I had never been—that’s—you get thrown out for that. But my wife and my mother and the commander, the commandant, he liked me. He knew what was going on. It wasn’t my fault. But I was nervous. And so, he—the commandant called me aside and commissioned me. This and that, this and that. And my mother pinned my wings on my chest. And my daddy and the commandant put my little warrant officer bars on. You know, the little epaulets. So, they put that. Warrant officer is nothing, he’s just a W-1. You know? But it’s more important—way more. My daddy put his arm around me and he said, “Son, I bet you by God now they’ll make you a sergeant.” That was funny, funny, funny. But I sent my wife and my children to our new home in Texarkana. And I had a—I didn’t have any leave to speak of. So, I stayed at Fort Rucker and my job was to fly these instrument helicopters. TH-13-Ts. The military has a policy where you try to keep the seals wet. You fly these engines and transmissions and such, keep them going. Every 7 days you get them wet, you know. So, I had a fleet of these �observation helicopters that were turned into instrument ships. And I got to fly those all day long and that was—paid for my room and board, I guess. And so, finally they let me go home, I think right before Christmas. And I got to spend two or three weeks with my wife and my babies before going to Vietnam. (00:28:41) Interviewer: Alright. Veteran: And I knew that all these guys were going and getting killed. And they wiped out my class. They just wiped them out. I think there was 4 of us left. And the one died in a training accident, hitting these wires. And we went back to Vietnam, another was killed flying Chinooks. And myself and another one were two out of the bunch. I think we started off with 87 but… Interviewer: Alright. Veteran: It was a high attrition rate. Interviewer: Yeah. Okay. Now, how do they get you to Vietnam? Veteran: Huh? Interviewer: How did they get you to Vietnam? Veteran: How did they get me? Interviewer: To Vietnam. Veteran: Well, I…My family took me to the airport in Dallas. TFW. I flew to…I think San Francisco. Interviewer: Okay. �Veteran: And had a night there. Met up with a Green Beret. Young lieutenant. He and I kind of like pals so we went out to the bar. You know. He and I had a farm. And the entertainers sang songs to us. You know, like—kind of like in a…One of the songs they sang was Beeping and Hiding, Slipping and Sliding. You remember that? And the next day we went back and it was just, you know, like this barracks and that bed and you got your duffel bag and all your stuff. We boarded a Northwest Orient flight. Flew to Japan. Stopped in Japan for about 45 minutes. And then flew on into—I flew into Tan Son Nhut, Saigon. (00:30:32) Interviewer: Okay. So, when did you arrive in South Vietnam? Veteran: It was…I don’t really remember. January ’66. Interviewer: Okay. Veteran: I’ll have to check my records but it was…It wasn’t long after Christmas, I’ll tell you that. Might have been earlier than early part of January, ’66. Interviewer: Okay. Alright. Okay, and what was your first impression of Vietnam? Veteran: Coming in out of altitude, I was looking around and I could see tracers are going to the ground. And you could see forever, you know. Up in the—I could see explosions across the artillery barrages and stuff and explosions. And I said, “Oh crap.” It was spread out. Way spread out. So, then we come in and we land at Tan Son Nhut. And when you get off the airplane, first thing that hits you is the odor: rotten fish and, you know, just feces and it stinks. And a lot of fumes and gasoline and diesel and stuff. Just stinks. It was hot. It was sticky. And I got an appointment there called…Oh, I forgot where but Camp Alpha where they took us into this little city of barbed wire and tin, sandbags. That was a funny feeling. (00:32:13) �Veteran: You stuck out like a sore thumb. You had on brand new fatigues, brand new boots and you looked like a new penny. They put you back in this area back there. And here’s all the guys that are leaving. They’re dark, tan. Faded clothes. And they got that other world stare. They aren’t friendly. They don’t want friends because friends will get killed. And you mix in with those guys. And you’re like a little puppy, peeing on their shoes. You know, you’re trying to get in there with them. And most of them are real quiet. Most of them have no advice to offer. And that was funny. That was a strange feeling. So, you stayed there at Camp Zama while they assign you to a combat unit. So, I was there for about 2 days. Then they told me to report to the helipad, that they were coming to pick me up, my unit. That was the 68th Assault Helicopter Company. Tough, tough, outfit. And I got in the back of the Huey and we took off and the door gunner pulled back the bolt on his machine gun and the crew chief. And I am looking through the cockpit and there we go. And now we are at, you know, like 1000 feet, 1500 feet, and I can see the rice paddies and I could…So, it was an eye-opener. It was a lot of experience, that just getting there. Interviewer: Now, was this company attached to a specific division? Or just part of a—was this a helicopter company? Was it part of a larger aviation unit? (00:34:02) Veteran: Sure. Yes. We belonged to the 145th Combat Aviation Battalion. They belonged to the 12th Group and they belonged to the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade. A brigade is something they put together out of necessity to meet a need. Interviewer: Right. Veteran: So, the First Aviation brigade was essentially a bunch of red-headed step children that nobody loved. You know? So, you were used to going here to go there to go there. That’s why I �served with so many good combat units. I served with all of them: 1st Infantry, 4th Infantry, 9th Infantry, 25th Infantry, 196th Light Infantry Brigade. You know, 173rd Airborne, 101st Airborne, 82nd Airborne. Wherever they needed a regular soldier, that’s where they would put me, you know. Interviewer: Right. Veteran: And we went up as far as the battle of Bong Song, which was a son of a gun. That was in January of ’66. And it was, the Battle of Bong Song, was hand-to-hand. And you were trying to support your troops. You couldn’t deliver ammunition when they were like this. You know, you had to check ID cards before you did anything, you know. And so, that was an eye-opener but I was young and dumb. And we did combat assaults all day long, every day. Nonstop. And the first couple of combat assaults just terrified me, paralyzed me. Unbelievable stuff they did. You’re going into—it looks like, if it’s early at dawn, looks like a spiderweb of tracers. And you’re flying right through it because they’re—and there is depth in there. But you hear people receiving fire. May day calls. People going down. Helicopters crashing and burning. And men getting shot to death right out in front of you on the LZ. (00:36:10) Veteran: Sometimes you were successful, sometimes you had to pull them out. And it was just like that. And I didn’t fly. I’d sit there, I was a sandbag, you know? And in case my pilot got killed, I was—I could fly it out. And I had the unwelcome privilege of looking. My aircraft commander had his hands full. I mean, he was—helicopters everywhere. There was stumps and stuff and you don’t want him to land on dead guys. And so, my aircraft commander was busy, as I was later on. But now, it’s sitting there, you know, picking my nose, looking at all this stuff. So, you get to see all the stuff you don’t need to see. �Interviewer: Okay. How long did it take for you to—how long did it take to adjust to that? Veteran: I’d say 2 or 3 months. It varies. You can only get so scared. You can only get so—and then you start to numb. What I did is I reached a plateau. I had, very painful now, accepted the fact that I was going to die. Period. Ain’t no way you can survive this crap. So, I took my family pictures, throw them in the trash can. I’ll never see them again. I became a zombie. I became a robot. Mechanical. And highly efficient. And it was painful. After about 2 or 3 months, then you get where, hell, you don’t care. You’re a pretty good pilot. Up until the end and then you got about 2 months left or a month left, you started getting scared again like you’re not going to make it to the end of the tunnel. But the middle of your tour, you’re—you seem like you do better. But at the beginning, it’s hell. At the end it is hell. (00:38:28) Interviewer: Okay. So, how long was it before you started to actually fly? I mean, to be a pilot? Veteran: Oh, I started flying on the first day. Interviewer: Yeah, but piloting your own? Veteran: Aircraft commander? Interviewer: Yeah. Veteran: I don’t remember. It was…I was in the process. I was with the—I was flying Slicks. Slicks are the UH-1D models that carried the troops into battle. Interviewer: Right. Veteran: Hauled them out. Hauled out the dead and wounded. Took in water and ammo and stuff and things. So, I was in the Slick platoon. I got tired of getting shot at, shot all to hell, and not �shooting back. And my buddies were in the gun platoon. So, I asked my commanding officer if I could go to the gun platoon. He said, “Well, I will think about it when an opening comes.” So, they put me in the gun platoon. So, then I started flying gunships and help provide rockets and machine gun fire around the LZ while my buddies went in and out, you know. Interviewer: Right. Now at this point, were you aircraft commander or…? Veteran: Oh yeah. But before that, like I said, I was in my company doing these things. The United States Navy had what they called a brown-water Navy. These are your PBRs and your RAG boats. River rats, they called them. And these guys were working their runs in swamp. Treacherous, treacherous, swamp. They call it the Forest of Assassins. It’s the devil’s swamp. It was horrible. (00:40:08) Veteran: But brown—these PBRs were out there. They get in big trouble, they had to call for a helicopter. A gunship. Golly, that’s like, you know. Take forever and every second is precious. So, the Navy decided that the—that this Naval operation should have its own in-house helicopters. The Navy, finest pilots in the world, didn’t know how to fly Hueys. They flew other stuff. So, I was selected as one of the 8 Army pilots to go down there and fly their combat missions to support these PBRs and RAG boats and stuff. And SEALs: SEAL team 1, SEAL team 2. So, all of a sudden, I am able to do that. And here comes all these Navy pilots. They get trained and dispersed and stuff like that to pick up on that, not only how to fly the helicopter but how to fly a whale. How to do combat tactics and strategies and of course all the maintenance that goes with it and all that stuff. So, I was down there for a little while. But I was an aircraft commander down there. And you just—whenever your boss thinks you’re smart enough to come out and come home again, that’s when they make you an aircraft commander. But we had a �turnover, you know. We had boys killed so we had new guys all the time. So, if you lived long enough, you became an aircraft commander because you had the experience. Interviewer: Okay. Now, when you were with the Navy…When you were with the Navy, where were you based? (00:42:02) Veteran: Well, I was at an R and R center called Vũng Tàu. Beautiful place. And it was pretty peaceful, pretty quiet, pretty—I had a shower, I had meals. I spent the day there. And at the night, I would fly out into a place called Máy Bay, which is the worst place on earth. It was incredible. But it was right at the long tunnel at the start of the Red River and middle of the…Mosquitoes are so bad, you open your eyes and fill them with mosquitoes. Open your mouth, they’re filled with mosquitoes. Dead people floating down the river. Had rats. It was not good. Pythons. It was not good. But that’s where I was. I was out at Máy Bay. And we flew at night. Leaving Vũng Tàu late afternoon was my daytime flying and I sank sand pads and do a little combat target opportunity. But when we got to Máy Bay, put the ship down, fully armed. There’s quite a check—there is quite a procedure to start a helicopter. Circuit breaker this, switch that, do this, throttle this. Quite a thing. Same thing with the shutdown. But when we shut down, at Máy Bay, the only thing we shutdown was the master switch. And I guarantee you, when you called me on the radio, I’d be on my way in 5 minutes. That’s turning up the turbine and getting everything and the door gunner’s on and rocket pods connected. I mean, out the door we went. (00:44:14) Veteran: Because it was crucial. Critical. Every minute—every second counted. And it wasn’t bad. Here you are in the middle of the river. Here’s the tree line. I got tracers going for the tree line towards you or I got you shooting at them, showing me where they are on the riverbank. So, I’d go down, I’d just mow grass on the riverbanks. I mean, I’d put some stuff in there: rockets �and machine gun fire. So, we were pretty efficient. But you, out there floating around on that little river, dinky boat, boy you were highly vulnerable. And you know, a lot of guys got hurt. Well, I was honored by the Seawolf Association. I was a guest speaker in 2012. And it’s kind of funny: I was the old guy. I was 23-24, so I was the old guy. And I had—I was a mentor or ‘school marm’ they called me. Instructor, teacher, with this green flight suit. And they called me ‘Granny in a green gown.’ But they loved me and I loved them. And these Seawolf guys, they went on to be the Navy’s most decorated, most honored aviation combat assault unit in their history. So, they took off for—I lift off and boy they went. And they had a lot to do with that preTet Offensive stuff. The bad guys were down there in our part of real estate and that’s what they were getting gearing up for. The Tet Offensive was planned by the communists. And so, we were down there messing around, stumbling over things and finding things and trying to prevent things and discovering things. And when I left the SEALs, I went with the Special Forces and that’s what we did up around Tay Ninh—Tay Ninh to west Sông Bé, Cau Sông Bé—is look for bunkers, look for ammunition caches and stuff. So, that’s what all my effort was about was that pre-68 preparation. Junction City was a huge helicopter mission. (00:46:48) Interviewer: Yep. Veteran: And I was leaving as that…I was working up until that started to kick off and I left to come home. Had my tail rotors shot my last day flying. I flew my last day. Interviewer: Okay. Veteran: Back early on, they’d give you 30 days at the end of your tour. You didn’t fly. It—you know—work around the company area or do something, you know. But I flew the very last day. Interviewer: Now, did that helicopter crash or did you get back to base? �Veteran: Oh, it wasn’t bad. Shot a hole through the blade. Interviewer: Okay. Veteran: You got a real high frequency buzz in the pedals and you’re in danger of your blade coming off. if your tail rotor comes off, you started spinning. That’s not good. Because that blade creates a lot of torque, the issues is it wants to go counter that to catch up with it. So, they put that tail rotor on to stabilize it so you can have a…So, if you lose that, you’re in deep trouble. If you lose the tail rotor, you’re in deep trouble anyway. If you lose a gear box—if it falls off— you’re dead because you do this and you can’t catch time. (00:48:05) Veteran: But I took a bullet hole through my tail rotor and…And I had a—this was funny too—I received a direct commission. So, enlisted men and warrant officers can move from one assignment to the next without orders, printed orders. A commissioned officer has to have printed orders in his hand. So, I got extended beyond my deros about 6-weeks. Boy, that was terrible. I sweated every day until my deros and then I got there and realized I got to wait on these damn orders. Well, I was out flying and they called me and said they had my orders. So, I looked at my aircraft commander, or—yeah, my aircraft commander, I looked at him. I said, “Well…” He said, “Ed,” he said, “if you leave, I’ll have to shut this ship down. If you stay with me, we can do about 2 more hours worth of work and I’ll take you back.” And I said, “Okay.” Like pulling teeth. But I—my captain was a really, really good guy. And I was a brand-new second lieutenant so I wanted to be a good guy too. So, we finished out the day. Well, another guy that got commissioned with me was a really good friend. He was a punk kid just like me. And he was held up on waiting for orders in my same outfit. So, he and I were kind of like sweating it out every day. So, I got my orders and he was out there jacking around in combat. And Major Schroeder—Harry Schroeder—was our commanding officer then. He goes in to see �Major Schroeder. And Major Schroeder sees him coming to the door and he says, “No, you’re not going to quit flying. You’re going to keep flying.” You know…And he didn’t have his orders in. And they had, right after we left, he had taken—Hal had gone to take a shower to shower point. And this was just a big meadow-like strip. And they had all kinds of goods for Junction City: ammo, you name it, they had stacked out there and stuff. And Hal had gone over to this little shower point to take a shower. You took a shower when you got a chance, you know. (00:50:48) Veteran: And he was walking back from the shower and Hal was skinny as a broomstick. I mean, he was a little skinny guy. He’s walking back wrapped in a towel. And mortars start flowing on the meadow-like. And Hal was too far from the damn bunkers so he jumped in this ditch. And the mortars are raining down. And I guess Major Schroeder thought this would have scared the crap out of him and he wanted to go home. He didn’t want to fly anymore but he walked in the tent. You know, and Major Schroeder said, “No, you’re going to keep flying.” He said, “No, I am not.” he got hit in the ass with a piece of shrapnel. To make it even worse, you know where his orders were? On the backside of mine. Interviewer: Oh… Veteran: They didn’t turn it over to see that he was on the backside. And I didn’t know that. I didn’t know this was going on. So, I got down and the sergeant major, command sergeant major, just rolled up the red carpet for me. He ran from here to there, turn in this, turn in my weapon, get my records, do this, get my duffel bag and take me down to the processing center where you go home. (00:52:13) �Veteran: And I was unexpected. Nobody expected me there. So, I showed up at this Camp LBJ I think it—I can’t remember what they called it. And it was dark. It was night already. It looked like a chicken house with chicken wire and had these clerks back there, getting these guys booked onto flights to fly home. And I walked up there to that wire like that and I looked at his—and he was a lieutenant. And I was a lieutenant. I said, “Lieutenant so-and-so, what’s the chance of getting a ride home?” You know. I said, “I have already been extended 6 weeks, you know.” And I was kind of buddying up with him, you know. And he was pretty serious. He was a serious chap. He looked at me, he said, “Well,” he says, “stick around right here.” He said, “I got either 4 or 6 enlisted men—they had gotten sloppy drunk and they weren’t going to let them board the airplane.” So, their seats came up for grabs. And he said, “Now I got you a seat.” You know, I guess they reported that these 4 boys were drunks. And this guy pushed me from the back over the top of my shoulders, “I need a seat too.” I look back and he was Hal Sharpless. And he must got there faster than I did but my god, we wanted to go home. We were ready to go home. That’s kind of funny but…You did—at the end there Jim you get kind of like I am not going to make it. I am not going to make it. You know like bugbear is going to get me before I get to the loader, you know. But it was…It was something else. Something else. (00:54:10) Interviewer: Okay. Now, you get to go home then? Veteran: Huh? Interviewer: You got to go home—you come back from Vietnam. You get a leave? Veteran: Yeah. I flew to Travis Air Force base. I got there and had to go to I think Los Angeles. And I was going to take a cab to go to the airport so I could catch my flight to DFW. And well, outside the cab driver wouldn’t let me inside his cab because I had on my uniform. They had a �shuttle bus—an old Army shuttle bus—so I went over. I sat on that damn bus for hour or two and then they drove me over to the LAX. And I missed my flight. So, I had to spend about 20 hours there at the terminal. You don’t know how bad I wanted to be home. But I sat there, had these flower children and weirdos and stuff that were trying to sell me a diamond watch or making fun of me or crap like that. But I sat there and when I got home, it was good to be home. Good old rural America, you know. Interviewer: Right. Alright, did your children know who you were? Veteran: Huh? Interviewer: Did your children know who you were? Veteran: My little hometown was a little bitty town. Texarkana Gazette wrote me up for these banners flying across and all that kind of crap. Helicopter pilots were heroes. I wasn’t. I was wetting my pants all the time. I was scared to death. You know? But if you were a helicopter pilot, you didn’t buy beer in a bar. If there was an infantryman in there, you didn’t buy a beer. He bought you a beer. And blah blah blah. It was a helicopter war, highly publicized. (00:56:11) Veteran: And so, I think that’s why as a helicopter pilot, I experienced this notoriety or stuff. But to be honest with you Jim, I was just a scared young man. And, funny, my biggest fear was that I wouldn’t look good in front of my peers. And boy, they were outstanding. And I think that they were doing the same thing: trying to be the best. And if I numb you out, you can function that way. You’re not nervous, you’re not screwed up. You’re clear thinking and ah, okay. You go do it. But when you are scared out of your mind? Boy, it is a tough job. And I was scared. I got into weather situations. I got shot down. I had maintenance problems. Things like that. Had some pretty desperate missions to go pick up a lurp team or recon team and not know where the hell �they were. Triple canopy jungle and Charlie’s right on them. And you got to get there. You got to be worth something. You got to get there. So, that was always frightening. But I always managed to get there. And we had what you called FM homing where you key your mic on an Fbox mic radio and my little needle would point at you. I didn’t know how far you were out there but my little needle would point at you. So, I would go through there and you get down at a different canopies or soft grass where this is at and you say, “Mustang 2-4,” or whatever my call sign was. “You’re over the top of us.” So, then another one sets down. And a lot of times we pull them out with jungle penetrators. That’s a 200-foot long rope with a horse collar on it. Pull the guys up through there. And I pulled a guy up through the—it was like I broke his arms. He put his rifle across his arms and the donut broke his arms but he didn’t turn loose. We saved him. (00:58:25) Veteran: But it got really down to nip and tuck. I mean, in little situations like that. A lot of young men are very fortunate to be alive because they missed it by that much. And I think helicopters were the reason why. I hauled guys to the rear. Jim, they looked like hamburger meat and they lived. But it was getting in there to blood expanders and lifesaving stuff that saved their lives. And I am grateful that I got to do that. I am grateful. I am not proud of killing people, I am proud of saving people’s lives. Interviewer: Right. Now, yesterday when we were talking, you talked about an incident where you got into trouble with your commander— Veteran: Oh, yeah. Interviewer: --because you took too big of risks? �Veteran: Yeah. Well, I had a thought process that if you call me—you’re an RTO or whatever— and you got a guy down there that is dying, or about to die or…If I go get you, I may or might get killed. Very likely I might. That’s what I said to them. If I don’t go get you, you definitely will die. I couldn’t turn them down. And I am telling you, I did wet my pants. My tongue swelled up and filled my mouth out of fear. But by god, I went and got them. (01:00:11) Interviewer: So, why did your commander have a problem? Veteran: Well, I was flying a gunship not designed for extractions or med evacuation. But a damned, old, heavy gunship. And on this radio, this RTO was pleading for somebody to come get this infantryman, young enlisted man. He took a chest wound. He was going to expire. And there I was, turning around the gunship, and this slick called and said, “Well, we’d like to help but the situation is too hot.” This other one called in, said “Well, we’d like to help but we can’t wait around. We are low on fuel and, you know, the situation hasn’t improved.” I said to myself—I said, “Just get out of the way.” What I did is going in, I shot all my rockets, shot all my—just exhausted my ammunition ordinance, just lightening it up a little but which wasn’t enough but it…And I went in there and I picked up this grunt. It was an unbelievable challenge to take off out of that hole because of the heat and the…But I got him out. There were two other crew members with the other 4 pilots, they reported me for being a—reckless. Interviewer: Okay. Alright. I am going to pause right here. Alright, so the other pilots basically turned you in? Or, they reported you? Veteran: They were good men. They were heroes. They did a lot of stuff. But they weren’t as abandoned as I was. I had given up my life. I was going to die. I might as well die looking good, you know. They were practical men. My mission was to access them. That’s all. Save my bacon. �But if my door gunner or crew chief or co-pilot or even me, if we had been badly wounded, it’d have been different. If the helicopter would have sustained serious combat damage or even been shot down, they had to—they had a poker hand. You know? (01:02:41) Veteran: But they reported, not to make me—not to hurt me but to kind of straighten me up. So, I went in front of my commanding officer. He was a wonderful man. And he began to chew my butt out. Like I am liable. I put these men’s lives on the line. One thing I always did, Jim, is when I took on something like this, I asked my crew: hey, we got this guy out here, shot through the lungs. It’s pretty hot—you guys want to go get him? And my men, my enlisted men, and my co-pilots would always say, “We are with you, sir.” Can I tell you something? Those men were heroic too. Maybe more heroic than me because they were a cardinal group. They were thinking. And they were backing me up. But they could have said, “Now, I ain’t sure.” And they could hem and haw around and I would have come up with something different then. But any rate, I would sit there. And I really didn’t give a damn. And I mean, I was going to die. Who cared if— court martial, what are you going to do? Send me to Vietnam? (01:04:10) Veteran: You know? So, I sit there and out of respect. I respected my commanding officer very much. I sit there while he told me what I already knew. But it made me think. It really did make me think that well boy, you sure did put them guys in a tough situation. By the way, the man lived. He took a chest wound, shot through his lungs. But I got him before he died and he—we saved his life. But I was still pretty cocky. After the major—I was a warrant officer. After the major got through chewing my ass—I mean, chewing it out. Naturally. He, like a good commander, would always say, “What do you have to say for yourself?” And I looked at him, you know, and I said, “Well sir, if it was you laying on that ground in the hot sun and the hot LZ, with a bullet through your lungs, and I come and pulled you out, would you be chewing my ass �right now?” That was really unfair of me but by god, it was true. And he told me, he said, “Mr. Ramon, get out of my sight.” He ran me out. I am sure that he had a respect for what I did. But I am sure he had enough managerial thought to take care of his own men, take care of his nation, and do it the right way. I was just a loose cannon on the deck but I got chewed out a couple times. And I did some things that should have been decorated for but I got, you know, my butt kicked for them. So, you can be-you can be too reckless. You can kill people in combat if you’re a stupid lieutenant or stupid captain or bad sergeant. You can…You can cause harm trying to do good. But by the grace of God, I was blessed. I was okay. (01:06:42) Interviewer: Okay. Now, you told another story. You told me about having a CBS news reporter fly with you? Veteran: Yeah. That’s kind of funny. You know, the news media…You know, they want to—if you bleed, it leads, you know. And I think it was Walt Thomas on the news with CBS. I don’t remember who it was but it was a big, big media. And they wanted to know about this Cobra. Cobra was pretty sophisticated, pretty new stuff. So, they worked with the information office in different places. And they come up with this young reporter. They gave him permission to— what do they call that? A quitclaim or something like that. Or release of liability. Whatever. But they got the young man cleared to ride with me on the Cobra in hostile territory. Nice kid. Very curious. Good, smart boy. And I took him around and showed him the helicopter. And it was pretty sophisticated. We had 400—40-millimeter grenades. Bad boys. We had 72 rockets with 17-pound warheads. And we had 8000 rounds of linked 762 ammunition. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. (01:08:15) Veteran: How fast it would go and what it would do. It was only 36 inches wide. So, it was a fighter plane, is what it was. And we got in and since I was on camera and everything, I went by �the numbers. Went through the checklist and why we did it that way, so that if we were low on ammo, we wouldn’t skip a circuit breaker or do anything wrong. Kept turning up. Had another slick over here with cameras on it and they were going to film us. And they communicated with us a little bit. First thing you do when you take-off is you make sure you don’t fly into an artillery barrage somewhere. So, I checked with all the artillery centers and found out where it was safe to go. We had free fire zones that were bad places. You could shoot in there any time you wanted to. You didn’t need to talk to nobody. You go in there, you see activity, you know, it was imminent activity. So, I got over one of those and I was going through my radios. And I came up with this outfit and they were pushing some bad guys into the canals or into the—So, they had some bad guys. And I said, “Well, you need a Cobra strike?” And they said, “Oh, yeah. Sure.” I said, “Well, puff some smoke.” And they did and I identified their smoke. And the bad guys are on this side and they were on this side. So, I went in there. Well, in a Cobra strike, the ones I like, you take the aircraft straight nose up at about 3000 feet. You need some altitude because when you come down, you come down fast. Take it up about 3000 feet, zero up the air speed and you roll it over. And you end up nose down and it’s like dropping marbles in a coffee can. I mean, those rockets—you don’t miss. It’s a challenge to shoot rockets. (01:10:35) Veteran: And trajectory is like shooting a basketball. You might be good or you might miss. But this was mass effective. And I was out there by myself. I didn’t have a sister gunship. So, we got into that and I winged it over like that. And this voice started to break up. I don’t know if it’s G forces or fear but he said, “Captain Ramon, we are upside down.” I said, “We are.” And then we are coming down and he is looking right at the target, you know, and it don’t take you long to go 3000 feet. And it’s boom, boom, boom. And he was better than any sports announcer. He was announcing about what he saw down there. We came down, we came out and we came out into �some intensive automatic weapons fire. We got the main body but we didn’t get…And you could hear the machine guns—the automatic weapons fire. But when you come out of that dive, boy you are cooking. So, when I climbed back up—and the survivors of our attack, they were headed for the canals to get to these sampans to escape. So, we went back and we just shot all those sampans. And the good guys caught up with them and I guess they took them as prisoners or killed them or whatever they did with them. That was funny. That reporter, he—And, just a while back, he contacted—I guess by social media or the internet or—he found me. (01:12:23) Veteran: I think he found me because of my book. And he called and asked me if I was so-and-so and I said, “Yeah.” Asked me if I could remember him. I said, “Well, yeah.” And he asked me if we took off out of Long Thôn north. I said, “Yeah.” And it was him. It was this kid. And he was thrilled. And he’s a big shot I guess in film-making—film industry out in California somewhere. And had a nice talk. Small world, huh Jim? But that was funny. He was—that was funny. I could tell you another story about another non-combatant. A dentist. Interviewer: Okay. Veteran: Did I tell you about that? We had this guy and we were in Vũng Tàu. And we hung around there and, you know, we were macho, we were tough. Most of these people were doctors and dentists and recreation R and R people. And we were the combat guys that were the small bunch. And this dentist liked to hang out with us. We had a bar. You know, he’d hang out with us. So, he was macho. He was a good kid. But a dentist. And he wanted to go on one of our missions. Said, “Okay.” You know, we were going toa take him into the middle of the swamp. But we did a lot of maintenance and stuff around there. And we had a radio jamming station there that was screwing with the Air Force cargo traffic in there. So, we got together 3 ships so �we decided that we are going to triangulate. You get a bearing, you get a bearing, you get a bearing and the middle segment, that’s where this bad guy would be. (01:14:23) Veteran: So, we did that. Well, he went with me. And he’s sitting over in the co-pilot’s seat and the gunner’s seat. Boy, he is probably peeking out. War hero, you know. So, we took off and we found this little—because it was a tile or stone structure. It was a hard—little hard hut. And that’s where they had their radio jamming equipment in there. So, now the race was on to get to see who was the first guy to get there to blow it away. Well, I won that race too. And because it was a hard target, I thought I would do a salvo, hoping I hit it, which I was pretty good. But if I didn’t hit it, that the other two ships would be there and they’d polish it off. But I wanted to get it. They had—the Army then was in a learning stage, so we had rocket pilots with shorter warheads. We had long warheads, short rocket pods, long rocket pods. If your warhead stuck out of the pod, when a rocket left the pod, these little folded fins would fling out. It would shear those fins off and then the rocket would go wherever it wanted to go. And we’d kill some people doing that back in research and development. Okay, well that’s not good. So, then they started coming out with longer pods. Well, you could fire a short rocket from a long pod. That’s okay. (01:16:14) Veteran: But my problem was I had long pods and then some short warheads. Stuff the ordinance we were disposing of or using on other stuff. But that’s what I was loaded up with was a shorter warheads. When a helicopter comes hovering by you, they blow gravel. And the gravel is going up in the pods and it was locking the warheads in the pods. Well, here I come over this target. I got an end of a loader and I am going to fire all my rockets at one shot. You know, to make…And we rolled in on the target like that and I am coming at a pretty steep dive. Not plunging far but pretty steep. Looking at that thing and I punched the rockets off and all the �rockets on my side left the tubes and went to the target. The rockets on his side stayed in the pod. Can you imagine the thrust? So, then we are going like this and we turn sideways. That should have torn the tail boom off but we turned sideways. The crew chief had a monkey strap. He went out there and pulled the release. And he was actually jumping up and down and stomping on the pod outside the helicopter. But the force of that thrust had kind of locked in there. Well, finally the pod came off and he damn near fell out of the helicopter but he had a strap. And that pod flew around and went into there. Well, it scared the crap out of all of us. You can imagine that. And the dentist is over there. He was holding on to the—he was holding on to the console like that. And he was just—he was out of it. His hands were white. He didn’t want to fly in helicopters no more. But that was funny. Scared the shit out of—well, it scared the shit out of me but it scared him too, you know. But there was humor in—sick humor—but any time you survive something, you feel okay, you know? (01:18:43) Interviewer: Okay. Now, when you were not flying, how did you spend your time? Veteran: Getting drunk. Sleeping. Cleaning equipment. Playing poker. Didn’t have much free time. Interviewer: Okay. Was the weather sometimes too bad to fly? Veteran: Yes. We flew anyway but it was—it got pretty dangerous. Some visibility. Monsoons. We lost a couple of ships in a thunderstorm. You know, the winds can get up to 600 knots. Destroy helicopters. You don’t fly in the thunderstorms. But we lost some—a couple of ships. There was also a clatter with a rock in it. That’s a mountain you don’t see because…And I got into areas like that and didn’t know if I was going to kiss a mountain or not. But I, you know, came out. I was flying out to this little valley and I saw something sparkling. And I thought it �was sunlight on the windshield of a vehicle. I looked down there and I was curious what was a vehicle doing down there. (01:20:07) Veteran: It was a quad 50. And the aircraft went out of Korea. Those suckers will shoot to 60007000 feet. There I was in this valley. Two mouths on both sides. And clouds over the top. You better believe I punched into them clouds, not knowing if I’d kiss a rock or not but the quad 50 wasn’t going to get me. Or hopefully it wouldn’t get me. But weather was a cutter and we lost guys. A lot of people were killed in aviation accidents in combat because of what you’d call pilot error. For crying out loud, your margin for error is like that. But if you screw up, you kill people. you kill yourself. Interviewer: Okay. Now, you had trained originally as a medic. Did you use your medic training in Vietnam? Veteran: Maybe a self-bandage on a scratch. Interviewer: Okay. Veteran: We got scratched all the time. I must have been shot 50 times. But no Purple Heart, just a scratch or cut. Like, you know, like that. I got shot through the hand. That required some stitches and stuff. But we got guys that—who’d get scratched. We had sometimes a severe onset of diarrhea. I knew what to do and how to help them out. Get them some fluids and take care of them. But no. I wasn’t a… Interviewer: Yeah. Veteran: I had been—I went and got this…You know, that Medal of Honor thing, I went and got this ARVN Ranger Paratrooper. He had broken femurs, both of them. And bleeding badly but I �didn’t have time to treat him. My—I had to get him out of there. And so, I threw him over my shoulders and ran 200 meters to get him out. And before we got there, the crew chief, door gunner came back throw him up on the—because he was in deep trouble. But he lived. He survived. I don’t know how well he healed ans... (01:22:39) Interviewer: Now, you mentioned a Medal of Honor. Have you been nominated for that? Veteran: I was decorated for picking up this paratrooper. And they gave me an Air Medal, which is nice. It’s like a Bronze Star for valor. And I didn’t know I was going to get it. I didn’t go in there for the medal, I went in there to get this guy out. And a couple of weeks later, this—I got a call to go to this decoration ceremony. They gave me an Air Medal. Hell, I had 24 Air Medals, you know. But it was nice. You know, thoughtful. And…Oh, about the last 25 years, a bunch of people who knew me and saw this decoration, including Major-General Eisenhower, they thought that was a pretty weak deal, you know. So, they wanted to see if I could get the Medal of Honor. And they made a petition. They wrote up a citation. They did all this stuff. Fortunately, all this was documented by the other decoration. But the guy that wrote it up—I don’t know who wrote it up. But the guy who wrote it up left out the crocodiles and the automatic weapons fire, the fact that I had holes shot in my blouse and my trousers. You know, and that I had to run 200 meters to get this guy. They left all that out. They just—that you know, he did a good job, he saved this paratrooper’s life. You know. (01:24:19) Veteran: Some difficult flying and some danger. But anyway, that put all that together the day before 9/11. That’s, what…18 years ago. General Eisenhower and Sergeant McCarthy and Sergeant Duke and Specialist Larry Carlisle. My co-pilot was alive then. And he submitted a sworn affidavit about the crocodiles and the little holes and the incredible flying getting out of that little bitty hole so we could even get close to him. 200 meters is a long ways through a �mangrove swamp. But I didn’t—I was walking on water. I didn’t—I was moving out. I was physically fit then. Interviewer: Okay. So… Veteran: But they put all that together and they sent it to Senator Inhofe who—a Republican Senator. And Jim Inhofe had given me 51 decorations before that at a ballpark. Baseball. This is in the vogue and pony show time. He’s a veteran. He’s an advocate. What most politicians are. They want the veteran vote. But Jim. It was sent to Jim, to his chief of staff and to him. Never heard anything back. Nothing. After about 3 or 4 years, I inquired. They didn’t know what was going on. Then I inquired again and it was supposed to be over here at Department of the Army or Department of Defense. Some damn place. Never heard from them again. So, General Eisenhower—he’s a friend. He got a little bit ticked off. So, he’s taken it on himself to write letters, put together things. And they have also now submitted through a North Carolina Congresswoman. (01:26:32) Veteran: She’s an advocate for veterans and of course she wants veterans vote. She takes care of the veterans. And so, they are hoping that she will. She’s a Senator. And if they get this damn thing out of the trash can, they either approve it or disapprove it. Interviewer: Right. Veteran: I don’t care if they approve it or disapprove it. Of course, I want it approved but if they disapprove it, I saved a life and I got decorated and I am okay. Interviewer: Okay. �Veteran: I’d like it for my granddaughter and my kids and my great-grandchildren. By the way, we are expecting another great grandchild. I just found that out. But I’d love for my family to have something to hold onto. I cherish my grandfather’s and my great-grandfather’s. They were Comanches and stuff. But I honored them as men that stood up for what they believed in. Interviewer: Okay. Veteran: And I’d like for my little kids to think that of me. One reason why Jim is I alienated my children and my loved ones, my family, because of really, really, bad PTSD. I ran off everybody that loved me. I’ve come around now and I am doing much better. But for 40 years, it was bad news. Broken glass—I had a hard life. Interviewer: Alright. Now, let’s circle back a little bit. First of all, explain about the crocodiles. Veteran: What? Interviewer: The Crocodiles. (01:28:02) Veteran: Oh, the crocodiles. Oh my God…When I went to get this guy, I found what you call a high-speed trail. And it went through an abandoned village. And it was on a river. So, I ran down that trail. I was hooking them, which was better than coming back. But down this high-speed trail, I got to the river, I had to turn right and go about 40 meters down the river. And this paratrooper was—had both legs broken. Femurs. Blood bleeding through his. His risers had fallen across a big old tree stump. And his canopy was bouncing off the river. And I was afraid if that thing filled with water, that would drag him to his death. You know. So, I went slushing out there through the mud. Ankle deep—knee deep, which is hard walking. And I got it. And just as I got him, bullets start flushing water and mud up around me. Bad guys were shooting at me �from across the river. There I am, wide open. Kill zone. So, I took this paratrooper over my back. And I get back to the shore, to the bank. Well, I can’t run down the bank to get to that pass—that high-speed trail because they will have blown me down before I got there. So, I plunged right into the mangroves. And they have a Crocodylus porosus. They call them ‘salties.’ ‘Maneaters.’ ‘Sinkhole crocodiles.’ These are the big boys that you see in Australia. Interviewer: Yeah. Veteran: Ran right through the middle of them. Everywhere. They would have killed me probably or eaten me—both of us—but the village was not abandoned. It wasn’t abandoned. They had an ambush set up there. I ran right through that ambush and they had discipline, they held their fire. But when these guys across the river opened up on me, then they opened up on me. And they were close. (01:30:22) Veteran: Had leaves, limbs, things falling down on me while I am running. But that spooked the crocodiles. So, I didn’t get—I wasn’t made into lunch. Got back to the chopper and all there waiting was my aircraft commander and co-pilot. We alternated. And all they was—they were waiting on me. He didn’t take-off to leave me. And my crew chief—we put that pitiful ARVN solider…Never made a sound. All while I was running with him. When I laid him on the deck, he started to scream. Like he had a lot of shock or something but it allowed him to—but he started to scream. You know…Crew chief was helping. But we saved him. We did. Well, that’s a biggie. Any time you save a human life, that is kind of a biggie. But with the special forces’ advisors, what we were really happy about was I sprung this damn ambush that their guys were going to walk into. And they would have sustained serious casualties. You know. Boys would have been killed in action, but that would have been a bummer if those rangers had of walked into that village. It was a horseshoe ambush. They would have been fish in a barrel. But I sprang �it so they dealt with it a little differently. But I think that’s the big thing that they were the Medal of Honor campaigning was. I wasn’t heroic. I didn’t know it was going to be that bad. If I had known it, I’d have probably left town, you know. (01:32:11) Interviewer: Alright. Okay. Let’s kind of wind—go back in your story. So, you kind of gotten you through your first tour in Vietnam, where you talked about that and you come back home to the states. What assignments do you get when you get home? Veteran: What did I do? Interviewer: Yeah. Veteran: First tour. I went to Fort Eustis, Virginia. And they had a job there as the Secretary of the Aviation Administration. It was a major’s job. I was a second-lieutenant but I had, you know, I had years of…So, they gave me that job. It was at Felker Army Airfield. And Colonel Hill and Major Moffatt and a couple of really wonderful guys. One of my co-pilots from Seawolf was there. So, I stayed there a little while. And then, I wanted to move my wife and my children to closer to their family. They were in Georgia. So, I asked for and got a transport to Fort Stewart, Georgia. Camp Swampy. As bad as Vietnam. But I went there and I became part of a—I can’t remember. I think it was 267th aviation battalion. And we trained pathfinders how to get helicopters in to LZs and stuff. So, I did that. And made first-lieutenant. And I was—I was always screwed up. The PTSD was getting me. I was not an officer gentleman. I was drinking. Fist fighting. Wild as a hare. (01:34:07) Veteran: So, I decided I better go back to Vietnam. And I had a guilt. Unreasonable guilt. My friends died and I chickened out. So, I went to Cobra school and then I went to Vietnam. And wasn’t there too long. Got—broke my back. Med-evaced to Camp Sakai, Japan. Told I would �never walk again. And I was told that I would never walk again, I felt like I had paid my debt for killing children. I felt like I had paid my debt. But I was able to—I was able to walk again. And I’ve come light years because of people who care about Vietnam War. People like you. What was it all about? What did it do to our young men and women? And my discipline now is psychology. I counsel veterans. I do really well at it. I helped a lot of them. Had a few commit suicide. And that is always sad. My little brother committed suicide. But I think what you’re doing, Jim, is terribly important. As a historian. You know, who was it? Henry Steele Commager said, “If you don’t remember history, you can relive it.” Well, we are reliving that now. Interviewer: Yeah. Now, did the back injury, did that end your military career? When you broke your back, did that end your military career? (01:36:02) Veteran: No, it didn’t. It screwed it up. It wasn’t a broken back, it was compressions. I tore a bunch of certain muscles. And a lot of pressure on the sciatic nerve. I had a big tumor about that big. The tumor dissolved and my feeling came back. And I really had it back to where I could walk, where I could run, where I could stand so I was okay. But I had residuals. I think it what caused me to get out was PTSD. I wasn’t happy. I was mercurial. I was the best officer you’d ever, ever find and I was the sorriest you’d ever, ever find. And you can’t be that way. So, I had a lot of accolade. I was a battalion commander. I was a captain. I was Mamie Eisenhower’s escort officer. Vice President Agnew’s escort officer. Had a washtub full of medals. I was a good—on the surface, a good boy. But beneath it, I was falling apart. Interviewer: Okay. So, explain what you were doing with Vice President Agnew? Veteran: Finding out where toilets were and opening doors. I was pretty low-level peon. But I was a captain. And his wife was real sweet. And we would go into these—when they come to a �military base like that, I remember giving him the technical aspects of a facsimile simulator. You know what that is? The tube that rotated. It had a nacelle on it and that’s the way you transmitted faxes, back in the old days. Interviewer: Okay. Veteran: So, I showed him how the thing worked and he was interested. As far as I knew, he was a good guy. He was a crook but they all were. But he was an honest crook. If you know what that—what I mean. If you’d ask him, he’d say, “Yep.” You know? His little wife was very sweet. I hate to say this about Mamie Eisenhower, she was precious, but she was a precious little drunk. I guess that’s because of all her life…But she drank a little bit too much. She was precious. My main thing for her was finding the bathrooms and looking out for her. (01:38:39) Interviewer: Okay. Now, is this what you were doing after you got back from Vietnam? Veteran: Pardon me? Interviewer: Were you doing this after you finished in Vietnam? Veteran: Yes. Yes. Interviewer: Yeah. Veteran: Yes, this was after Vietnam. Interviewer: Okay. When did you actually leave the service? Veteran: When did I actually leave? Interviewer: Yeah. �Veteran: April 15th, 1973. And I resigned my commission April the 15th, 1975. So, I was essentially a soldier for…What? Interviewer: Well, ’61 to— Veteran: 14-15 years. Interviewer: Yeah. Veteran: But I was angry. When I got out, they had a reduction in force. All the enlisted men wanted out and they got out. So, they were now top heavy in middle management or company grade officers. So, they start releasing them. Involuntarily. They’d RIF them: Reduction In Force, they call it. So, they let out all these 1000s of captains and I was in there, still in there. And when they RIFed me, they came down with a RIF order. I was the only guy on it. I was a, you know, bottom of the pile. But hell, I was an infantryman, I was double rated, I was blah blah. Cobra qualified and all that. But they RIFed me. Paid me $15,000. Paid me, threw me at the gate. And I was angry. And about…Oh, it wasn’t long but maybe a year, they’d screwed up. What the government usually does. They over RIFed. They threw out too many “helicopter pilots.” Do you know what it costs to train a helicopter pilot? They have to have 1500-2000 hours before they’re worth a damn. Do you know what it takes to train a Cobra pilot? (01:40:36) Veteran: A test pilot? I was all these things. So, I was in—I was living in Hurst, Texas. And got a call from Fort Hood. They wanted to bring me back on as a Cobra pilot for the cav outfits that were there. You know, armored people. I think it was 4th infantry…I am sure. 4th—but they wanted me there as a Cobra pilot to…Told me they’d make me a major, because I was almost a major when I got out. And I said, “Well, how long?” And they said, “Well, we’ll guarantee you 6-months.” I said, “No.” I said, “I need 6 years and retirement or you can forget it.” And I said, �“When all the foreigns and all the women that you’ve insulted and everything, you can’t recruit anybody.” I said, “I might go then but not until then.” I was a smart ass. But I cut my nose off to spite my face. I probably would have—I’d have gone back on active duty the way things turned out. You know, the Mid East Wars. I probably would have been sticking around as a Cobra pilot as an aviation commander for probably a pretty good while. If I had behaved myself. But I was not a good boy then. Today, I’d make a wonderful commander. I’ve been an old geezer. Been smart, been practical. You know, been… (01:42:20) Interviewer: Yep. Veteran: Been good. Been a good guy but back then, I was a little bit dangerous. Interviewer: Yeah. And you went down further and then—and you went down more after that and then eventually got yourself all the way back up again. Veteran: I fell apart in 1984. Ended up in the fetal position on the floor of a V hospital. I lost it all. I lost it all. But I screwed up with people up until 1984. Divorced wives and quit jobs and, you know. But I started coming back in 1984. And in 1990, I was doing better. And the late ‘90s, I was doing much better. Meantime, I went to graduate school. Wrote a book. Had tried my very best to be a good guy. And I became one. I think I did. Interviewer: Okay. Say a little about the book. It’s an unusual book. Veteran: Oh, this book? Interviewer: Yeah. Veteran: Oh, it’s a…It’s a compression of thought. It’s in poetry. It has a Christian scripture. A secular wisdom scripture. A poem and then a prose epilogue explaining what the PTSD—what �that’s about. Some sins I bare are always there for anyone to see. The few who care will often stare and ask how they came to be. This scar you see below my knee came from a bursting shell. This one here beside my ear, a sniper shell placed well. Though there’s a number I know that I can’t show because it’s hidden so deep inside. I guess it’s true it has something to do with all my friends that have died. But nevertheless, I must confess this scar burns me with strife. I ask and cry, I still wonder why we were wasting such precious life. This scar I keep buried very deep and it’s not from a bullet hole. But it will always seep and trouble my sleep because it stretches across my soul. (01:44:55) Veteran: Okay, that is a poem. You go to the epilogue and it talks about the physiology of a gunshot wound or shrapnel wound. You got a hole punched in you. You start to bleed. Thrombin is active, you coagulate. Stop the bleeding. Here comes the white blood cells. And you start healing. If you got blood running down your arm or your leg or your face, here comes your buddy to help you. Here comes the doctors, the hospital. You know, you got external help. But I’ll tell you this: when you get scarred across your soul, you’re often by yourself. Often, you try to hide it. Big boys don’t cry. You know? And it gets worse and worse. And it never, ever heals. You have to learn how to cope with it. Have to deal with it. So, that’s what it’s like. It’s a couple of sayings, a poem, and then an epilogue. And it goes through quite a few of them. Interviewer: Yeah. Veteran: Talks about a corpsman. Talks about a chaplain that got killed in the battlefield. Talks about Army nurses that were there. Little children starving. Killing children. Mortar attacks, artillery barrages. So, it’s quite a…It’s my picture of this. Of what the war was. And I’ve been blessed. I have had grandmothers and wives and daughters and children and fathers that have �come up to me crying. Because they said their book told me who their father was. Or their son or their brother. (01:46:43) Veteran: They didn’t know who he was. They knew he was screwed up but they didn’t know what was going—but when they read my book, they saw him. And I gave them back to them. And of course, you need to help. You need support. When you need help the most, that is when you seem to alienate it or run it off. Interviewer: Yeah. Veteran: So, I learned that the hard way. I don’t want the youngsters today to learn it the hard way. Sit down, you have to heal yourself, we will help you with medication, if you need it, if you don’t need it, leave the medication alone. Leave the booze and the drugs alone. Listen to good counsel. Talk to groups. Visit with other people who have shared common experiences. Work your way out. And you’ll be able to hobble. You may not be able to run, but you’ll be able to walk the rest of your life. And that is what it is all about. Interviewer: Yeah. But it all makes for a pretty remarkable story. So, thank you very much for taking the time to share it. Veteran: Thank you, Jim. I appreciate what you are doing. It means something to the kids ahead of us. Interviewer: Right. Very good. (01:48:00) � 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/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27_RamonE2278V Title A name given to the resource Ramon, Edward (Interview transcript and video), 2018 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2018-11-01 Description An account of the resource Edward Ramon was born in 1942 in San Antonio, Texas, and graduated high school in May of 1960. Ramon received a scholarship to play football at Texarkana Junior College, but decided to join the Army in 1961. He completed his Advanced Individual Training at Fort Ord, California, and his Finance Training at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, before he trained as a medic at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Ramon was involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis response in the early '60s and trained as a helicopter pilot after reenlistment. He was deployed to Vietnam in January, 1966, with the 1st Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne and the 82nd Airborne Divisions. While he primarily flew gunships, he also participated in various rescue missions in Vietnam. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ramon, Edward Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American United States. Army Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Veterans Video recordings Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Veterans History Project collection, RHC-27 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI, 49401. Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Language A language of the resource eng https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/5d59a66cca1ef41b7c75d39a77b44bf3.pdf 26d56871775dfaa728683b644f0f2fb3 PDF Text Text Young Lords In Lincoln Park Interviewee: Ramonia “Monin” Jiménez Rodríguez Interviewers: José “Cha-Cha” Jiménez Location: Grand Valley State University Special Collections Date: 6/25/2012 Biography and Description Ramonia “Monin” Jiménez Rodríguez came to live in the La Clark barrio of Chicago on La Salle near Division Street in the mid 1950s. The La Clark barrio once encompassed the area between Grand Avenue on the south and North Avenue on the north, bounded by Dearborn Street on the east and continuing west to Halsted Street, and in some sections along Chicago Avenue to nearly Ashland. La Clark was chosen by Puerto Ricans because it was the location of many service jobs, including domestic work, waitressing, dishwashing, and other hotels. The neighborhood was also close to a number of factories along Wells, Franklin, and Orleans Streets and along the Chicago River. Ms. Jiménez Rodríguez attended mass at Holy Name Cathedral and St. Joseph. She became involved early in the Council Number Three Damas de María at St. Michael’s Church. There she helped other Damas to cook the arroz con gandules dinners regularly. The dinners would be sold to raise money in the gymnasium after mass. There was usually a live band playing and many neighborhood people dancing. Ms. Jiménez Rodríguez later joined St. Teresa’s Church Council Number Nine, as the Puerto Rican community expanded to encompass the streets of Lincoln Park west of Sheffield to Ashland Avenue. The Caballeros and Damas used St. Teresa’s Hall for many of their activities.Her brothers were also active in community life and civic affairs. Antonio “Maloco” Jiménez Rodríguez was vice-president of the Hacha Viejas in these early days. Angel Luis Jiménez became president of Council Number Nine; they opened up their own social club across from St. �Teresa to hold meetings and throw smaller parties to raise funds for the Caballeros and the Damas. Through the 1960s these affairs grew as they strove to cater more to the youth groups. St. Teresa had some of the best dances using the new bilingual youth bands that were spreading everywhere throughout Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park and the new, expanding Puerto Rican community in Humboldt Park. Ms. Jiménez Rodríguez worked hard volunteering for the Chicago’s Puerto Ricans at St. Michael’s and at St. Teresa. She was also part of the movement to try to get mass held in Spanish. In later years, Ms. Jiménez Rodríguez moved back to Puerto Rico to retire which is where she now lives. � https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/391b782be2a7f5e89a3be549c541c827.mp4 cbde9e9f4512aa121c09cd7048508759 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 Young Lords in Lincoln Park Collection Subject The topic of the resource Young Lords (Organization) Puerto Ricans--United States Civil Rights--United States--History Lincoln Park (Chicago, Ill.) Personal narratives Social justice Community activists--Illinois--Chicago Description An account of the resource Collection of oral history interviews and digitized materials documenting the history of the Young Lords Organization in Lincoln Park, Chicago. Interviews were conducted by Young Lords' founder, José “Cha-Cha” Jiménez, and documents were digitized from Mr. Jiménez' archives. The Young Lords in Lincoln Park collection grows out of the ongoing struggle for fair housing, self-determination, and human rights that was launched by Mr. José “Cha-Cha” Jiménez, founder of the Young Lords Movement. This project is dedicated to documenting the history of the displacement of Puerto Ricans, Mejicanos, other Latinos, and the poor from Lincoln Park, as well as the history of the Young Lords nationwide. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jiménez, José, 1948- Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/491">Young Lords in Lincoln Park collection (RHC-65)</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 2017-04-25 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 eng spa Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-65 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 2012-2017 Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Título Spanish language Title entry Ramonia “Monin” Jiménez Rodríguez vídeo entrevista y biografía Sujetos Spanish language Subject terms Young Lords (Organización) Puertorriqueños--Estados Unidos Derechos civiles--Estados Unidos--Historia Lincoln Park (Chicago, Ill.) Puertorriqueños--Relatos personales Idioma español--Relatos personales Justicia social Activistas comunitarios--Illinois--Chicago Puertorriqueños--Illinois--Chicago--Vida social y costumbres Juventud--Illinois--Chicago Source <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/491">Young Lords in Lincoln Park (RHC-65)</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-65_Jimenez_Ramonia Title A name given to the resource Ramonia “Monin” Jiménez Rodríguez video interview and biography Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jiménez, Ramonia Description An account of the resource Ramonia “Monin” Jiménez Rodríguez came to live in the La Clark barrio of Chicago on La Salle near Division Street in the mid-1950s. Ms. Jiménez Rodríguez attended mass at Holy Name Cathedral and St. Joseph. She became involved early in the Council Number Three Damas de María at St. Michael’s Church. There she helped other Damas to cook the arroz con gandules dinners to raise money after mass. There was usually a live band playing and many neighborhood people dancing. She was also part of the movement to try to get mass held in Spanish. In later years, Ms. Jiménez Rodríguez moved back to Puerto Rico to retire which is where she now lives. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jiménez, José, 1948- Subject The topic of the resource Young Lords (Organization) Puerto Ricans--United States Civil Rights--United States--History Lincoln Park (Chicago, Ill.) Puerto Ricans--Personal narratives Spanish language--Personal narratives Social justice Community activists--Illinois--Chicago Puerto Ricans--Illinois--Chicago--Social life and customs Youth--Illinois--Chicago Language A language of the resource spa 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 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012-06-25 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/111e26a5c3b093d4a976854c1cb566ae.jpg 405b619e9c3172863a4f6f5725121145 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_RamseyLewis Title A name given to the resource Ramsey Lewis, April 30, 1981 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 Ramsey Lewis, in the Louis Armstrong Theater, sponsored by Student Activities, April 30, 1981. 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 1981 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/56a752eec770d95aebdfa6cdf573c73d.mp4 a11f01f55a44e646019b8890a1b72961 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/4c3d67192c3292d6623fa585edd7d75d.pdf 875dbf3c0124a97ae1aa92fad429734b PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Oral History Interview Veteran: Laurin Ramey Interview Length: (3:06:03) Interviewed by James Smither Transcribed by Chloe Dingens Interviewer: We're talking today with Laurin Ramsey of Mona Shores, Michigan and the interviewer is James Smither of the Grand Valley State University Veteran’s History Project. Okay now Laurin begin with some background on yourself to begin with where and when were you born? I was born March 20th of 1923 and my mother passed away when I was three years old and my dad never remarried, and I was brought up in my younger years by a couple of housekeepers. And then my oldest daughter- or my sister, I had a older brother by three years and my sister was six years older than I. When she got old enough, she took over the management of the house and my dad worked for a- a dairy, he was a milkman and my sister run the house until she was 18 years old and graduated from high school. And then she got a job with the General Telephone Company and she met another employee and they got together, and they got an apartment and she moved out. It was glad to get rid of the job of keeping house for everybody, well then, we batched it, my dad and my brother and I. (1:42) Interviewer: Okay and where were you at this time? We lived at 828 Dale Avenue in Muskegon. Interviewer: Muskegon, Michigan, okay. We lived a couple blocks away from the Highland Park Dairy where my dad worked. Interviewer: Okay. �And I went with my dad a lot, in other words it was nothing like it is now that, they didn't care whether you went in the, but my dad was a route foreman and he had six routes that he took care of and he had three horse routes and three truck routes. And I don't know whether it was in the summertime where they delivered milk at night so whenever you wake up in the morning because there was no refrigeration you had a fresh bottle of milk on your doorstep, but I would go with him in the summertime when I was on vacation, summer vacation, school and he used to pay me a dollar and half a week for going with him. So I- I had a lot of experience and meeting people, and going around, I- I- I didn't have time to go out for football and all that kind of stuff. My life was pretty much all work, work. Interviewer: Right (3:02) And I had my household duties to do. I had to buy the groceries on Saturday but that a little plush because then my dad would let me drive the… his car and so I would pick the grocery store as far away as I possibly could so I could drive. About three blocks away was a AP store that I could go to but I went way out in the Heights, it was a store that I had known about when I was with my dad on the milk route and that's where I went, I met my wife in this grocery store in- in the Heights and that was a long time ago. Interviewer: Right. Alright when the war broke out my brother was one of the first ones to be drafted, he was in thein the lottery and his- his number came up real quick. And he ended up in the South Pacific and he ended up in the Fiji Islands and you ain’t gonna believe this but all he did was made ice cream all the time he was in the Fijis. He had a summer job, job at the dairy where my dad worked, and he made ice cream and he worked with a guy that was an ice cream maker and he learned how to �make ice cream and all the flavors and all that. And that's- that's how he got involved in the ice cream business. (4:33) Interviewer: Alright and- and so the military actually placed somebody where he had the right skills, that's good- good for them. That's what they interview you when you're inducted, they really a- really a background check, they want to know what they got. Interviewer: Right. Now for you, did you finish high school? Oh yes, I graduated in 1941. Interviewer: Okay. In June and I worked at the dairy, I paid- got paid 15 cents an hour and when I- I got a work permit- permit, you had to be 14 to get a work permit. I shoveled ice cream during my summer vacations and 15 cents an hour. I would work ten hours a day on Sundays on some days, that was holidays and stuff, and, in those days, I made pretty good money. Interviewer: Yeah. (5:28) You know I'd work ten hours and I got a buck and a half. Interviewer: Alright now before Pearl Harbor happened, were you paying much attention to what was going on in the world in a war in Europe? That kind of thing? Not- not really, I mean just what you read in the paper you know but I couldn't say that I was you know really delved into it too- too much. Interviewer: So, you weren’t really thinking about how we might get into a war or anything else like that? �No. Interviewer: Okay so how did…yeah. Oh, Pearl Harbor. Interviewer: Yeah. Of course, you know hit everybody real- real hard and- and sudden. And it was a real eye opener and all we had was the radio, you know, and the paper and it was a shock. Interviewer: How did you hear about it? On the radio. Interviewer: On the radio, okay. (6:14) Yeah, and that's how I- I heard about it, but my brother was drafted very quickly after that. Interviewer: Okay. In other words, I think Roosevelt declared war on January 14th or something it was... Interviewer: Well probably December 14th [actually Dec. 11] or before that cause December 7th, ‘41 is Pearl Harbor and so we’re at war. Yeah, but it was in January of ‘42 that he actually declared…. Interviewer: Legal war, okay. On Germany and Japan but yeah, he- he was inducted in, it was called Camp Shanks in- in- in Pennsylvania [actually New York] and he was shipped out real quick out to the South Pacific. And as I say, he ended up in the Fiji Islands, but he never spoke about it much, but I guess a person you know, it's something you don't mention but he did his duty. (7:17) Interviewer: Right. �He did what he was told, you know you don't have no control of what- what’s gonna happen to you. Well, he was at the time he was drafted he was working at the Central Paper Company as a, in the lab. He was making routine tests of the paper making process throughout the plant and when he was drafted, he got them to hire me to- to replace him. So I spent about maybe six months doing the job that he had at the paper mill. Interviewer: Right. It's, making these lab tests and all that. Interviewer: Now did you try to enlist yourself? I tried to, yeah. Interviewer: Okay tell that story. Well, my dad wasn't in favor of it but I- I went down on my own to Kalamazoo, that's where the induction center was, and I paid my own bus fare down there and I stayed overnight in a hotel. But through the- the physical examination and so forth and they rejected me because they said I had hypertension. Interviewer: Okay, now what program were you trying to enter? (8:41) I was trying to get into the cadet program to be a pilot. Interviewer: Okay. And I wouldn't take nothing other than that. So, they sent me home. Soon after that I was drafted. Interviewer: Okay. And no problem just... Interviewer: Alright now where did you report to first when you're drafted? We went, we shipped out of here, there was about four railcar- passenger cars that went to Camp �Grant, Illinois. And we all ended up- ended up there and that's where we got our shots and another physical and we got all the tests, both written and oral and interviews and all that. We got our uniforms and stuff. Interviewer: Okay now this was… To today I can't remember what the hell happened to our clothes. I don't know. (9:40) Interviewer: They're supposed to ship home probably, but who knows. I don't know what happened to the clothes. Interviewer: So- so, this is early 1943 now we're talking about. That's what's on your service record anyways. Yeah, yeah. Interviewer: Okay. Well, when we was ready to ship out, one of the corporals that was in the cadre of Camp Grant took three or four of us and we, he said, “you're in the chemical warfare,” and he took us down to it was called Camp Sibert, Alabama it was, we went by train and it was a wartime camp, tar paper barracks, everything was tar paper, gravel roads, everything, but it was strictly wartime deal. Everything was, we had barracks that probably held, oh maybe twenty-five guys and they were up on cement blocks off the ground and no, just studs in the inside and paper… tar paper… Interviewer: Tar paper. …on the outside and the latrine was down the street and the mess hall was down the other way and then they had like kind of an office deal where the Officers hung out and they run the place. And they had a little supply area, but it was- it was- it was okay. There was a potbelly stove at the end of each one and so forth but… �(11:18) Interviewer: Okay now were you getting basic training there or were they already putting… Basic training. Interviewer: Okay. We were, yeah and basically everything was pre-war, pre-world War, I mean prewar, it was old stuff. Interviewer: So, like World War I vintage equipment. There you go, it was old stuff. We had leggings and shoes and we- we had, the rifles we had were Enfield rifles, they were English Enfield rifles. Old, old stuff and everything was pretty old, it was nothing that was new, everything was old. Well basically they emphasized Army courtesy, discipline, and definitely physical conditioning. Interviewer: Okay. (12:18) And the rest of it was very, it was old, and it they- they didn't have the stuff to tell- tell you, we saw one M1 rifle that- that was the only one we’d seen. Interviewer: Okay now what kind of physical shape were you in at that time? I was about twenty years old or nineteen. Interviewer: Yeah. I was at peak condition. Interviewer: Okay. But we had guys from you know and they’re fat, and others out of condition you know, theythey never got off the sidewalk you know they come from New York City all over the country �you know. But I- I had no problem at all, in fact basically what they do they try to com- have you compete in other words I was in the Third Platoon of the company and they do that by what your name is, in other words First Platoon is everything from A to probably D or E and then the Second Company then, but I was a R, so I was in the Third. Well, they- they try to get you to compete in other words which was the best, what's the best platoon. And so, it's always “I'm the best platoon,” or “this is the best platoon.” So, it's always that competition and I could run ‘em in the ground, I could run them in the ground. I had no problem at all, that was it, I mean I- the officers would drop out before I- I mean I- I just enjoyed that, just out doing them, I had no problem. (13:55) Interviewer: Okay what about with the discipline part were you…? No problem there either but they weeded out the gold bricks and the screw-ups real quick, that didn't take ‘em very long. And if you was a screw-up you was on train duty and- and that kind of stuff. And they, you- you was brushed aside they- they want no part of you. Interviewer: Okay. But if you were just a gold brick, they took care of that too. They put you out there in the front after hours, digging a hole up to your ears, you know. And- and- and it would be in way after dark you're still digging you know. Interviewer: Would they do things where it if one person screwed up, they punished the whole unit or? Sometimes. (14:45) Interviewer: Okay. �Particularly on inspection, you always had a Saturday morning inspection and if you screwed up or somebody did in the barracks you wouldn't get a weekend pass. So, they, there was a bunch of self-discipline done, it wasn't all about the officers. Interviewer: Right. … and everything. But we had good officers and we had some we called shoe salesmen and I would say there was probably about fifty/fifty. Interviewer: Okay now how long did you stay at- at Camp Sibert. Well, your ten weeks. Interviewer: Yeah, okay just ten weeks. But I told you that I had this puncture wound and they sent me a dispensary, they bandaged it up and so forth and they give me a tetanus shot, I was allergic to tetanus I didn't know it. (15:42) Interviewer: At least to the shot yeah. I ended up in the hospital, I- I couldn't lift my arms the next morning and it- it was terrible pain and all they did was give me morphine and the doctors they paraded every doctor they had in the place by me and they- they couldn't come up with what the answer was. Finally, one of them worked it out and they gave me an antibiotic and I popped right out of it and I was back in the ranks real quick but I missed a whole week. Interviewer: Right, now you mentioned the prospect of getting weekend passes, I mean if you got off base on a weekend what could you do? Well at this Camp Sibert not much. I don't even remember that there was a town or if it was it wasn't much because I don't remember ever going to the- to town or anything. Interviewer: Right okay. �But you could get off base I would say that, but I don't remember anything about ever getting off base to a town or something. (16:47) Interviewer: Alright so to go back then to your main story. So, you're- you have the tetanus shot reaction, you get over that, you rejoin your unit, and then what happens to you then when the training ends, now what? Well when the training ends, why they're all shipped out. Basically, the outfit goes to a- a- a division or some unit where they get actually more training. Interviewer: Right. And it’s a different kind depending where you're shipped, I was told that the most of ‘em were shift and ended up in Italy, but in my case, I was segregated out and I was the only one and I just thought it was because I had missed a week of training and in the- in the hospital but that wasn't the case at all. They gave me my orders and a bus ticket to Auburn College, and they put me on a bus and I ended up at Auburn and I didn't know what was going on, I- I just followed orders to go to Auburn until I- I got in. When I got to Auburn, why I was there for maybe ten days or so. They kept trickling in guys from all over and when it got up to about maybe 15/ 20 guys they shipped us to Nashville, to Vanderbilt University and then I come to the realization that I was in ASTP. (18:23) Interviewer: Okay and what was that? That was Army Specialized Training Program, a very controversial outfit I guess you'd call it. I guess a lot of men at Pentagon agreed that it was good, and others didn't think it was good, it was a loss of a lot of manpower that they needed. �Interviewer: Right, now what was the purpose of the program? Well, I only found this out by talking to a friend that was in a ASTP at the Tanglewood Senior Center where I met, he was in an ASTP too, he had a whole book on it and his situation was entirely different. He had to apply for it and take a- a intelligence- or a IQ test and all kinds of things but he finally was accepted, but me I- I just, I don't know. Interviewer: But what was the specialized training for? Where were- what were they gonna send you to? This is what the book written, and this is what I was a told is it was a prelude to Officers Candidate School. In other words, you would go and if you could cut the mustard and- and get everything, then you went to Officers Candidate School. Interviewer: Okay. And then yeah, the way they were doing it now I guess if you- you have some political friend or your dad was the garbage collectors or maybe the city mayor of some town you they was in, you go to Officers Candidate School but this is a different situation they was gonna take the cream of- of the crop so to speak it. (20:06) Interviewer: But wasn't a lot of training for engineers specifically? Yes engineering. Interviewer: Right. Our course was this and it was not my bag at all, I’m- I'm a businessperson. We had calculus, chemistry, American history, English and physical conditioning. Interviewer: Right, so a lot of its regular college courses. �Definitely, they were taught by college professors and so forth. And if you couldn't cut the mustard by then they booted you out real quick and I had a rough go of it, but I had a good friend, his name was Whitey Seem [name unclear]. Smart dude, smart he was really what, he was my tutor, and he- he was my- my godsend I guess you could say that helped me a lot. The calculus was way, way over my head but I managed to stay in there and not until it was dissolved, and we- we had probably about a year at- at Vanderbilt and it was good time, it was good, and we marched to class and we had to stand reveille, and- and- and night, bed check, and all that, it was, and we had a, I was an A- A company and there was another one was B company and we had officers that run the show, first lieutenant was- was the head of the outfit that I was in. Well anyway when it was dissolved, and it was very quick, it was just shhhs like this, you know and it- it was like maybe in the middle of the week you know and all of a sudden, they said, “you don't go to class today we're gonna do this,” and you know we didn't know enough, they don't tell you nothing, you know. (22:08) Interviewer: Okay before we go any further with that, let's talk a little bit more of you spending a better part of a year there. Did you have to spend all of your time sort of studying? Or in your rooms or? Well… Interviewer: Doing things officially? Or did you get time off? We- we have pretty much the weekends off. We had inspection and we passed inspection and then we would get Saturday afternoon and Sunday off. And we could do pretty much what we wanted to do, but if you could pretty much, if you was up in your studies and stuff but you sometimes you’d spend your time studying and then you could go to the library and so forth and �everything. But we had dances at the gym on Saturday night sometimes and they’d truck in, bus in girls and they had a lot of Vanderbilt girls too and, but we had a good situation in that we got girls from PBot- Peabody lady’s- woman's college. It was very close by; you could see it from the campus of the Vanderbilt. And then there was one other one that was called Ward- WardBelmont Finishing School, woooo [laughter] those gals were… when they come to the dance, they have about three chaperones. They really had ‘em on a short leash but you could get around ‘em and once you found out their name why you was in, you know you because they was only about probably about maybe six/ eight blocks down the street you could go on Saturday andand- and you could go on and if you know who to ask for and you could- you could make a date and if you did, you could make a date and they got out on Saturday afternoon too. And but that was not too good, and they came with white gloves to their elbows, a hat, and a- a purse, and silk stockings, and a real fancy dress you know and oh Christ, that was… well it was about probably six/ eight blocks to the bus stop and there was a place where there was a watering hole for the drinkers in the- in the group. It was called Patroni, and I had a date with one of them and I arranged it prior you know, and I told her I’ll meet you on, when you- when you go to the bus stop. And as soon as she sees you know, off comes the hat and off comes the gloves you know, and off comes the socks you know, the silk stockings you know, and the purse and then we would leave that stuff in the back room at this Patroni’s beer joint, tavern it was nice, and they would let you put ‘em in their back room their stuff. And then we- I didn't have a lot of money you know. (25:23) Interviewer: Yeah. �A couple of bucks, but the town was crawling with G.I.s, they came in from being on bivouac out in- in the outer part of Tennessee and the town would be crawling but they also on Saturday had the Grand Ole Opry and that was a big deal too. And they had this guy his name was… what was his name? He was a well-known country- country guy his name was… what the hell was it… but his car was all designed up real fancy and if he was waiting at the bus stop you always stop and piggy up, his name was what the hell was it? Interviewer: Doesn’t make a, yeah. Well, it's not important but he was a real nice guy. (26:16) Interviewer: Now when you were there, and you go into town and Nashville and that kind of thing did you notice that it was a segregated society that the blacks were treated differently from the whites or did that not even occur to you there? We never saw any blacks. Interviewer: Okay. No, there wasn't a black in- in the ASTP. Interviewer: Yeah, but I meant by, in- on the civilian population though when you're going off base into town, that kind of thing. (26:39) No, no, on Saturday it was a big deal for the Grand Ole Opry and these people from the out areas would come to town in an open truck like a big stake rack truck and they’d be all standing up in the back of it you know and there’d be car loads of them. And then they would line up for to get in for the doings at- at night and they would picnic on the sidewalk and they have spread out a- a tablecloth and they always had a basket full of food, everything. And that was the way every �Saturday was that way, so several blocks were just covered by people waiting to get into the Grand Ole Opry, I never went but I- I looked inside to see what it looked like, and they had great big round things like that that held the balcony up, you know. You ever got behind one of those you’re never gonna see anything, it was an old, old building and everything, but it was the capital of Tennessee. (27:45) Interviewer: Right. So we'd go around the capitol building, and- and you couldn't get into this theater if you was lucky you- you might get in and we’d go to the show or something but it was buy an ice-cream cone or something you know and it was mostly that kind of a thing, it was no big deal. Interviewer: Alright. I shouldn't tell you this but the- the gals that were the gals from that were going to Vanderbilt they were- they were had sorority houses all around and they always were asking us to buy ‘em… it was Coke and what- what do they put in a Coke? Rum. Interviewer: Rum, yeah. Yeah, and we could buy it but they- they- they couldn't and so they’d always ask, we'd have to buy them rum, they could- they had a Coke machine in their place you know, and they had a lady that run the show you know. But then they could, I’m drinking a Coke you know they spiked it with its rum. (29:00) Interviewer: Right. �And so they always would be after us to buy them- buy them a… so that's how we got acquainted on it and they’d drop a line down from the window up, stick it for me, tie the bag on it and, but… Interviewer: Okay so not a- not a bad way on spend a better part… I had a nice lady or girlfriend she was- she was a- a southern gal, real southern she was from Mississippi, Sanford, Mississippi. Very nice gal and we got along real, real well in fact one, every time it got at Christmastime they always shut down the school and everything and we went on furlough and she had invited me down to meet her- her dad, her father he owned Sanford. (29:51) Interviewer: Okay. The town was named after, Sanford, Mississippi. She wanted me to come down and meet him, I said no, a Yankee down in that kind of a..shoot, I’d get shot. And no, no and so I didn't go but I was invited, and she was a nice gal. She used to sneak out, we had a, the room that I was in had the fire escape, we were on the third floor on the end of the deal and there was four of us in the room. And but it had one window that accessed the fire escape and after bed check in, Christ you couldn't get no sleep the damn activity going in and out, this way down. Well, I used it a few times myself and what we would do is go over and get ‘em and they’d call out the window andand we’d go down to the stadium, the football stadium and we’d crawl up in a football stadium and we- we’d sit up there, and neck and you know talk you know but is real nice. Interviewer: Yeah. And it was- it was not all, you know bad, bad you know. Interviewer: True. Army stuff, you know. �Interviewer: Yeah, okay so now so let’s see you get sort of late in 1944 now or in the fall some time that you shut down the program? Yeah well, a bunch of us and this was quite a group we’re shipped to the 106th Infantry Division in Terre Haute, Indiana. Interviewer: Okay. (31:28) Up at the Camp Terre Haute, Indiana in Terre Haute, Indiana, Camp- Camp Atterbury. Interviewer: Okay. Camp Atterbury and I was put in a rifle platoon, 422nd Regiment in this 106th division. I didn't last a week and all the guys that came from ASTP they jerked us all out, put us on KP and I spent all the rest of the time I was at Camp Atterbury or Atterbury and KP. And that must have been for three/ four weeks because I got one weekend pass and I got in to go to Indianapolis. I can remember that, but after a while they jerked everybody out of the K- that was on KP that was a ASTP or, and they ship us to Camp Crowder, Missouri that was in Joplin. Well, we didn't do nothing there, we, they just put us in a barracks, it was a barracks two-story job had inside plumbing and everything, we didn't have like it was in basic training and it was at one of the big mess halls where you went through the- the chow line with a tray. And we didn't do nothing, we just played baseball or whatever we could do you know and caroused around the camp you know. And we went down met the wax down in the wax area and we didn't do anything, and it was, that went on for, oh God it must have been almost a month. But they, all the time there was more coming in all the time. And once they got everybody they wanted I guess they put us all on a train and they shipped us down to Camp Rucker, Alabama and we all went into this 1153rd Engineering, Combat Engineer Group and they’d split us all up, some went to the Treadway �Bridge Company, someone to Line Company some went to Light Equipment Companies, I was put into the headquarters company and I was supposed to be a driver messenger that was my designation and I drove for a captain and he was the S-4 in the staff officers. These were, it was run by a full colonel and he didn't like me. He, I think he knew that I was an ASTP guy and hehe figured I was a goof-off that you know I had hats off going for quite a while, but how he just picked me out I don't know, but he did but I'll tell you a little bit more later. And he picked on me I thought but it was alright, but I drove, they gave me an old beat-up staff car it was a halfton staff car, four-wheel drive and everything but they didn't teach or anything, you know there it is. I- I said, “where- where do you check the oil?” “Lift the hood up,” you know so they didn’t tell you nothing yeah. So, you just- you just drove it you know and the only thing they ever told you was when- when we're on the highway, when we're going someplace don't go like this you know, I mean speed up and slow down, speed up. Steady speed keep it- keep it closed up and that was the only thing they ever told us but in order to be a- a good driver you had to be able to read maps, you had to be, in other word to be good, in other words the officer could tell you, you know we want to go someplace and they- they- they do the map reading and they tell you, you know this is where you would want to go. But if you're a good one you do that and you tell them where you’re gonna go and so that's what I was, I was a driver and that was only because when I work for this dairy when I was shoveling ice cream, by moving up, I got to be a what they call a special delivery driver with a truck that I went around when they had special deliveries to the stores and places and I got 20 cents an hour instead of shoveling ice cream right I drove special delivery, well that was in my resume for… (36:16) Interviewer: Okay. �…the deal when I, in that I had drove this- this truck. And I used to drive my dad's milk truck too but only when he may be down the block it was a bit and I’d drive up to him you know. So, I had driven before and… now where the hell are we? Interviewer: Well, how did you- you mentioned that the colonel didn't like you, how did you, did you get along with the captain? Oh yeah, oh yeah, the captain was great. He was a, I’ll tell you about him, his name was Captain Jack his name was Jack Saunders he was a big land or a big contractor from Oklahoma I mean he- he was big-time I mean we got to know each other real, I was like a son to him really I was. And he was not militarily I know he- he- he- he’d waved to you, you know but only time he ever showed any military things was when he had to, and so he was Captain Jack and he was- he was really, really great but we had another one that was great too, but he came later out of the TD's, he was a tank destroy outfit, but they destroyed, they abandoned that, they didn't get to have anything tank destroyers, and he was a First Lieutenant, and he was a Mexican descent, and his name was Hernandez and we called him Pancho, his name was Walter Hernandez. Burley guy you wouldn't want to tangle with him at all and he- he was always looking for a fight. Well anyway he was a nice guy too, well anyway this Captain- Captain Jack he was real nice guy and, but this colonel had it in for me. I was in the headquarters company one just to show you how picayune he was, I was sitting on a stool and he walked in and he saw my socks because my- my pants must had been up a little bit because I was sitting on the stool. He saw my socks he came over and he says, “you're out of uniform, you're them socks they don’t go with this uniform, you’re supposed to…. blahblahblah.” You know about- about my socks, you know what the hell is this about socks, but apparently I had the wrong kind of socks on and he chewed me out about my- ‘bout the socks and they had to go get my right socks on. Well the next time he chewed me �out was the, it was on a Saturday and he was reviewing the troops on the parade grounds and as they passed the reviewing stand I always wore my helmet like kind of a cocked, it wasn't down, I had it like this you know, he noticed that out of the whole damn outfit you know and he puts me, so he picks me out and he gets back at- at when he can see me, and he says, “you wear your helmet…” “Yes sir, yes sir,” you know but how the hell he picked me out of all those guys. But I’ll tell you when I got back at him but that's down the road. (39:38) Interviewer: Okay. But anyway, this Captain Jack was real good and I have to tell you this because one day we, he wanted me to go to the Officers’ Quarters where they were housed and his wife and his little girl, the daughter was there to visit him so I met his wife and his little girl. And his wife came over to see me on a- on a QT she says, “I want you to take good care of Jack. I want you to see that you take good and that he gets back to me.” Here I have a buck private you know, “I'll do my best ma’am, I’ll- I’ll see that I do everything I can to get him back to you,” and I promised her that you know you didn't make it. So, you know. Interviewer: Yeah. It's a sad but that's you know I made the promise, but I couldn't keep it. Interviewer: Okay. (40:38) Because I had no control, you know I didn't know what the hell, you know where they were sending. Well anyway that was a very sad situation but to make a long story short we get a lot of training particularly that I was in, we'd go to different, this one river and I forget the name of it, �Tallahassee or it was a pretty good-sized river, and they did a lot of bridge work. Where they would bridge across this Tallahassee River. Interviewer: Or the Chatta… And they would prepare the approaches you know and- and do that whole thing for to- to cross and that's what the training was to build those treadway bridges and then they built, the line companies built Bailey bridges and- and they did mine dissection and all that kind of stuff and then once in a while when they, we would be on bivouac in the field and that was once in a while, the captain did let me get on a bulldozer or a- or a road grater or whatever you know, and I'd try my hand at it you know, and it was fun you know but I was just screwing around but you know he’d just tell you, “why don’t you let him try,” you know and so it- it was, I got into it, but I- I took care of routine [unclear]real good you know I mean when we were out bivouac and everything I've seen that he got a place to sleep and- and that he got his, he had a- a mattress kind of a thing that he had but we didn't have. But I- I looked after him and when the, we- we had the, along with marches and we had, we went to the rifle range and everything but the same old crap, you know it was nothing that was modern. And we ended up in the training in that picture that I showed you, that was just before we went to… where did I- oh yeah. That was just before we shipped out to Fort Dix in New Jersey and that was, we waited there and we was there probably for two weeks maybe waiting for a ship. (43:06) Interviewer: Okay and then when did you ship out, when do you leave the States? The date? Interviewer: Yeah roughly? �That was on that… probably that deal there, that- that little what do you call it? But it was in- it was in the we- we ended Europe in September so we must have looked, it took us, I don’t remember whether it was nine days or thirteen that it took us to go across. Interviewer: Alright I think the discharge papers said you got to Europe in October but that’s… No, it was in September, I think. Interviewer: Okay you might have left September. September and we landed in Liverpool. Interviewer: Well what- what kind of ship were you? I don't know, well it was a troop ship. Interviewer: Okay. (43:51) Let me tell you this, the day we shipped out of Fort Dix, they put us on a bus and we- we went to New York and we went down in the docks and we went in this warehouse on the docks, it was a big warehouse and the buses drove in and everything and we unloaded in this warehouse and they had a big opening and we walked across the docks and there was another big opening and that other big opening was the ship we didn't get to see what it was, look like, or anything. It was just a big black hole you know. Interviewer: Yeah. That- that we walked across in and when we got in there all it was was a bunch of iron pipes going curve the ceiling with a canvas between ‘em and they went up about maybe- maybe ten or twelve of these canvas things that we use for a bed. And it was just solid like that, you know very narrow space in between and that's where- where you were and there was very little room for you �to do anything and the lighting was very, very poor you couldn't read or anything. And so you pretty much was confined to just that canvas bunk that they have, but they had showers but you had to use, it was salt water so you tried it but then y'all end up with all salt you know all over you so that was out, but you did use them- use it to brush your teeth you know. And so, I always selected a bunk that was up at the top because otherwise you had everybody climbing up on- on your bunk, going up to the higher, the bunks. But it was the best thing about it was KP, oh yeah that was the best. And we got two meals a day and your- your mealtime was like, you never knew whether it was day or night or what it was, but anytime eight came around if that was your time, that was your meal time, in other words whether it was 8:00 at night or whether it was 8:00 in the morning, that- that was it and so then you got out of the- the hole which is, that's where you work, down in the hole of the ship and you went to the- the mess hall or the place they had and you had up a tin tray or a metal tray and you went through the chow line and then you stood up you- you didn't sit down. They had a- a little place about maybe a foot wide that you could set your tray on, it was about waist high and then you just had enough to squeeze in and stand andand you had about fifteen/ twenty minutes to eat and then they kick you out but that was it. So, the only time you got out of the- the hole down there was when you got on KP and they- they used a lot of KPs because it was a twenty-four hour deal, and so if you got on KP that was good because you got a chance to go out on deck and they had these hoppers that was on the rail of the ship, the great big hoppers where you dumped the garbage and all the trash and anything and then at night when they were, they would dump the trash at night. And so, but between the entrance of the mess hall there that you could walk across the deck to this, these hoppers where you dump the garbage. You get a chance you could look around a little bit you know, and you could see, you know the other ships and… �(48:04) Interviewer: So, you were sailing in a convey? Yeah, there was, it a big convoy, and you could see the destroyers rolling around you know, they're jerking, dirting around and but you'd- you dilly-dally I'll tell you, you, it took you forever to dump that garbage and then you got a breath of fresh air. Interviewer: Yeah. You know and it was good and so that was- that was really precious the- the fact that you could get out, but you never got a chance to look up and see what the ship looked like or anything, youyou didn't know. And all you'd seen was just that little bit of that you’ve been between the mess hall door and- and the garbage. Interviewer: Now was the weather good when you went across? Yeah, it was good. Interviewer: Okay so people were not, not a lot of people were getting sick or? Well we didn't know whether it was raining or you know what the deal was but when we got to Liverpool it was nice. (48:54) Interviewer: Okay. And we- we got off at Liverpool and the British I guess you'd call it Red Cross, or something met us and they- they had cookies for us and of course they have tea but- but they put us on a- on a train right away, a British train. You know how they work, you know they had the doors on the side. Interviewer: Right, compartments yeah. �Compartments and deal and we shipped down to the southernmost part of England that was down to Holborne, it was a, they call it a holiday city or town where they would spend vacations and it was down on the- on the coast the… Interviewer: Brighton or someplace like that? It was called Torquay. Interviewer: Okay. (49:52) Torquay and we ended up on, it was up on a hill kind of and it was a, probably a kind of an estate thing, big house and a courtyard and a fence around it and we had these corrugated Quonset huts, and the Officers and everything they lived in the big house and we ate in the big house, they had the mess hall was in the big house. So, all there was was a, they had a latrine which was a Quonset hut and then they had about four or five of these metal Quonset huts and we… Interviewer: Now was it just your company there or was the whole group there? Just- just the company. Interviewer: Okay. Just the headquarters company and then they- they began to outfit us, we got new trucks, I got a new staff car, it was a quarter- three quarter ton, nice, new, brand new. And they gave us M1 carbines, steel helmets, and- and winter clothes and- and everything, we… the outfit… but I didn't spend much time in Torquay. Interviewer: Right. I was gone ninety percent of the time. I, this captain that I was working with, he worked out of London and he worked on Oxford Street, it used to be the… it was a department store. (51:23) �Interviewer: Yeah, tailors and things on Oxford Street or big stores. It was a white building, what the hell was the name of it… see my memory is not good but… Sparks and Marks. Interviewer: Okay. I think was the name of it and it was on the second floor. We went back there in- in nineteen fifthe wife and I went back on the 50th anniversary of the- of the war. And we- and when I showed her where I used to work, and it was on the second, but it was then it was the pet department [laughter], yeah. Well anyway I was there in London a lot and I stayed in a place, they- they had what they called. (telephone interruption) They had this for transients and it was run by the Red Cross and I was there so much I had a room that was there, it was- it was on Connaught Square it was like an older apartment house or something. And but if you were a transit that's where you, you stayed and you ate and everything. So that’s what I did, but this was a buzz bomb days and it, complete blackout you know so at night you… (telephone interruption) Interviewer: You could just answer it I suppose. No, I'm gonna just leave it down. Interviewer: Okay. (53:03) The- the buzz bombs were very low flying, and they were just for harassment but the populace, they would, most of them would spend the nights in the underground in where the underground trains were. I never did but I just took my- you know I- I stayed up, but you couldn’t go out at night because you get lost, it was that dark. I mean, when you went in any place, they had a door �you go in but then they had a curtained off little anteroom like, so then you go into there where this, little anteroom is, and you close the door and everything so there was- there was no light that it was exposed to it. So night was out, so you only could navigate the place in the daylight, but we were right there across from this Connaught Square it was Hyde Park it was right across the street. And they had the anti-aircraft guns and stuff there, in there and they had a lot of women on their batteries, gun crews and I used to go across the street and talk to the gals on the gun- on the gun crews, they were nice, and but I got to know London pretty, pretty well because I spent a lot of time there. Well, what we did and then I'll get on to the, was they don't tell me this but I overhear the conversations and there's no partition between the driver and the- and the Officers, what the deal was- was it was a preparation for the bridging of the Rhine River and this was- this was all in the making up, so we would go to a- a Naval base, you know and I would think what the heck are we doing in this Naval base for, you know. Well, they’re there for, to make arrangements for the LCMs and- and the people are gonna man them and- and get them up to where they were supposed to get ‘em in Germany on the Albert Canal. Then we would go to the air- to an air base and we’d be there several times you know, well that's to arrange for the air drop and the barge- or the… Interviewer: Barrage balloons? Yeah, the barrage balloons and all that kind of stuff you know but it- it comes out and you know pretty soon you can put it together you know, what's going on. Then some days we would go to line companies you know that were the ones that were gonna put in the bridges and stuff but went all over. So, I was- I was always and sometimes we’d go several times to the same place, but it was- it was interesting and of course London you know it's- it’s fog. And we were there when we- just like dropping a white sheet over the windshield you know, and it didn't make no �difference whether it was foggy or wind and then of course you're driving on the wrong side of the road. And if you was on an American base you- you drove on the right side and if you was on the English road you drove on the left side so sometimes I’d screw up and get on the wrong side of the road but it was- it was that kind of a deal. And once in a while we had- we would get a, one of those, what do they call them? The ones that flew real high and silent what was them? V2s. Interviewer: V-2s, yes. (56:56) And they- they would come down woo, I mean that really, it picked that staff car right off the lotground brought it like that. And silent you didn't hear it coming or anything you know, vroom, that was the biggest thing, I mean I was scared to death of those. But the buzz bombs you just hope that they kept going because when they ran out of fuel, phew down they became, you just hope that they kept on going. The gun crews never shot at them or anything they just hope the same thing, you know they kept on going. And so that was, I've spent a lot of time in London, so. Interviewer: But how long did you spend in England then? Then we shipped out let's see, it was right after Christmas and it was a very hurry it up proposition, all of a sudden you know we're shipping out. And Southampton was just a stone’s throw from where we were. And we crossed the channel at night in an LST and half of the cargo was tanks, we- they were all chained down and then the other half was our outfit, and I was the second vehicle on that when you unload, when the doors went down, I was the second vehicle. And they're very spartan, you don't have nothing, no place to sleep or anything you know so you make the best you can. And they had a few canvas cots if you was lucky enough to get one but it was such a rough crossing, we had a real bad crossing that if you did get one of those canvas cot, �it was slide when it went… then it slide back, and then it’d tip over you know so you- you give up and you- you just sleep wherever you could find, underneath a vehicle or wherever you know. Well some of the tanks broke loose from the chains that were in the hold and they were bouncing around down there and everything but we- we landed in Le Havre early in the morning on, it was getting daybreak and I was the second vehicle off the- off the LST. When you say you know that they land on the beach, no that ain't the case at all. They open the doors, and they bring the door down to the level of the water so they can be five feet of water at the end of it and so you don't go off the things like slow like dip- dip down in the water, you try to fly off and float to the ground or the beach. So, I was the second one and the captain told me, he says, “well, put it in four-wheel drive,” and he says, “go as fast as you can in the…” I only had one car length to get to where I was gonna go. So, I- I give it all it had you know, and we flew off the damn end of the thing and we- we made it. Well as soon as I hit the beach, there was another guy, he was a S3's driver his name was Don Behr, we were told to go to a SHAPE in Paris, that's the Supreme Allied Forces Headquarters. Interviewer: Right. (1:00:35) That was in- in Paris, that's where Eisenhower was and all the big shots. So, we took off right away for Paris and the rest of them they hadn't even got off the- off the ship yet and we left- left for Paris the two of us. And it took us all day to get there, we didn't get there until it was getting dark, it was dark when we got there. Interviewer: What- what made it so slow, just bad roads or? It’s- it’s you know it’s like, it's not no expressway or anything. Interviewer: Yeah. �You know and then we had to follow the, you know the Paris signs you know, and it was a long ways and then we got there, we had to find a MP or somebody to tell us where the hell this headquarters was and then we- we found it and the place was closed, but they had a guard there you know. So, we told him what we was there for and we wanted to see somebody, he took us in and he went and back got the officer of the day and he came out and we went over to his desk and who the hell do you think it was? It was James Roosevelt? It was- it was the Roosevelt; it was the president's son, Jimmy. James Roosevelt had his name plate on his desk and… Interviewer: We're gonna- we’re gonna pause right here because this tape is about up. So, you get a break for a moment. (1:02:03) Interviewer: Okay so we had gotten you into Paris at the very end of 1944, you get to the Allied Headquarters and you're introduced to one James Roosevelt. He gave us our orders that I was sent there to get for where we was supposed to go, the outfit. Well, it was- it was dark then, it was night, and it was past supper time, and we hadn’t had anything to eat other than K-rations and so we had a big decision to make, should we ask this guard where we could get some, get dinner, some hot meal here these- these- these MPs and stuff they must eat someplace. But we discussed it and we thought no that's not fair, that the guys back out at, they’re eating K-rations so we, this wouldn't be fair, and what we should get back there as soon as we can. So, we got back to the beach in Le Havre in the morning and there was nothing, they all gone- they were all gone and so we just took the road that led off the beach and- and we bumped into them down- down the road a ways and they were waiting for us and they didn't move until we- we gave them the orders. And then we moved that day up into Luxembourg and we spent the night in a town in Luxembourg. Well, and of course in the town we- we caroused �around a little bit, well it was pretty close where we was, they had one of these spas where they had hot water that come out of the ground or something whatever you know. And so, with a few cigarettes we- we had a hot bath in this spa and big copper tubs and then they didn't have running water the ladies they bring in buckets and dump it in it, but they’d scrub your back if you ask them, you know. So, we got a- a good- good, nice bath area in- in Luxembourg. (1:04:16) Interviewer: Okay now the Battle of the Bulge had been going on in the previous couple of weeks. Yup, that's right, well that's where we were headed. Interviewer: Yeah. Well then as we move north, we moved into Belgium and as we further was, further we got north it worse the weather got you know. And as we got closer to the front, we only moved at night, well the snow got real bad and we was wallowing in the snow. And even the big trucks because there's no snowplows or anything, they was plowing snow up to the, crap to the damn windshield you know and they couldn't even see, so they had to stop and- and so it got to where we had to order them to put their chains on. And we had chains and they put chains on, even on four-wheel drive. And there was some of them were you know six bys, they had big duals in the back, theythey were big trucks. Well anyway I was usually what they called on advanced- advanced… well I- I always went ahead. (1:05:29) Interviewer: Right. Advanced out look or advanced patrol or whatever. Interviewer: Yeah. �Advanced, well anyway it was a- an officer, and a guy run shotgun, and- and a driver and so we always went ahead of the- of the convoy and all the troops, everything to see that everything, the road is- is the road you're supposed to be on and that it's passable and there's no gunfire, no, you know you have no problem, everything. So, we was always on an advanced patrol. Interviewer: Yeah. And I usually was- was on it most of the time and so I was pretty much in the know where we were going and everything because they had to tell me, tell you, you know. And then the guys would always ask you, you know “where are we going, where are we going, or,” you know, and they always got scuttlebutt you know. I told them “you're going to- you're going to the above.” Well, that's where we ended up, we ended up in Malmedy that's where the order said that we was to report. Well, Malmedy was all shot up and banged, and all, it was just a bunch of rubble and the snow was- was really bad and the weather was terrible, was freezing and you know what the main thing is how do we survive, you know I mean we, that's the main thing, we weren’t worried about the Germans or anything we was worried about how we was gonna survive. So, everybody you know, crawls around and trying to find a place where they can get out of the weather and they dig around in the rubble trying to find a- a cellar or someplace where they could, you know get in and crawl in. So everybody was on your own, you know and I found this and several, a lot of the guys, it was kind of, it must have been a- a gymnasium or something, it wasn't a theatre because there was no theater seats in it and it was pretty big room but the roof was all blown off in the middle and there was snow in the middle of it but all around the edge was a- a bare space of about six or eight feet and that- that was all we needed was to get out of the snow, so all the guys would bunk down or try to sleep around the edge of that- that building. And so that's where I- I spent my time, most of it in when I was in Malmedy in that there, but we- we stood guard �duty at night and everything and- and then we operated during the daytime and our- our area of responsibility was from Malmedy to Saint Vith, and you probably heard of the Malmedy Massacre… Interviewer: Yes. (1:08:25) Haven't you? Well, that was what they called tri corners, three worlds came together there in this field and I would drive by it maybe three or four times a day sometimes, you know. And all I would see then was because there was so much snow was the mounds, every place where there was a body there was a mound and the thing it got out of hand, pretty soon it was that there was 300 guys that got shot there. Then it was 350 and all the scuttlebutt you know that went around amongst the troops you know, they never seen it, but it was scuttlebutt that passed along. So, everybody said I'm not gonna be taken prisoner oh no, no you know and things kind of stiffened you know. Well actually the main what- what the thing was is we were put it into what they call, we were infantry, in other words we weren't combat engineers, we were infantry and that’s what we were. Well, I- I just did what I was supposed to do, you know. The thing that bothered me in the most was these infiltrators, these Germans that were in un- American uniforms that was a real mess, that was bad. Interviewer: Well, they have used those at the start of the Bulge, but that would have been several weeks before you got there. Were there any around still? (1:09:59) They was there, oh yes anybody you encountered, it was, you had your finger on the trigger and it was just, they had a password you know and a counter sign and all that but it never got around, you know maybe the counter sign and the password was three days old you know by the time �you got it. So, it was a matter of who's Betty Grable? Where you from? “I'm from Michigan.” Who's- who’s- who’s- who’s the ball team that Michigan, or the National League team for Michigan? “Detroit Tigers,” you know and everything, but they knew more about the United States than you did, you know. But they'd all lived in the United States you know, and they knew all that and so it was early touch-and-go it wasn't good at all and they screwed up all of the signs that told you know what road you're on. Interviewer: Did you actually encounter any of that specifically or did you just hear about it? (1:11:08) What? Interviewer: The Germans- these Germans doing all this stuff? Oh no, no, no they was, we’d encounter them all the time, yeah. That’s why… you know you never knew; you know that you maybe just let a bunch of, half a dozen Germans just walk by you you know. They had all the answers you know and everything and. But it was- it was very, you know I mean stressful, I mean nobody trusted anybody. Interviewer: Yeah. And they was probably eating your chow you know in the same- same place. That's the way it was, but… (1:11:46) Interviewer: Now did you see… The first time I got to the front this is where the action was, was in St. Vith and we drove up to St. Vis and the Officers, they went into a house or something there but there was a GI walking behind a- a, it was a stone wall. He walking back and forth, he tried to keep warm you know, and �I was, I see him down, walking down and I thought well somebody will want to talk to him you know. So, I went down to talk to him, he gave me an education, I- that was the best information I got, I walked down there, and he says, “don't you know that when you get out of a staff car like that that you’re prime bait for some sniper to pick you off?” And he says, “that coat you’re wearing too,” he says, “Christ they think you're an officer. Where did you get that coat?” And I says, “my captain gave a couple bottles of scotch for a couple of those are, those have- that's a severe weather coat, Navy coat.” “Holy Christ,” he says, “that's a nice coat,” he said, “but you get rid of it,” he said, “they'll pick you off,” and he says, “you’ve never been here at the front before.” And I said, “no” I said, “no we've only been here, got here a couple days ago.” And he says, “well,” he says, “get rid of that coat,” and he says, “when- when, don't- when you get out of that staff car,” he says, “stay out, behind it,” he said, “don’t- don't expose yourself.” And I- I talked to him you know and I says, where abouts are the Germans? He said, “on the other side of the wall, they're trying to keep warm too,” and I said, “that's why you're walking back in position?” “Yeah,” he says, “I'm trying to keep warm,” he said, “I'm supposed to be on guard duty here.” But he gave me all this good advice, you know, and so I remembered that, but the coat I wasn't gonna part with. It had a nice big…and it was all fur lined inside you know and, but I disguised it with the scarf and everything so but… he- he was a very, he’d been there long he knew what the scoop was but I didn't know. But that was my conversation with the guy in- in St Vith. But they were, the Germans were on the other side of the wall, you know they were trying to keep warm too. Well, they say that Patton you know when he relieved Bastogne you know that was the big deal, well it was big. But really what changed the whole situation as far as I was concerned, what I thought the Sun came out. Good weather, sunshine you know the Air Force was back in business and boy did they give ‘em hell. And they just, those tanks and everything �you know they just bombed hell out of them and everything you know and then the Germans turned and headed back to Germany. And but that was in my opinion it was the Air Force that turned the tide. Interviewer: Yeah. It certainly wasn't because I was there that's for damn sure. (1:15:23) Interviewer: By the time you got there I mean they had already been stopped and were being pushed back, I mean you couldn't have gotten to Malmedy or Saint Vith within the first week or so of that fight. No, no, no they- the Germans have been in Malmedy and… Interviewer: Yes, and well beyond it, right. Yeah, right and- and then they ousted them and they pushed them back. We was in Malmedy is where the headquarters was. Interviewer: Right, now you said that you were being at that point just kind of used as infantry, now did you actually go into fight as infantry? Or did things change a little bit and they put you back to being engineers? No we just stayed as what as what we were, we just had, all I had was an M1… Interviewer: Carbine. (1:16:06) Carbine and a few grenades that were under the seat of the vehicle that I had. That's all I had and it's not very good with a take, I have no bazooka or anything but that was it. And fortunately, the Sun came out and things got well in a hurry you know because in Patton took care of the Bastogne deal. But Bastognewas quite a ways from Malmedy. �Interviewer: Yeah, yeah. That was not close at all, but we just operated between St. Vith and- and Malmedy that was our operation earlier. And we, it wasn't just our headquarters company, it was the whole 11- 53rd. Interviewer: Right. All these other outfits. Interviewer: Right. You know they, on there but were they ended up I don't know the ended up you know. The brass…. Interviewer: So about how long did you stay in that area? Oh, I’d say a month or so, yeah. Interviewer: Okay. (1:17:06) Yeah, and then when things, they pushed the Germans out because they were going back to Germany. Interviewer: Right. And the Bulge still was- was over. We thought we were gonna go up into Hürtgen Forest that's where the next battle was, was Hürtgen Forest. And so, when we packed up to move it wasn't Hürtgen Forest at all, we went to Holland. They- they swung us north into Holland and we ended up in a town called Sittard and it's right across from Maastricht but the Albert Canal it goes between the two and we- we was housed at a school house in Sittard. We sit there for quite a while and we wondered what the hell was going on and well we was waiting for the LCMs to come up through the Albert Canal to Maastricht there, and- and that's what we were waiting for. Well when they got there, then our outfit that they- they had tank retrievers that sucked these �LCMs out of the Albert Canal on to these tank retrievers and there must have been fifteen/ twenty of these LCMs. And then they got ‘em out of the- out of the canal line up and then and this was the captain, this Captain Hernandez and I- we had the job of getting him to the Rhine River and we had to wait for a while because they had the Roer River to get across and so wewe had to wait until the line, or the battle line moved off to the Rhine but when they got up to the Rhine, why then we- we followed along. But the towns were built right on the edge of the road, so and the roads are very narrow, and these big heavy things was like moving a house. So, it was very difficult, and we had a- a- a crew that had chainsaws and they had, we had some explosives guys that blew up stuff and a couple of dozers and everything. And so, we would reconnoiter, a route, and we’d go, maybe we’d detoured way off just so we wouldn't have to blow up a town or whatever, village, but some places it was just a matter of well this is all we gotta, we're gonna have to do, blow something up. So, they would take a side of this little village or something and they’d charge it up, and they’d blow it all down, and then the dozers would go in and push it all aside so we could get through. And trees and everything you know they would saw down with chainsaw I mean, so it took us some doing to get up to the Rhine River but when we got there, they all had them lined up and I drove right up to the- to the Rhine River, I, to see what it was you know and I looked out and I holy Christ, they’re gonna get across this. I looked you know, and the houses look like dollhouses on the other side, you know. And the Rhine Rivers is about like from here to Mona Lake, well it's a- it’s a big river Christ they have big, big boats on that damn thing. And I thought holy Christ this- this is not gonna be easy, this is gonna be big time you know. Well while I was standing there dumb founded you know, bang a sniper took a shot at me from across the river and it hit the bumper of my- my command car, it right in the bumper about a foot away from me to the left of me and I thought holy Christ I forgot about what that �guy told me you know. So, I got- I got the hell out of there, by but they was shooting from all the way across the damn Rhine River. So I- I was lucky but that was the only time I ever shot at, but then we, where I was, I- I don't know where the officers where but they set up a headquarters company just out- out back away from the Rhine River maybe a half a mile or something where there was some houses or something. And I was at a farmhouse that that I was staying in, and I would go to where the headquarters company was what's with a mess hall where we- where we get food, where we- we ate. I was walking from where I was at this farmhouse one morning, going to breakfast and all I had was my mess kit in my hand and I was walking across this field I saw the first jet I ever saw in my life, this German jet come shhhh right over me. And he was photographing and checking the progress of the material and stuff that was being accumulated for the crossing, but never the first jet I ever saw. And he just went right, all I had was my mess kit and I waived it at him, but that was it, but I thought they was gonna cross the Rhine on my birthday but actually it was the 24th of March. And that they actually made the, they moved. (1:23:06) Well they brought up what they called, have you heard, it's called a heavy pontoon bridge, they have these scows and its wood planking and everything but- but it's obsolete. But they use the scows for the troops to get across and the initial assault. Well, on the 24th, this was at night it all started at about 1:00/ 2:00 o'clock in the morning that the barrage started and that artillery, all of it, all along. And it was about a nine-mile front that this was all taking place. But you only see just a little segment you know, well I- I was wanted to see everything that was going on you know but it was at night and you know you didn't- you couldn't see much, you know. I- I went over and I was standing by a 105 howitzer that was an artillery battery’s that was shelling the other side. And so, I just watched them you know, it was operating so I got to talking to one of �the guys I said, “let me take a shot at Hitler, will yah?” I said, “I never- I never had a shot at, I only shot my damn 250- M1 yet.” So he let me pull a lanyard on- on one. While I was waiting for morning, I thought I'd see what the hell's going on you know, couldn't see a damn thing. Only thing I saw was the barrage balloons, I saw those were up. It was all smoke, white smoke, everything. double smoke, you couldn't see squat you know. I thought I'd see them starting the you know the bridge and the things moving in it, all under smoke, everything was smoke. And so I didn't get to see the hell of a lot, you know. But I- I kept watching you know and sometimes the wind would change a little bit and it’d blow a little bit, so you’d get a little bit of an opening you know you'd see what's going on. And they were making the approaches in and they have got the LCMs launched and the guys had got across. And what they did with those scows that off that heavy pontoon bridge equipment, they had outboard motors on them, and they had what they call chemical starters, so they all started at the same time. Nobody was doing the dang thing because it wouldn't start. And they were all- all gone and they- they- they made the crossing and everything and they had pushed far enough so that the 88s were not a problem. Which they wouldn't do anything until they had that taken care of because they didn't want the bridge shelled with 88s. And pretty much there was no air problem. Interviewer: Right. (1:26:15) I don't know whether they had an airdrop or not because I didn't see it and that would have been farther. Interviewer: Yeah, yeah, they were paratroopers who landed on the other side in part. There was a big, big campaign it was… Oh yeah. �Interviewer: A whole bunch of places like that… It was a second largest amphibious action of the war in Europe, I mean it was next to Malmondyor Normandy. Interviewer: Yeah. And so, I didn't get to see a hell of a lot, but when daylight came I, it was all smoke. And I- I just hung around you know and there would be times when the smoke, the wind would blow the smoke away a little bit, you could see a little bit. But it was just pretty much all just smoke and so I didn't see much but as soon as they got the bridge across and of course they had these LCMs that were supplying the ammunition, and the food, and everything that, and they had enough of them to keep supply and they would bring back the wounded and whatever, you know. And they could- they could take a Jeep over a small- small truck but they were all loaded with mostly ammunition and stuff. But when we I- I just- just waited and they got the bridge in and- and then I got, could see better. And the- the officers wanna go in, and in and we, the first two divisions that went across on the bridge was the 95th and the 30th. The 30th was I think the ones that went across in the scows and they also crossed on the treadway bridge that we, this outfit, our outfit built and then the 95th went across. Well, this guy I met at the Tanglewood, he was in the 95th and he was, he keeps telling me, “we crossed on your bridge,” and I said, “I didn't build that damn bridge.” I said I was in the outfit, but I said I just drove the brass around, and he keeps talking about it but you, have, well you’ve never been across them, a treadway bridge is, you know what they are? (1:28:44) Interviewer: Can you describe it for the audience here? Can you describe it? �Well, they have these rubber rafts and it's all built on these rubber rafts and they have what they call the Brockway bridge truck, it's a Redwood truck, it's built just for- for this purposes. It has two arms, and it has two treads on it, the treads are about ten feet long and about four feet wide, heavy, real heavy. And what they do is they- they put one of these inflated rubber rafts anchored into the river and then they back the bridge truck onto the approach to that raft and then the arms come down and it has to be that they set down at the same time, if one sits down before the other it will flip. So, these arms come down and at the same time these heavy treads sit on that- thatthat rubber raft and then the next truck will back up onto that raft and then they- they set them down on the next one. But it's a matter of inflating and the anchoring is the biggest- biggest headache and the biggest problem. The current in the Rhine River is very, very substantial and you end, up you think the bridge is gonna be straight like this, it’s like this you know. Particularly you get out in where the current is, you know, but anchoring it so that you know the damn thing don't get away. And then they had a heavy pins like about as around as a big, as your wrist that pinned them together. And then the, these bridge trucks would keep backing up onto the bridge and as they put the new raft down in and is anchor properly, then they’d set another set of treads on that one and they pin it together, and that's a treadway bridge. And it took a lot a, more than one treadway bridge company to put- put that bridge across the Rhine River I'll tell you that. So, that's the way they- they do it and about three days later the first ones went over with these- these two divisions, and then we followed up about on the third day, then we went across, but while I was screwing around just waiting all day, this- this major, he was- he was another one that I had. He was a shoe salesman, he was a major, his name was Roland, and I was driving him at the time, and we were standing on one of these jetties that went on into the Rhine River and we were watching the activity of the LCMs and what was going on across the bridge �and everything, you could see it all for on this little jetty. Well while we was on this jetty, we look up and on the front porch of a house it was up on along the- the bank of the Rhine River, up- up, up a ways and it was probably about here to that bird house out there. Up and who was there but Eisenhower, Churchill, and Montgomery, and they were on the front porch of this- this house and they were talking. So, we stood there and we was watching them, you know, well then all of a sudden in comes one of these LCMs at the end of this jetty we were on. And they dropped the doors and everything's down and who comes down from up there, Churchill. And I didn't know this, I thought he was gonna come across the Rhine River, but it was a photo-op and had all these guys behind him you know and everyone, and- and they had these cameras and all this. He walks right by us, I could have reached out and touched him. He gets- he gets here, we was, this major and I was only two on that jetty. And he says next to me, and he says, “hey Yank.” “Hey Yank,” he called me a Yank. He had his grey admiral outfit on and a black corona and he goes down and they- they get on that LCM at the end there you know. And then they lift the doors up and everything and there he is standing with these other guys at the end of it looking over you know like as if he's going across the Rhine River and then they take his picture and all that kind of thing. I begged this major to let me go down and get on that damn boat- ship you know that LCM, you know. And I said, “let’s go, come on let’s go down there.” He wouldn't do it and I thought about it you know, but I thought you know he said “no” and then I thought he’s just a kind of guy that would court-martial for any damn thing, you know but he was a prick and so we didn't get it. But I was in a barber shop one day after I got home, and he had all these old magazines and stuff like the had you know. Well, he was telling me that, what was it, you probwell you wouldn't know… they had it would be like Life magazine or it was the paper or the magazine that they got like Life magazine or Look or whatever it was. �Interviewer: Yeah. (1:34:38) And he was telling me, he says “that was on the front page of one of those magazine” or whatever, and I said, “one of these?” “Yeah!” He said, “it was on there,” and I said, “how long ago was it on there?” You know he told me about it and I said, “well Christ I’ll have have to see if I can't find that.” So I’ve been looking for it for ever since but I haven't been successful. But that was my experience with a meeting Churchill. Interviewer: Alright now once the, you’ve built the bridge across the Rhine and you go across the Rhine, now what do you do? (1:35:12) We followed the 95th on up, they went on up to the Elbe River and what the deal was Patton and his, when they captured that railroad bridge that they didn't blow down… Interviewer: Yeah right. And they got across, they got their Treadway bridge across without any resistance or any, so they got across first but in between the two then they had about 400,000 Germans. Interviewer: Right. That was in this they…. Interviewer: The Ruhr Pocket. They were in the pocket, well we was in- we was in support of this 95th division and- and we were going up to the Rhine River or up to the Elbe River and it was all in an industrial area very, very much factories and that kind of stuff. And what we would do is we would clean out these towns in other words, what the deal was is the towns would, they’d throw a sheet out the window and hang it down in front of you know all of it like that you know. Well then the other thing was �is they had to turn in all their guns and they had to bring them to the burgomaster of the City Hall or what it was. But there were always some that they need to clean out and that was what we were doing we was cleaning out these areas. Well we was, one night that we was in this one town, and we was cleaning it out, I was going down the main drain with some other on the other side and I was on one side of the street, another guy. And one of the, a German walked out- out of one the cellars right in front of me. And he had his hands on the top of his head you know, scared the hell out me you know. And I just waved my carbine on where to go, the MPs, go that way, and he walked the main, the middle of the street down- down and they gave me credit for capturing a German. Interviewer: There you go. (1:37:37) German prisoner, I- know more captured a German prisoner... He’s a poor SOB you know that he wanted to stay alive too you know, and he probably was in the same boat as I was. He probably was a conscript you know. Interviewer: Yeah. That Hitler got from maybe Romania or some place you know where they he was no more German than I was you know. But that was it but that's what we did and- and we just followed the, on up and then the area where we were when the war ended was it was kind of a- a rural area but it wasn't a farming area it was more of lakes and woods and- and that kind of a area. And there was a few houses and it was more like maybe a resort area. Interviewer: Yeah. (1:38:32) �I don't think it was a Black Forest or anything but there was a lot of the woods, I shot a couple of deer in there I remember, that we had for- for dinner. But we stayed in a, it was, I would say comparable to a bed and breakfast or something like what we have here, like it's a big house. Interviewer: Yeah. You know that, that's where we- we stayed while we was there. And the war ended there but we was in what they call the British sector and so we just sit there in this German or in this British sector until they relieved us. Well while we was there the Catholic chaplain’s driver and I did, we got a leave and they give us a option of either going, they’d fly us to England or we could go to the French Riviera, Nice, we didn't have no money and England's expensive and we had some cigarettes and some soap and we had some- some good stuff, so we chose Nice and we- they took us to a train and we- we ended up down in Nice. We stayed in the Negresco Hotel, the Fanton, the best one in Nice. And we had all this barracks bag full of- of loot you know, our stuff, we- we always kept the Champ candy bars that were in the- the chocolate that were in the K-rations and the cigarettes, you know there was three or four cigarettes in a little package. We have, we kept all that stuff and then we always got a ration once in a while, cigarettes and I didn’t smoke and he didn't smoke, so we was pretty well healed as far as had stuff to deal with. Well when we got there we wouldn’t want to go around with that barracks bag full of stuff so we- we ended up in the jewelry store and we made a deal and he bought all of this stuff. The only thing he wouldn't buy was a Lifebuoy soap, couldn’t give a Lifebuoy soap away, they didn’t like Lifebuoy soap, but we gave it away you know, you know. We got rid of it, but we had all kinds of money, we had French francs and we was, and then we always kept a few cigarettes you know, I mean we always had one in our shirt pocket here, open and then we always had a few in reserve you know, that was back in the room you know. That was our thing to really be nice, you �know instead of tipping the waiter at the- at the Negresco you gave him a few cigarettes you know. And the maid in the- maid up your bed everything, you give her a few cigarettes and that was great, you know holy Christ that was- that was better than giving them money. And then if somebody's nice to you then you give them a couple cigarettes or the girls you give ‘em a candy bar, you know. And it was just a little, ones that came in the K-rations, but we kept the- we kept the candy of course. But we had a good time and we had to spend this- all this money we had, you know, and you- you’ve ever been to that Mediterranean? Interviewer: I've been to that area, yeah. (1:42:04) Have you? Well and they, in front of the Nice it was right on the- right on the Mediterranean. It's not like sand like Lake Michigan, it’s stones and it's round stones so that they're not sharp or anything. So, you could lay in the stones and ain't too bad, but the beaches were topless. The little kids up to maybe five/ six/ seven years old, they’ll- they- they were nude, they didn't have no clothes- clothes and they were going swimming. And- and the ladies laid around, they were topless, and they went swim- you know paraded around, but we didn’t have no swimsuit or anything you know so we went in in our shorts, just our underwear shorts. When you come out of the water you know it’s all the plastered against you, you know. But they don't care you know, and we’d lay in the stones and sun you know and everything and it was- it was nice. And one thing that- that we- we happened that, we was trying to spend some of our money so we went into a- a ladies’ store and this fella I was with, his name was Bob DeKalb, and he was the altar boy and the driver for the chaplain, catholic chapman. His- he had a girlfriend her name was Dusty, and he ended marrying her and my girlfriend’s name was Doris and I ended up marrying her. Well, we went into this ladies’ store and we was looking for something to send home, and �they told us all you gotta do is pick it out and we’ll see that it gets home, we'll make out the packaging and everything you know. We didn’t, we were a little worried about that, they said “oh yeah we will, we’ll do it, don't worry.” But we got in there and they start showing us different things and they would model it, you know they had models. We got down to negligees and we thought we got to do something here, so we both bought a negligee, I bought my wife a negligee, it's still up in the attic someplace. And they sent it home and my wife got it, and it, she got it and I don't think she ever wore it much but it still, I think it's up in the loft of the garage. But anyway, that was one of the things we did but one of the other things which was nice was we met this nice lady, she was beautiful, young gal her name was Didastera, I can remember beautiful women you know. Well anyway she was pushing her bike along and she had two long loaves of French bread tied on the back on the rack and we got talking to her she- she was walking along and- and she was able to talk some English you know, and we got talking as we walked along, you know. She finally said, “well come to my villa,” and she lived right up, right along on the Mediterranean, well she invited us to her villa, and I guess it was supper I guess or something. And so that was at night we was gonna go to her- her home it was and she was, her mother must have been either French and her father was Moroccan or vice versa but she was that in between, you know and- and beautiful. I got a picture of her, but I can't get up in the loft to get it. Well anyway her name was Didastera and so we, when we went to- to visit there and she said to have supper, we thought we'd want to bring some champagne. So, we bought the champagne from this guy and supposed to been the best you could buy you know, we got there and we opened it up, she started laughing and laughing and laughing you know and we couldn't figure what the hell she laughing about you know. Well the guy had gave us a screw on and it was apple juice. �Interviewer: Oh. (1:46:48) And we didn’t know no better, and it was apple juice. But that's what I remember about that, but that's what we did and then we was up in British sector for quite a while until the British relieved us. And so we did a little looting and a little this and that you know and I- I got a nice Hanomag four-cylinder convertible sedan that I- I liberated. Interviewer: Okay. (1:47:23) It was in this driveway or in this garage and next to this house and they'd build a bomb shelter in the driveway, right in front of the garage is this bomb shelter. It's all cement and the concrete and everything you know, that's why it was still in the garage because nobody could get it out of there. So we get some of the demolition boys that had the- the TNT and we powdered that thing out thinking we’d blew it to hell that bomb shelter. And then we push the stuff aside and drag that Hanomag out of there, all it needed was some good GI gas, you know, we were in business. So we rode around in a convertible, Hanomag, I gave it to a British guy when I- when we had to get- get move out of there. Interviewer: Now did you move then to a different sector? (1:48:17) We moved from there to back to Le Havre. Interviewer: Okay. And that's where they segre- that's where our outfit was broke up. Interviewer: Okay. �This, you know about this don't you, where you had to have the points? Interviewer: Right. You get out, well this is where they- they did the evaluating. If you was 32 you was- you was out, I mean that was an action. And I don't know what all the criteria was, but if you was married and you had children back home you- you made it. But it was the young guys that- that- that really got it and I was young, so I didn't have any points and you had to be, to get point you had to be in the combat zone, not- not in England, you know but you had to be in Germany and all that. And I didn't have very many points, so the outfit was broke up, but we spent quite a bit of time during that time that it was being broke up and they was doing the evaluate everything and in order to kill time I- they have equipment, I drove a gravel truck it was a six by six only instead of having a cargo body it had a dump body on it. But I got, I like doing that and they was repairing the roads and trying to rebuild, you know for the people to get things a little bit back to normal. People were trying to rebuild and they were knocking the mortar off of the bricks and stuff and piling ‘em up in front of the house or lot so they could rebuild. And so I drove that gravel truck mostly while I was in Le Havre waiting for an evaluation and what they were gonna do with me. Well, when they decided they shipped a whole bunch of us to Epernay that was back in France, in northern France and we went in a tent city, it was a tent camp and we was housed in those tents. We ate field rations and- and out of our mess kits and stuff, we ate on the ground or wherever we could find a place to sit or anything. So, it was pretty Spartan deal, but we didn't do nothing. Interviewer: And what- what time of year was it then? Was it getting late in the year? (1:50:42) �No let’s see that would have been, it was pretty good weather, it was decent weather as I recall. Yeah, cause, yeah, we- we played baseball and we, you know. Interviewer: Well, the fall can be mild in France if you get the right year. Yeah, well it was outside of this town of it Epernay. Well one- one day, well I was there you know well a guy rolls up in a Jeep and he hollers out my name and he says, “they’re looking forfor me,” you know and I said what the hell is this guy, what does he want? And he says, “get your gear and come with me.” So, I picked up my gear and got in the Jeep with him you know, and I says, “where are we going?” He says, “well we ain't far,” he says, “we'll be there in a minute.” So we went through Epernay and then out in the country and we went through this little town and maybe it was maybe five/ six kilometers outside of Epernay, we come to this great big chateau out in the count- in a- in a field in the country. Big white deal all these brown steps out in front of it you know going up to the- to the deal and there was some other outbuildings, you know. And then, beautiful place you know, and he wheels in there, you know, big, long driveway going into it you know, holy Christ, what's going on? So we get there and he says, “come on.” And we climb all those stairs up to the, going into this chateau and we go in there and there's this lady, big, tall or she was a tall, slim lady. Very attractive for her age I was, I bet she was a looker during her time. But she was grey haired, and I'd say she maybe was sixty and she was in this kind of room and we went in there and the guy says, “here's the guy,” and she looks me over, she says, “you smoke?” I said, “no.” “You drink?” “No.” “You speak French?” And I says, “Un petit peu” And- and- and she looks me over you know, and she says, “he'll do.” And then she said, “get a haircut.” And I thought where the hell am I gonna get a haircut? But then she says, “take care of him and show him where he's gonna bunk down and what- what his deal is,” you know. So the guy takes and I said, “what the hell's going on? He says, “you're gonna be the Colonel's �driver, you driver.” I said, “I am?” He said, “yeah.” He says, “come on and I'll show you whatwhat you're gonna be driving.” So, we go down to where the horses, this is a horse barn and place, you know, but they had the cars and everything. This was a- a LaSalle, it had stars on it and all OD and everything on it. And he says, “this is what are you’re gonna be driving,” and then he showed me around a little bit. But everything was run by POWs, everything. The household, everything and the POWs did everything and he said, “you want anything, just tell the POW.” And- and showed me where I was gonna bunk in the- in the chateau, you know. He says, “tomorrow morning you'll be at the bottom of stairways at eight o'clock.” “Okay,” so I [unintelligible] went down the driveway, that thing out there at eight o'clock in the morning, I'm there at the bottom of the stair with the door open, you know. And pretty soon the Colonel, he comes walking down you know, and I never met him, I didn't know who the hell he was or anything, you know. I snapped my solute you know, and- and he hops in the car and close the door you know and then he says, “I'll tell you where- where to go,” and then he told me how to, where to go and we went up back to Epernay and then- then we went and went south out of Epernay, we went to Reims. Well, his office was in the schoolhouse where the surrender of the Germans was, in that- in that schoolhouse, that's where his office was. So, we go there and are you interested in knowing what the schoolhouse looked like? (1:54:59) Well, the schoolhouse was a dirty brown- or dirty red, but is built just like everything, is right on the edge of the street and the administration part of it was all in the front, but it was built in a ushape and then it had two wings on each side, and it was two story but all the stairways and everything was outside, and- and inside of the u was the playground for the kids. But you had an air- outdoor- outdoor store- stairway to go up to the second floor, and an outside porch railing �deal that went around to the different rooms. And that's the way it was laid out, but this room that the armistice or the surrender was signed in was in this front part, and I just will walk by it maybe half a dozen times a day, you know. But all it was was a small room and a long table in it with chairs in it and they had a chain across the doors, so they didn't want you to walk in, going in there. And that's the only way it was, well I- I was his driver and I learned as we went along, you know. But he was kind of a, he was from the old, he was an old, from the old, before the war, you know. He was old army. Interviewer: Right. (1:56:38) He was a, actually a cavalry guy, he was a cavalry guy, that's where his background. Well anyway he was the chief honcho for that particular they call it, OZ Section Six of- of France that he- he was over. And this is where this chateau was, this is, was- this was his house, this is where he was housed. I mean that was, that, it was the only one that was there, he was, no other officers or anything, it was his house. And so, the other offices were that worked in this Reims deal they had a officer’s complex there in Reims. Well sometimes, in fact every day at- at lunchtime well I- I would, they walk just across the street a little bit to the officer’s mess and it was in a house. You know china plates and white tablecloths and all that, you know where the officers ate and everything, but I would drive over there, and it was in a courtyard kind of a place and it had a big stone or a brick wall around it with iron spikes on the top and all that and an iron gate and everything. But I had to eat in the kitchen, but I ate the same chow as the officers, but I had to eat in the kitchen. Well, that's- that's the way it was and sometimes while he was- he would say overnight, he wouldn't go back to the, and then I had to stay at Reims too. Well then, I slept inin- in a room in the attic of this, where the officer’s mess was. But I ate in the kitchen there for �my meals and stuff, had two waitresses there and they served these officers on china plate, white tablecloths, real, real fancy, you know and there must have been about, I'd say maybe four/ five tables you know that the officers were at. And when I, when he stayed overnight, he stayed there at the officer’s billet wherever they was, I never saw where the hell it was even, but they walked to it. I never drove to it and I would stay and, had the place up in the attic and I got to know that waitresses pretty well. In fact, they'd like to get out of there as quick as they could at night because you know it was a long day for them. They had to have breakfast you know, and they’d get there you know to have breakfast served and everything and so I'd help them, you know I mean they would set the table up for morning for breakfast, you know. And I’d go and put the plates, or I’d pick up the dirty dishes and stuff and I helped them. So, I got to know ‘em pretty well and good, they were real nice to me and I couldn't figure out which one I liked the most. (1:59:52) Well, it was the dark-haired one instead of the blonde, and so once in a while I'd walk her home after work but that was a problem. I come back, and the gates locked and everything, you know and then I’m out, but I figured out how to do it, I climb a tree and then I climb out on the limb and I dropped down on the inside of the wall. But that was in and so it’s no problem, you know, that was I guess frosting on the cake I guess you know, that I got to hang out with these- these gals. And they were really nice, you know, and they taught me a lot of French, you know, and they wanted to know English too, they were nice. And I tell you, the colonel loosened up as we got to know, he asked me, you know what where you from, you know. Interviewer: Okay. (2:00:52) �And he called me Ramsey, he didn't care- know what my first name was or he didn't care. “Where are you from?” I told him, I said Michigan, and we got to know and he says, “one day you want,” out of the blue he says, “you ever ride a horse? You know anything about horse riding?” I said, “no,” I said, “my dad was the milkman,” I said, “he had horse routes and where they had horses that pulled the milk wagon,” I said, “once in a while,” I said, “my dad have to take the horse down to the blacksmith shop to get new shoes,” and I said, “it was quite a ways from the dairy barn where they kept the horses down to where the blacksmith shop was downtown.” And I said, “my dad used to take and put the horse, a line on the horse’s halter, through the window of the car, and an equal slow along and the horse would walk along side of the car,” he said, “then my dad would let me ride on the horse,” and I said, “I just sit up there on the horse and walk along with it.” I said, “that's my only experience in- in riding horse,” I said, “it was a milk horse.” He says, “would you like to learn? I said, “oh yeah, that'd be nice.” He says and he used to ride once in a while, he had a horse, it was a grey one and they had about six or eight real nice riding horses, I think they belong to the viscountess. And so he says, “well tell ‘em to saddle you up a horse too.” So, he goes up and he gets his riding boots on and his riding deal and all that you know. And he comes down and- and there I am in my, with his- his grey horse that helped the POWs holding for him you know, and then one for me. Well then he shows me how to get on and what to do and all that, you know and they were, they were English saddles, they weren’t like what we have you know with the horn or Western. And so, I would, he'd go ahead you know, and I'd be behind, you know, I'd stay with him, you know. We adjusted the stirrups to my liking you know and everything. And I did all right, but you know then we go across the countryside, you know and everything and it was- it was nice, but he loosened up you know some, you know, but not too much. �(2:03:22) Interviewer: Alright. But I gotta tell you … Interviewer: We gotta pause right here cause this tape, you finished off hour number two. So, I gotta… Okay so we've gotten in your story to the point where you got the assignment now where you're working for this Colonel and he's taking you out, you learn to ride horses, and so forth, and then off-camera you mentioned that the secretary, was the woman who had greeted you when you first got there. Oh yeah. Interviewer: That she liked you too. We got to be real good, are we on tape now? Interviewer: Yes, yes, we are. (2:03:54) Well Odette kind of took me under her wing I guess, and she was very good counsel for me, and you know what she liked about me? Whenever I talked to her, I tried to talk to her in French, it was always in French and then she would correct me, and she would get a lot of laughs out of my cobbled up what I was trying to say. But I always spoke to her in French, she liked that and sheshe told me you know that we gotta have a class, we're gonna have class and I'll- I’ll, we’ll have classes and I’ll really teach you really French because my French was not, you know it was enough I could get by but that was it. But she was a nice lady, and she gave me a lot of good counsel, you know particularly with the colonel you know, I mean don't do this, don't do that, do this you know and so I was, I was very thankful for that. But the- the colonel also was, when he watched his- his health and his condition, he- he'd had me sometimes take him out in the �boonies, way out on some country road, dump him off three/ four miles from the chateau and dump him off. And I- I just leave him and go back, and he'd have to walk back, and he did that once in a while but and other times he- he would, the horses he'd like to ride the horses, course he was a calvary guy. And that was nice that you know, he let me go with him a couple of times. (2:05:33) Interviewer: Yeah. But it was nice. Interviewer: About how long did you have that job? Well, I'll tell you we were supposed to go to Penton's- Patton's funeral the day that I got my orders. Interviewer: Okay. To come home. Interviewer: So that's like December… That was a big, that was a big deal. Interviewer: Yeah. Well, let me go back a little bit, we got to know one better as we moved along and he- he loosened up and, but he was very much salute, Military courtesy, you- you didn't get out of line, you know what I mean. You was a peon, you was a buck private, I'm the boss, I'm the colonel. So, I mean it was that, that way and that was okay, but I have to tell you, one day Odette told me, says, “you're going to Switzerland,” and I said, “I am?” She says, “the colonels got leave, he's going to Switz- wants you to go, we're gonna to go to Switzerland, you’re gonna go to Switzerland,” and I says, “I am?” She says, “yeah,” but she said, “but you can only cash in 250 American into Swiss dollars,” she says, “you're gonna have to pay your own way as far as the �hotel, your food, whatever else.” I said, “I ain’t got no money,” and she says, we’ll take care of that.” So, they took care of that and everything you know and so when the colonel said, “we're going to Switzerland on leave,” we went to Switzerland and Christ they treat me like as if I was a general or something, you know, I had that American uniform on, they didn't know I was a… but we stayed in the same hotel but of course not, he was in maybe some big place, but I was in the same hotel. We didn't eat together or anything but sometimes we did, and I went my way, and he went his way you know, and I had my 250 bucks, and he only had 250 America/ Swiss so he was real reined in too, you know he couldn't go too hard wild, you know. Well, we got into Lucerne and I thought I'm gonna go down to one of these casinos and I'm gonna work my 250 Swiss into some real spending money, that was a big mistake. That was a big mistake, but I did get to do, and Odette told me, you know she said, I said, “I want to buy my dad a nice gift and my sister,” I said. And she told me, I said “I gonna buy my dad a nice watch,” and she told me what to buy, she said, “buy a Longines or a Rolex or a Omega,” she give me a good advice, you know what to do and everything and she really counseled me on what to do. And I never questioned where the money came from or anything, but they give me the Swiss francs, so I was on the same level with the colonel as far as money was concerned. But when we got there, we went to I think it was Lucerne first and then we went to Zürich and then we went to, in the little villages and the Alps and all that kind of stuff. But we did, really saw Switzerland and when we got in these little villages and stuff off the beaten path and things, it would be lunchtime or something, you know, and then we would eat together. We’d go into these little, I don't know what you call ‘em… Interviewer: Inns or whatever, yeah. (2:09:17) �Little inns or whatever you know, and we'd have some dark bread and Swiss cheese and a glass of wine you know and stuff. And we'd sit together and everything, you know. Here I was, I didn’t have no, nothing on my sleeves or anything, I was just a buck private. And it was pretty nice, but they treated me just royally, you know what I mean, I was treated really royally, and it was really nice. And we saw, we went to Zürich and everything, we- we saw Switzerland. Interviewer: Yeah. And there ain't very many guys that was a- a GI that got to Switzerland. Interviewer: Yeah that's- that's not too common at least not during the war, after the war it was a little easier but still not- not usually where you went, yeah. (2:10:03) Well, it was after the, yeah. Interviewer: Yeah, but even if… yeah. Yeah, that was my experience with going to Switzerland. Well, I tried to be a good- good driver and I- I minded my own business, he had a- a kind of a shine on the viscountess that owned thethe villa where we was staying, in other words when the military took over it, she got ousted and she lived quite close in one of their houses that were used by her help, that her maid. Interviewer: Yeah. (2:10:47) And gardener and all that kind but that's, she housed all them and everything, but she took over one of those houses. And it was little ways from there the- the chateau and he used to like to seego to see her all the time, some evenings he’d say, “seven o'clock I want you there, we're gonna go, you know,” usually it was over to the viscountess, and then he'd say, “pick me up at ten o'clock, eleven o'clock,” or whatever it is. I always made it a point that if he said ten o’clock, I �got there at 9:30, if he said eleven o'clock I got there at 10:30, I mean I always was waiting there with the door open when he came out of that- that house where he was with the viscountess. I- II realize that you know this- this is where I belong, I- I- I don't I don't screw up but and I used to take the car and I drive into Epernay and I had a girlfriend in Epernay. What was her name? I can’t remember but I can remember her baby's name, she had a little baby, and she was about four or five years, she was about maybe five years older than I was, but she was a nice lady. And she’d invite me to her home you know and all that but I never let her ride in the car, she always wanted to ride in the car, but I never would allow it, no, no. That was, I realized that you know this is not, that's not right and so I never allowed her to ride in the car. But she had this littlelittle baby he was in a highchair you know, and his name was Christian and once in a while, I always brought him something you know I mean it would be, whatever I could scrounge up out of the kitchen, you know K-rations, whatever it was but I always brought him things. And the old man, I always brought him cigarettes and stuff. And they were very good to me and what really struck me the first time I- I had dinner there was the little baby was in the highchair you know, and he had one of these, he wasn't on a bottle, but he has one of them cups, kids cups you know, instead of milk you know, it was wine. Wine and water- wine and water, I thought holy Christ the baby's drinking wine and water and it ain't even out of diapers yet, you know but that's the way they do it. (2:13:13) Interviewer: That’s the culture, yeah. Yeah, and but that- that was nice and, but he spent a lot of time with, he’d like to go over to the viscountess and some days they'd go in the afternoon, he'd like to play tennis and they had a tennis court. I take him to the tennis court and the viscountess and they'd hit the ball over the �fence and then I go chase the balls and throw ‘em back and you know and all that, you know but I was a stooge, you know. And, but I was a good stooge, I knew my place and I gotta tell you this, one day it was in the after- it was in the afternoon. He says we're gonna go pick up the viscountess and they were gonna go someplace, so we went picked up the viscountess and heshe said “well, drove me into Épernay,” well what they did, what she did was she took us to her a champagne factory she owned the champagne factory in Épernay. It was called the PiperHeidsieck. (2:14:15) Interviewer: Okay. Champagne. Interviewer: That’s a- that's a big company, yeah. You know Piper-Heidsieck? Interviewer: Yeah, yeah that still exists. Well she owned it, we went there you know and I get out and open the door for ‘em and everything you know like that and they get out and she says, “come along, come along” to me you know like that. And I- I looked you know, I looked at the Colonel he gave me a dirty look you know, and she says, “come along, come along,” and I slammed the car door, and I went and joined them. He didn't like it, but I was there, she was the one that was calling the shots. Give us a complete tour from the start of how the champagne is made with the squeeze of grapes- the grapes and all that things, we got down in the archives you know where the tunnels were and all that it is and everything you know, very interesting. (2:15:06) �We got down in these long tunnels where they and on each, dark as pitch, dark as, you just, you couldn't see the hand in front of you. On each side is- is these racks and they have these bottles of champagne on a 45 in these racks and they have these, what they call shakers, and all the guy does is he goes shakes these bottles all he and goes along. Well, when we were down in these long tunnels I call them you could see the light of the shaker, what they had was a couple of bare wires up in the top of the cavern and they had a long wooden pole that came down and on top of it it had a light and as you slid the pole along on that bare wire, the light lit up, and so while we was down there we had one of those and we slide it along and- and we'd- we’d see the shaker was so far away, but she just described you know what- what they were doing and shaking. And seven years, seven years that that be wine there, well we got the complete tour, and we went back to where they showed where they bottle it that final thing. And where it was ready to be sent to market, you know what she does, she gives the colonel a magnum. You know what a magnum is? (2:16:40) Interviewer: A very large bottle. Then she gives me a magnum and the colonel he, holy Christ he about fell through the floor you know. I took it and then I cradled that like it was a little baby, you know I didn't want to drop that sucker, you know. And I thanked her profusely, you know holy Christ, Oh yeah bon jour, merci beaucoup, I went crazy. She really knew that I appreciated it you know, well as soon as we got back to the chateau where and I was able to get down to the barn and I got one of the PWs to build me a wooden box. And we- we packed the wooden box with hay and the magnum, and this wooden box, all packed in hay. And put a label on it and shipped it home and it- it was it- it ended up with my wife. She was my girlfriend at the time, and I didn't know it, but she didn't �open it up ‘till I came home and then we popped the cork when I- when I got home, but a magnum! Interviewer: Yeah, that's pretty good. (2:18:00) That's pretty good a’nit it? Yeah, well, it all ended when every day they got a messenger it came from Reims on a motorcycle. I have to tell you this, one day it was there, he comes on this it was a Harley 45 Military bike that he brought messages from Marines, so I got to talking to him and I says, “let me try riding that, let me see that” you know, “show me that.” And- and he gave me enough instruction, you know so I took it out in the field, and I rode it around the pasture, around you know, and I was riding around like that. I thought I was doing pretty good, you know. So, I took it out on the road and I was doing pretty good, going down the road, you know but all of a sudden I was going through this village between Epernay and where we were, and somebody backed out on some side street in front of me and I put on the brakes and I went right over the handle bars and I, it was cava- or cobblestone streets you know, ruins, I was skinned up pretty good. But that was my end of my motorcycle, but the car- the bike was all right it didn't get banged up. But that was my end of my motorcycle. Interviewer: Yep. So, I never rode a motorcycle, that was it. Interviewer: But did that guy bring in the news on who was going home or that kind of thing? (2:19:24) That was what it, yeah well it was the day before, it was the next day we were supposed to go to Patton's funeral and I knew that and the guy comes from Reims with the messages and stuff and �Odette calls me and she says, “we got orders here that,” and she told me about what the orders where you know that I would, had orders to go home. And she- she says, “you're not gonna go home are you?” And I said, “I sure as hell am,” I said, “why wouldn't I?” She said, “why would you wanna go? You got it nice here.” I said- I said, “I only want to be in the Army as long as I have to be,” I said, “I'm a draftee, I'm not no volunteer,” and she tried to, they tried to convince me and then the colonel tried, he actually in person, he told me he says, “oh I'll drop… I’ll have you flown home,” he says, “you’ll go to a cigarette camp.” He said, “you'll be there for two months trying to you know for to get a boat.” And I knew that, and I- I- I was weighing all this you know, and he was telling me you know that he would do this for me, you know and all this and all that. And I was weighing all that, you know I was thinking about it. And I only had just so much time to, I had to say you know, I'm going home and so I made the decision that I'm going home. Whether it was wrong or right I to this today I- I figure it was a draw. Interviewer: Okay. Because what it was back home, what I thought it was gonna be was not, you know what I mean, I thought it was gonna be like it was when I left, it sure as hell wasn't. (2:21:19) Interviewer: Before we get there and take you back home, I have a couple other questions. One of them is, you mentioned when you were talking about the- the colonel of the 1153rd and so forth and you said that you eventually got back at him. Oh yes that's when we were up in Germany, we had a non-fraternization, you couldn't talk to the, if you had to because you had to ask directions or something, but you couldn't fraternize, you couldn't- you couldn't go and visit them at their house and whatever you know. Nonfraternization meant you didn't associate you just, they were off limits. Well, when we was up in �Germany waiting for the British to relieve us, we didn't have no association with the officers, they were off by themselves, we was in another area, we never seen them. Our direction was all non coms and they never even bothered because they- they were, no reason why they had to throw their weight around. Well one day this one of these captains and I forget what his name was, I think it was Hernandez said, “we got to go to…” it was 16th Corps headquarters. And “okay,” so we drove to 16th Corps headquarters, the colonel that was in charge of our outfit had been court-martialed. And he was under house arrest in this town in, where the 16th Corps was, we were going there to bring him some cigarettes and- and a couple of magazines or something, whatever we had you know. So, I didn't know this, but we go there you know and there’s this colonel under house arrest and he was in this house and he was up maybe on a second floor or something and so our only contact with him was he’d, with the window open, and we talked to him through- through the window. Well, here I was down there throwing cigarettes up too him, and he was under house arrest and I was the SOB down there that he- he knew, I thought the Lord sure works in weird places, crazy way doesn't it? (2:24:13) Interviewer: What was he court-martialed for? Fraternization, he was shacked up with some woman in Germany there. Interviewer: Oh, aha. We had a S3 his name, was, what was his name? He was the S3, he was a major, what was his name? I can't remember, well anyway him and the colonel didn't get along again and this major, what was his- well anyway he thought that he deserved a promotion to lieutenant [colonel], everybody herd, but the colonel no, no he didn't like him, they didn't get along well. So, this major that was the S3 in headquarter squealed on him, and that was what it- what it was, and �everybody thought that SOB for squealing on ‘em you know, but I don't know I guess, maybe that’s… Interviewer: You didn't- you didn’t mind. Huh. Interviewer: You didn't mind. (2:25:09) I earned the oven, I couldn't believe it you know here I am throwing cigarettes up to him you know, and he knew who I was yeah. Interviewer: On a different note, can you tell me what happened to Captain Spalding? Pardon? Interviewer: Can you tell me what happen to your Captain because he didn't come home. Oh well all of a sudden Monday he never showed up, you know they- they transferred him out. Interviewer: Okay. Well, he never should have been in that anyway because he just was not, he was not, you know, he was not capable of the position that he was in. A captain or anything I mean he- he was there because he was a big shot. Interviewer: Yeah. In civilian life you know, and he was a big contractor that supposed to be you know, knows the business and the contractor, construction business and which would be in the construction business in the Army. But one day he didn't show up, I tried to find out what happened to him, you know, and I crossed, I'd ask all around everyone I know, you know, what happened to, where… you know best information that I got was that he was shipped to Antwerp. And that he was a drinker and- and he got drunk one night and he fell into the fireplace. �Interviewer: Oh. That was what I was, that's what I was told, I- I never revealed that to anybody but that's what I was told, so that, that's all I can tell you. (2:26:44) Interviewer: Okay and then did you have another story about Captain Hernandez? Oh yeah, he would get you in a scrape just too sweet in other words when you was out with him, he was a gun collector you know I told you about these towns we would go in you know and they had to turn in all their weapons into the burgomaster then, we'd go into a town and he was interested in he, where’s the burgomaster? He'd get in that room where all the guns were turned in that the Germans you know, I'd be there with my arms out like this and I’d walk out of there like as if I had a whole load of firewood you know. Rifles, everything that you could think of you know, well once in a while I'd pick up one myself you know something that interests me. But he- he’d have the whole back end of the command car full of these guns, well then his problem was that he had to get them shipped home. Interviewer: Yeah. (2:27:40) Well certain of ‘em would go on record, a 75 caliber or shell case, but some of ‘em were too long they needed a 90 millimeter. Interviewer: Yeah. Shell case so then we had to find an outfit that had Patton tanks that had 90 millimeter guns and then he would, once we’d find, he'd go all over looking for, find one you know and he’d dig up all the information he could get to find out where there was an outfit, tank outfit that had 90 millimeter or Patton tanks. And when he’d find one, he, didn't give a damn whether they, he'd �hall into one of them tanks and he'd get up in there and he'd pitch out the tubes out of there and I’d pick them up and put them in the damn command car, you know. And then the tank’s got a whole bunch of explosive shells in the damn thing, you know, he didn't give a damn, but I’ll have to tell you how he went around. He had a paratrooper’s wire stock carbine just like what I had, only had a wire stock. And it had a sling over like this and he carried it on his back, then he was from- he was from New Mexico. You know how in the movies they had these- these cowboys that had these low slung [unintelligible] quick-draw things you know with the leather thing around ‘em with all the bullets in it you know and everything like that, that's what he wore. Strapped to his leg like and he had a P-38 in that- in that quick draw holster, that's how he went around. That was the way he- he- he- he went that was- was it, I always would get him, you know, what the hell are you going around with that thing for? You’re gonna find some German standing in the middle of the street gonna have a gunfight with you. He'd say, “when I fall out of that Jeep, I want to come up with something’ smoking,” that was his comment. But he'd get anywhere near the front he wanted to go, you know what I mean, I said, “nah, I'll stay here you go ahead.” And sometimes he would, you know when we was on the Roer River he'd go there all the time you know and that's, you know that's where the action was. I was a little rock then, I- I would you know I’d tag along but I- I wasn’t out in front. But he was always looking for trouble, he was that kind of guy, you know. But he was- he was able to handle it, I mean if there was any guy that you- you got in a scrape with and you really need somebody you know to maneuver, he was the guy. I mean there was nobody in the whole outfit other than him that I would have wanted to take orders from. They all were, most of them are were shoe salesmen. �Interviewer: Right, okay so now to go back to the main line of your story, so you finally, so rather than going to Patton’s funeral or staying on, you ship home. So how long did you spend in a cigarette camp? (2:30:53) I- I was shipped to Chesterfield. Interviewer: Okay. That's the cigarette camp that I was at and I was there quite a while but the thing I can remember, and it- it was not too bad, you know we didn't do nothing. I mean we just waited for the boat, but because I was a driver, and they did have some equipment around there that if you wanted to do some work you know, and I- I was one that didn't want to lay around. I would- I would do whatever was doable. Well, they knew I was a driver and so one day they- they said, “we're gonna give a bunch of them a weekend pass to Paris.” Well Paris the is quite a ways, and it they designate me the driver, well when you drive, you're the boss. You could guy have officer- bars to your wrist, it wouldn't make no difference you- you was the one that run the show. And- and so I had about probably twenty guys get in a 6x6 and I was the driver and we drove to Paris, and of course the Big Shot you know they want to drive- ride in the front, my friend, whoever, I forget who it was, but I had a friend, he drives- he rides in the front and they- they- they get in the back. And so, I was- I was the one that called the shots. So, we drive to, and that’s quite a ways you know and 6x6 you know you're, you get ‘er up to 50 you're doing pretty good, you know. And we got to Paris and they have places where you, Military park and they were under guard and everything you know, but there would be outfits from all over you know that you could see their outfit on their bumper of their- of their trucks or whatever it was. And so, we spent the weekend in- in Paris and of course they had places in Paris where Military could get �their, could eat but no place to sleep, you had to buy your own place. So, we didn’t have no money so we just bummed and caroused all night, you know. And we -we saw Paris real well, you know, I had a friend and I and we went our way and everything and some of them just got drunk and some guys whatever you know, whatever they gonna do and I went to the Louvre and all the things you know, the Seine River and all over and one thing I do remember because we was carousing all night there was a- a milkman it was a horse and wagon deal in Paris and when I saw that this was a milk man I thought holy Christ I gotta have- I gotta have a bottle of milk. And so, we stopped him and we each bought a bottle- bottle of milk. And we paid him with cigarettes. Well, there they have them as, you know how a food jar has that wire business on it, you know and the, well this had that wire business only in a cork, and that's the way it was bottled, and it had the cork in it like that. And so, we, my friend and I we each bought a bottle of milk from the guy and holy Christ that really was- was really good you know. I hadn’t had a bottle of milk in three years, so we bought this bottle of milk but that was the thing I remember about Paris is having a bottle of milk. But and we went, you know had a- had a good time and neither of us were drinkers or anything so you know it was no problem. But when I got there, when I told them, I says, “now we're leaving at certain time,” I give them, “three o'clock Sunday afternoon you be here, otherwise you're gonna walk back.” Well, that was a bunch of baloney, you know that wasn't true at all because I know that that it wasn't gonna happen, but I told- I laid the law down you know. Well, a lot of them didn't, they got back you know, but there was always a couple of three/ four stragglers you know that didn't show up. And the guys would be there waiting you know and then me, I- I- I wanted to go back with all of ‘em, I didn't want to leave anybody. So I- I had the problem of pacifying the guys that was there, they were anxious to go and they were tired- tired of waiting and all this you know and I- I finally waited them out and �here comes the guy drunk and he's staggering and you know and everybody loaded him on the truck and- and you know we finally made all the guys that was supposed to been there, did number I think about twenty, and then we back to the [unintelligible] But that was a big deal, Camp or… Interviewer: Chesterfield. Chesterfield. Interviewer: Alright. (2:36:02) And when I did get a- a ship it was a victory ship, victory, pretty new one. I forget what the name of it was, but it was pretty new, and it wasn't a troop transport or anything, but we were able to lay on the deck and up on deck and soak up the sunshine and watch the, you know the ocean and it was a nice trip going back. Interviewer: But that was in the middle of winter by then or? Cause you get… Yeah, I got home, and it was in- it was in the winter. Interviewer: Yeah, January is when you got home, I think so, yeah. Well, when we got to New York or they dumped us off, I don't remember much but they just told us to go to the nearest, they had, picked out where the nearest Army camp replacement where you could be mustered out. Interviewer: Right. (2:36:59) And I was, it was down the, I thought it was a Great Lakes Naval… Interviewer: Station in Chicago or… But it was down there by Chicago, but it was… what the hell was the name of it? �Interviewer: Well, it was Fort Sheridan which is the Army base. There you Fort Sheridan yeah that's where it was. And I was all alone there and that's where I was mustered out and I got about 150 bucks and I went into Chicago, that wasn't too far and I- I got a train to Muskegon in um, it was a night, it was at night I must have got home about, in Muskegon about maybe ten o'clock or so at night. And I got pegged into that, it's now a tourist resort thing down there on Western Avenue by the Anaconda or Amazon and I walked down Western Avenue to, I was looking for a telephone and I got down to Terrace Street and there was a Greyhound station there and I went in there and I called my sister, that was the only one I knew that I looked up in the phone book. And her husband came and picked me up and I spent the night there with my sister, but this is the big surprise, I thought everything was gonna be the same as when I left, it wasn't- it wasn't. No, my dad- my dad was not one to write or anything so this, I didn't know anything about this, he remarried while I was- I was gone. My brother had come home, he'd come home probably six months or so before I did and my dad had bought a tavern in Holton and they were living in Holton and they weren't at where I used to live on, you know, my dad still owned the house, but they weren't living there, and they moved out of there and everything but that wasn't there anymore. So, I was looking for my clothes and my things you know everything, they were all gone, there wasn’t a damn thing. Not one thing, you know kids have… Interviewer: Yeah sure. (2:39:18) Some things you know I got a baseball glove, and you know we had something, not a thing, there wasn't a damn thing so they must have thought I was not gonna come back or something and they dumped it all when they moved. And they had it's a very small place next to the tavern there �in Houghton and my dad had got on the sauce. And he was not himself at all, but I understood too, you know that he was alone when I was taken away and my brother was gone, he was alone. And I know what alone, living alone was like, I've lived on almost for six years. It ain't good so I, my dad was a very good dad. I never faulted him for getting married, I never faulted him what he did, and I- I always thought he was a great dad, but it wasn't the way I- I assumed it was gonna be, it was tough. But my brother he kind of took to the bar business, he liked it, I didn't II- I couldn't get far enough away from it, and I didn't know what to do. I was up in Holton and I didn't have no car, I didn't have no clothes, I didn't have nothing. So, it was kind of tough and I couldn't go nowhere but my dad would let me once in a while take his car, he had a- he had a nic car when we left it in 1941 but he must have traded it off for something and he had a kind of, it was a coupe of some kind, it wasn't much of a car at all, but once in while he let me take it, but you know Holton is quite a ways from Muskegon but my brother while he was home he made amet a friend that was in the G- he was an officer, it was a friend that lived up that way and they made, he made friends with him and they were gonna go to business college on the GI Bill, and they had made arrangements for this school down in Battle Creek. And so I- I said, “well how about me going along too,” and this little coupe he had that was the car he had, I could still, the three of us could get in it. And so I convinced him that I could help him with the rental and all that kind of stuff you know and so I was included and we rented a upstairs of a house in Battle Creek not too far from the school. And we went to Business College and on the GI Bill and my brother he went and then this, his name was Ward- Ward what? That was the other guy, Ward, I don't remember his last name. And so I went to Business College and- and then when the term ended by my brother he went his way, and I went my way and everything and I went back to Muskegon and I boarded at a- at a house on John Street and I- I just boarded there and I ate all �my meals and everything but I didn't want to establish myself or anything. My dad had this apartment above the house where we used to live but I didn't wanna buy a lot of furniture, buy furniture and everything like that so I didn't but I went to work for John Wood, they made gas pumps and I worked in the- in the cost accounting department. It was alright I learned a lot but I didn't like it and this Ward that I told you about that we went to school with and business school with, he kept in contact with me and one day he told me he says, he got a job with, it was called a Michigan Foundry Supply Company and the owner of the Supply Company also owned a foundry, it was called Weiner Foundry. He says, “they’re looking for somebody for their office why don’t you go see it.” So, I went there and I- I got the job and what it was is I was gonna be the billing clerk and what I did, I did the billing and kept track of the production and so forth and I'd yell a lot with the Continental Expediters is, that was the biggest customer of the- the foundry. But I worked about just a desk away from where the purchasing agent worked and so I knew pretty much all that, what was going on in the purchasing. And he would have days off and maybe get sick or sometimes vacation so and then I’d take over as, in the purchasing. Well he quit one day, he was from the south, he was a southerner and he went back south and so I just stepped over and I took over the purchasing and I and I don't mean to brag but I was a hell of a lot better person you can imagine than he was, but I- I learned the purchasing business. Well, I wasn't- I wasn't married or anything I was single and I- I was just bumming around I was lose you know, and I just couldn't settle down I didn't know you know. When I came home my girlfriend that I had been corresponding with and been had before the war, she was going to college, she was down in Ann Arbor, she was going to U of M. I went down there once and we went to a football game, but you know she's down there and I'm here, you know So it didn't wewe just fell apart for about five years, I was here- here and I went my way, and she went hers. I- I �don't know how the hell we got back together but I think it was by- by mail. She when- when we got back to finding out what she was doing and so forth she was working for DuPont down in- in where was it…. Waynesboro, Virginia in their orlon plant and she graduated from the U of M in a- in chemistry, a major in chemistry, smart gal holy Christ she was smart. Well, we got writing back and forth you know, pretty soon she says, “well why don’t you come down and- and visit.” Meet down there you know, I said what the hell, so I went down, and I spent a- a- a few days down there with her. She arranged for have me to stay in a house pretty close to where she lived and with some other people that worked at DuPont. She took me through the orlon plant at DuPont and showed me all around down in the- in Virginia there you know. And the letter writing continued, you know, she didn't like being away from home, she'd never been away from, out of Muskegon and her life other than when she went to college, she didn’t like being so way, afar from her family. So, it wasn't hard to convince her to you know she ought to come back to Muskegon. I wasn't even, I didn't even have a job because I'd quit, and she came back to Muskegon and we got married. I didn't have a job or a damn thing and we- we moved into where I used to live when I was, before the war in this apartment where my dad and my brother and I bache’d it. But that- that worked out but that’s the way it was, but it was tough, it was tough, I that was the worst years of my life, even though I was single and free and everything I, it was the worst time in my life. I had no connection anywhere. Interviewer: Yeah. (2:48:30) And I had no, for so long I had no decent clothes, when we were down in Battle Creek our noon hours were spent, we'd have lunch it was always at a Chinese place, we always had at the Chinese place. Then we would go around to all the stores like Montgomery Ward's, Penny’s, �Sears and Roebuck, all the stores that would have clothes, and we would see whether they had any, anything that we could wear or anything. And the clerks in the store they got to know us Christ and everything, some of them were very cooperative you know we just tell them what size you know we have, and they'd stick it underneath the counter for us. And you know a shirt was, we didn’t have no shirts, we had GI shirts that's why you never seen very many people that had a complete uniform because they wore ‘em out, you know. I had a blouse or like a- like a jacket and that's about all I had left, you know but all the rest of it I- I wore it out, you know. And eventually you know when you get a- a shirt and you maybe get a, some socks and you get some, stuff you know, and then you get a sweatshirt or a sweater or a jacket or something, you know. And eventually you know you get a- enough so that you can look like a civilian again, you know and that's the way it was you know. Interviewer: Now after you got married then did you kind of get focused and find regular work or what’d you do? (2:50:10) Well I tell ya, this is what, a godsend, when I was working at this Weiner Foundry, there was a young engineer that came one day when I was in purchasing and they were, they had suddenly got hooked up with a pipeline, the Panhandle Eastern Pipeline and they had a lot of gas. And they were out pedaling, they wanted to get some customers and this Weiner Foundry used a lot of, it was- it was, what was it? It was heavy oil, in other words if it- if it wasn’t heated it would get like a lard. Interviewer: Yeah. And they used it for their core ovens and their annealing ovens and stuff, so they used a lot of that heavy oil. He came there one day, and he was peddling his- his gas and I was very good to �him and everything you know. And I said, he wanted to see you know the foundry, how- how much we used the field oil and all this, heavy oil and stuff. So, I took him and showed him around you know, I spent a lot of time with him, I showed him where you know how- how, you know much, how many core ovens and how many annealing ovens and all this stuff you know and everything. And he- he tried to convince me to switch everything, over to, that's a big job and it’s a lot of money to switch over to natural gas. We didn’t but I was very nice to him and everything you know. Well, when I got married, I knew all these guys at the Continental that I dealt with when I was at Weiner’s. And fortunately, the chief deputy person, at the Continental at the time was named Morris Ramsey and they always thought I was his son. So, whenever I was mentioned Ramsey, the association was with, was him. So, I- I went to work for Continental, I was gonna, I thought I was gonna be a buyer in the Continental but no I didn't get a buyer job, I was, what I did was I reconciled vendor’s invoices with a purchasing order, in other words with a purchase order. If they purchase it and they said it was gonna cost a dollar, and they charge a dollar and a quarter on the invoice, they didn't pay it, there had to be some reconciliation, I mean I had to be the approver, say well no, you- you pay a dollar, you pay a dollar and a quarter. I was the one, it was a hassle you know, I mean they was- they was always after me for approve, approve this, you know they’re a good outfit, I said, “bull shit this is the price of the purchasing order they- they took it, that's what they get,” you know. So, I was in that kind of a, I didn't like it, one day one of the guys that worked at the desk next to me or so, he was an older guy, he went to one of these lunch deals that they have at noon, you know it was the Kiwanis Club. (2:53:35) Interviewer: Yeah. �Or whatever the heck it was, well he met the purchasing agent of the gas company at this thing, they got to talking apparently and this purchasing agent at the gas said he was looking for somebody to- to work with, to come in and- and work in the, at the gas company purchasing. So, when he came back, he told me about that, you know so I- so I, he said, “you ‘oughta go down and see it.” So, I did, and he hired me, and he was an older guy, and he was interested in retiring you know, he was- he was on his way out. But when he hired me you know, I wondered what the hell they hired me, what I was gonna do you know. Well, when I asked him, you know what they want me to do, he says, “well just learn the gas company business,” he says, “just learn the gas company business.” I says, “how do I do that?” And he says, “well,” they was in charge of all the stock rooms and all the things that were they, stored all the gallons, that was part of the purchasing department where they had these guys that- that took care of the stock ones and so he said, “go over to the stock room and see what we buy and all that kind of stuff,” gave me kind of real free hand, you know. So, I went over there you know, and I learned, well this is what they buy, and this is what you buy, and I- I learned you know, this is the kind of stuff that they do buy, and this is what it is and this is what it is. And I visited you know so pretty soon the guys in the stock room they realized that I was the one that was pretty much, the guy never no said that I was the boss or anything like that, you know but I would- I would do this, I would say to ‘em, they had an antiquated thing it was, they handled appliances too like ranges and water heaters and stuff. And they had this antiquated thing that they'd stack it up and they’d crank it and it'd go up and they’d pushed it off and then- then they’d un-crank it and it’d go down in. I said, “where the hell did you get that thing?” “We’ve had it forever,” you know I said, “you need a forklift truck,” and they said, “yeah we’ve wanted one for a long time.” And I said, “I'll get your forklift truck,” they thought I was blowing smoke. I got them a forklift truck and then every time you �know I tell them something you know well we had a hire Dap [?] Truck and Crane Company to unload the- the pipe whenever we got it in, loads of big heavy parts and stuff that was out in my yard in the Heights. I thought that's crazy, we gotta have a- a- a lift of our own, you know. I'll get you a hydro lift, they thought I was blowing smoke again you know, but in conjunction with the use of the dist- of the distribution department, the guy that run that Joe Buck, he knew this would be handy to have around too me because they had a lot of heavy stuff too. So, between the- the Joe Buck and I we got a hydro lift. So, they got to know that I wasn't just blowing smoke all the time and they realized that his name was Ken Gable that he had kind of turned the running of the stock rooms in to, over to me. So, I learned pretty much the basic stuff, I knew what, when I was buying something, I knew what the hell it was. So, any… let things loosen up a little bit and then pretty soon I was buying stuff and the- the vendors that came in and things you know, he, they would make a courtesy call to him and- and so forth, but then when they wanted the order and got down to really, really, they come to me. And I was- I was really the one that was doing, but I never signed my name on anything he was always the and I was often there when he was on vacation or sick or someplace he wasn't there, I put his name, I never, anything that ever letter I wrote where I was- I was doing, it was always went through him and it was his okay and everything and, but they know eventually you know who- who was the one that was buying this stuff and anything. So, I was for years I was- I was really the one and he didn't- he didn't pay any attention to what was going on or anything I was, I was it. Just go see Ramsey, go see Laurin, that's he’d tell the vendors and they all knew that you know. And I was a lot different than he was, he was a, he had a lot of them that these vendors had him in his pocket, in their pocket you know. I wasn't that way at all, but I had to go along as long as he was the person. Interviewer: Yeah. �(2:58:50) But eventually he retired and then the manager of the outfit didn't like me, I was too- too aggressive. And he didn't like me, but he knew that he had to okay me because I was the only one that, that can replace the you know. So, I was appointed, and they had a picture in the paper that, you know I was now being appointed the… I got a picture that was in a paper that I was the first thing I knew. I made a hell of a lot of changes, these guys that were in his pocket now, they you know this is change, this is- this is different. But I- I run this real tight ship and I- I really, I got to be very what you would call influential or I had a lot of- a lot of weight. And because I also had the responsibility of the maintenance of the buildings and that was also part of it, but I- I worked very well with- with the other operating people. And I'll tell you how I operated, and I knew how this- this works, I got to know the operating people real well but the vendors had to go through me to get me them. And something happened or something that looked good to me and I thought they should be, I would bring the vendor this, introduce them and I made a relationship with them. But the vendors always knew that they had to see me first, and I brought them some good- good advice and some good materials and things. So, I had a good relationship with them and this one particular one, this is- this is interesting, they had a very big expansion program at the time where they were going to know all different small towns like Whitehall and Montague, Shelby, Hart, all that kind of, so there's a lot going on. Well, and so they had to work a lot of Saturdays and overtime and everything. Well, this- this one Saturday this Joe Buck he was in charge of the distribution, this, all this stuff, this construction and everything. He- he was, his family they were scheduled to go to their cottage or someplace up north and they- they had planned this for some time, they're gonna spend the weekend or something. And he had- had to work, he said that he had to work because of some big project or something going on. And he �was pretty perturbed that you know, he was because his whole family was disappointed. I told Joe, I said “Joe you go, I'll take care of things.” He looked at me he said, “no I can't do that.” I- I said, “Joe, I'll take care of it, don't worry about it, I'll take care of it.” So, I convinced him that I would take care of it and don't worry about it I'll see that everything is all set Monday morning you will never know that nothing happened. I never mentioned anything in Monday morning I nev- I never go near him or anything like that, you know everything is perfect, going along you know, he comes to me says, “well how did it go?” “Went okay,” and then he just starts asking me questions, you know about you know how did this go, you know and I said, “well okay.” And I made no big deal of it you know. So pretty soon they got to know that if they wanted something done just let me, let me know and I took care of it. And I got into a lot of things that I shouldn't have been, but Joe was very- very int- he was a good- good guy to operate with. Interviewer: Okay. (3:02:59) I'll tell you one deal that really made- made them take notice, this engineer that came to see me when I was down at Weiner Foundry, they made him the district manager after this one that didn't like me, he- he was made this district manager, so he knew me from the time that I had met him down at the Weiner Foundry. Interviewer: Yeah. And so, I had a better relationship, well anywhere I’ll tell ya what happened, this is- this is one big deal that, they was buying gasoline and- and I was responsible for buying it. And the stock department they went to the stock department to get their gasoline, the stock people fill the gas tanks when they needed gas and so they kept track of it. Ol’ pump that didn't know they had a 500-gallon storage tank and was paying eighteen cents a gallon for gasoline at the time. And I �couldn’t see that at all and so I worked up all the thing, what it would cost to put in a tenthousand-gallon tank, new pump with a- a- with a printed- printer in it that printed what gas was taken out of it and all this, it was up to date, you know. And what was gonna happen was that I was gonna be able to buy gas for nine cents a gallon instead of eighteen, and I worked this all up, all the, how much it was gonna cost to do it and where, everything, but I had to go to Joe because he was gonna be responsible after I just worked out because his night crew that was in the garage was gonna have to dispense the gas at night. And it was gonna be in his area and the gas pump and everything was gonna be moved from the stock area to- to his area. So, it was kind of a joint deal, but I had everything all worked out down to the nickel, you know, the payoff time was gonna be two years and it would be all paid off you know. So, my boss which- which he was still there then and- and this Joe Buck was in, the head of the distribution department, they went to they, the budget meeting that they had where they developed the budget that Muskegon was gonna supply government, ask what money they wanted for it in Detroit which was the ones that run the company or own the compay, it went through just like that and they… Cut off at end of video (3:05:57) � 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 RamseyL0679V Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ramsey, Laurin Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-01 Title A name given to the resource Ramsey, Laurin (Interview transcript and video), 2008 Description An account of the resource Bob Hartman was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1919. He graduated high school in 1937 and joined the Michigan Army National Guard in 1938, assigned to the 126th Infantry Regiment, Service Company. His company’s task was to transport troops and provide them with ammunition, food, and clothing. He began as a truck driver and later became a Supply Sergeant. His regiment went on maneuvers that lasted up to two months, traveling to places such as Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama. When Pearl Harbor was bombed, Hartman was in Jackson, Mississippi to see a football game and was ordered to go back to camp immediately. He was then shipped to Fort Devens, Massachusetts for about a month before taking a train back to Frisco, Texas. After that, he was shipped to Angel Island and boarded the Lurline to head for Australia. He landed in Adelaide and then took a train to Brisbane. Later, he flew to Port Moresby where he marched across the Owen Stanley Mountains and saw jungle combat as a platoon sergeant. Hartman suffered from malaria during battle, and the sickness continued to recur every month for about five years. Hartman later was flown to Papua New Guinea. He made a beach landing in Saidor, where he experienced a few skirmishes before arriving at Aitape a month or two later. At Aitape, he was shot in the stomach presumably by a sniper. He was hospitalized on base before being shipped back to Australia and eventually the United States, where he spent time at several hospitals in San Antonio, Illinois, and finally back home in Battle Creek, Michigan. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource McCauslin, Kelly (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States—History, Military Veterans Video recordings World War, 1939-1945—Personal narratives, American Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI, 49401. Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright 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/db6f3500e3cb8cbb496959f1538e4961.jpg 4f4d89984acfb59987b532c57cfd6cbe 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 RancourtAnn_Photo1 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. University Communications Title A name given to the resource Rancourt, Ann Description An account of the resource Ann Rancourt, Physical Education 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/4c009f6eb70dec2ce0acccc70ce1a867.jpg c64fbe34fbeef61a6dde8711b3f78989 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 RancourtAnn_Photo2 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. University Communications Title A name given to the resource Rancourt, Ann Description An account of the resource Ann Rancourt, Physical Education 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/8a8f50c768f9cdb0905fc7605ea9a43c.jpg bc9222a8f1aa62800f5bb851ec36f241 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 RancourtAnn_Photo3 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. University Communications Title A name given to the resource Rancourt, Ann Description An account of the resource Ann Rancourt, Physical Education 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/ac9fa562f19da82877715136a35cefad.jpg bb596ccb2ff8dd21f78a2635b23ad726 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 RancourtAnn_Photo4 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. University Communications Title A name given to the resource Rancourt, Ann Description An account of the resource Ann Rancourt, Physical Education 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/0f5d819aa4850acd44b1a90a4909d328.jpg b2d20d285e57042a7a1c00bcc6ebe9ef 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 RancourtAnn_Photo5 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. University Communications Title A name given to the resource Rancourt, Ann Description An account of the resource Ann Rancourt, Physical Education 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/fcb9f377767709201f176da7d3d50d13.jpg 594c398213dd35170065968d5eb2ed74 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 RancourtAnn_Photo6 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. University Communications Title A name given to the resource Rancourt, Ann Description An account of the resource Ann Rancourt, Physical Education 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/42ca4626f42772932a27883e7234fce0.jpg 1d85b39a160401da8c4c46e43dc9fca6 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 RancourtAnn_Photo7 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. University Communications Title A name given to the resource Rancourt, Ann Description An account of the resource Ann Rancourt, Physical Education 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/b973ddd8dbe28b632388db6c7e6f5b3d.jpg 537bb8fd7fd7a0587326e4912b736b96 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 RancourtAnn_Photo8 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. University Communications Title A name given to the resource Rancourt, Ann Description An account of the resource Ann Rancourt, Physical Education 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/f4a64ff8acf328f73789d0de547abba1.jpg 52aa2673ed50eea8c32d69fe3bd077ec 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_000809 Title A name given to the resource Rangaramanuja Ayyangar with the TJC Carnatic Music Ensemble Description An account of the resource Visiting professor Rangaramanuja Ayyangar with the TJC Carnatic Music Ensemble. Subject The topic of the resource Grand Valley State University Michigan Allendale (Mich.) Universities and colleges Students 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/9fb227a494debd8c38ef598c51e169b9.pdf 65a05eb1c708c4a19dcd50a7bf1667e4 PDF Text Text RAPID HIV TESTING FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL � 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 Sexuality and Gender Flyers Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Rainbow Resource Center Women and Gender Studies Department Women's Commission Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity Description An account of the resource Digitized posters, flyers, event notices, and other materials relating to gender expression and sexuality at Grand Valley State University, with materials spanning from 1974 to 2019. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1974/2019 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digitized from collections at the Rainbow Resource Center (formerly the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center), Women and Gender Studies Department, Women's Commission, and Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Subject The topic of the resource Gender identity Gender expression Sexual orientation Women's studies Queer theory Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-09 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 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre 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/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-09_SGF_LGBTQ_2014_Rapid-HIV-Testing-Flyer.pdf Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2014 Title A name given to the resource Rapid HIV Testing Description An account of the resource Flyer with times and locations where testing occurred. Subject The topic of the resource Sexual minorities Community centers HIV (Viruses) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Rainbow Resource Center Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Rainbow Resource Center https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/006ffc06297fb05f744c3f208f18ad23.pdf ee7d3bd412773f0a3fb256a2a879c8c1 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Philip Rasey (19:26) Background Information (00:04)         Born February 18th 1959. (00:04) Served in the Navy on a Submarine during the Cold War. (00:07) Born in California. (00:39) He lived most of his life in Denver, Colorado. (00:45) His father was an aerospace engineer. (00:55) He has one older brother who currently holds a doctorate degree for economics. (1:15) Philip attended Columbine High school. Philip graduated in 1977. (1:26) His father served in the Air Force during the Korean War, and his uncle served in the Navy. (1:31) Entering the Service (1:45)    He enlisted in the Navy in 1977. He decided to join the military because he was tired of attending school and had no interest in attending college. (1:52) A love of the ocean is what inspired Philip to join the Navy. (2:15) He volunteered to work on a submarine after one of his roommates during training decided to do so. (2:30) Basic Training (2:53)     He dreaded boot camp. He knew that it was going to be difficult. (2:55) Philip attended basic in San Diego, California. (3:15) He attended an electronics school, also located in San Diego. He was then sent to New England for submarine school. (3:30) Military life was forced upon Philip. During basic there was a lot or physical training. The food varied but overall was fairly good. (3:58) Service (4:46)        Philip first served aboard the USS George Bancroft. This ship was a missile submarine. The ship operated out of Scotland. (4:49) Typically the men were out at sea for 65-70 days. (5:06) After his service on the USS George Bancroft, Philip reenlisted and was sent to a training command in Bangor Washington in approx. 1981. Here he was an instructor for 3 years. (5:25) He then served on the USS Georgia which was a Trident Missile submarine. (5:35) He then served as an instructor for 4 more years after his USS Georgia service. (5:38) Because submarines operate independently, the only people who know the submarine’s location were the men on board. (5:54) Close friendships aboard ship were essential due to the close quarter that was a submarine. (6:25) �  While Philip was on a submarine, family could send family grams. This meant that people from home could contact the ship but the men aboard ship could not communicate back. (6:47) While on the USS Georgia, men could commonly run around the 2nd floor of the missile compartment using it as a track. (7:35) End of Service (7:50)     He was in Bangor, Washington, when Philip’s tour of duty ended in 1997. (7:57) When he started, the subs would do a lot of tracking and tailing. In the later days of his service, there was little work being done by the subs at sea. (8:40) He was sent to TAP after discharging. This program was to get veterans to think morel like a civilian and less like a soldier. (9:36) Philip uses the web site We Serve Together in order to keep in contact with many other veterans. (10:12) Effects of Service (11:16)    His time in the service has made him more “matter of fact” and does not panic when things go wrong in a situation. (11:32) He values family more as a result of his service. (11:53) The constant switching out of the crew members could be hard on the sailors. (12:17) Service (cont.)(12:45)       His first patrol was very overwhelming to Philip. There were a lot of new things that he was required to learn. (12:55) Overall Philip severed 20 years in the Navy (1977-1997). (15:12) Service on a Submarine does take some getting used to. The only test the men were given was seeing if they could equalize pressure in their ears. (16:05) Overall he misses being at sea and his service. (16:51) The men had access to 2 treadmills about the submarines for physical exercise. (18:11) Aboard ship, the sailors wore tennis shoes rather than boots. This was to reduce noise. (18:50) � 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 RaseyPT Title A name given to the resource Rasey, Philip (Interview outline), 2011 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rasey, Philip Description An account of the resource Philip Rasey, born in California in 1959, grew up in Colorado and served in the U.S Navy from 1977-1997. He trained to work on submarines, and did tours on the USS George Bancroft and on the USS Georgia. He also served as an instructor in Bangor, Washington. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Schroeder, Eric (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Video recordings United States. Navy Other veterans & civilians--Personal narratives, American 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 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 2011-05-21 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 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/b3ec85f92960ca44a0c72521ea183ea4.m4v ed442c2d3bd4e4bab0edf4d832658700 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/d326e14d8d00e2fb6a3190af3dfeb3b0.pdf 18f8c189183b6137bcf8d168ad699529 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans’ History Project John Rasmussen Cold War (Vietnam Era); Cold War (Post-Vietnam); Gulf War 30 minutes 33 seconds (00:00:18) Early Life -Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on February 24, 1942 -Family moved to the West Coast and moved around a lot -Yakima, Washington; Richland, Washington; Union Gap, Washington; Los Angeles; Palo Alto, California; and Portland, Oregon -Father worked for the government on top secret projects -Lived in Richland during a government test on the civilian populace -Exposed to iodine-131 to see the effects on people (00:02:02) Becoming a Chaplain -Family service in the military inspired him to enlist -Two uncles had served as Air Force chaplains in the Korean War -Influenced his decision to become a chaplain -Attended college in Portland, Oregon, and at Foothill College in Los Altos Hill, California -Completed his bachelor’s degree at Concordia University -Attended Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana -Endorsed by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod -Enlisted in the Army on February 24, 1968 -Part of the chaplain staff specialist program, and in the chaplain candidate program -Graduated from seminary and got married in June 1968 -Sent to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for his first church -Shortly after the Martin Luther King Jr. assassination in April, and felt the tension -Completed the basic course for chaplains (00:06:40) First Reserve Assignment & Active Duty -Attached to an Army Reserve engineer battalion in Wallace, Idaho -Elected to go on active duty on July 1, 1973 -Note: Later in the interview he says January 1, 1973 -Had gone down to Fort Bliss, Texas, for training with his reserve unit -Received more education -Went to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for a year (00:08:36) Tour in Thailand -Sent to Thailand in February 1974 -Assigned to do spiritual coverage for the Central Identification Laboratory -Working to identify the bodies and remains of soldiers lost in Indochina -As of the interview, there are still three bodies that need identification -Remains returned to the U.S. a year after he left Thailand -Located near U-Tapao Air Base �(00:11:03) Sons in the Military -All four sons served in the military -Youngest son is still in the military -Served as a combat medic and saw the whole gamut of wounds (00:11:44) Stationed at Madigan Army Medical Center -Sent to Madigan Army Medical Center in Fort Lewis, Washington -Worked with the hospital chaplain -Became the medical center chaplain -Went there in 1975 -No more casualties from the Vietnam War -Combat had ceased in 1973, and wounded had gone out to different hospitals -Interesting experience -Got some experience with neo-natal care (00:14:37) Return to Civilian Ministry -Returned to parish ministries after Madigan Army Medical Center -Worked in Libby, Montana, as a parish pastor -Wanted to go to Alaska, but that never happened -Enjoyed the mountains of Montana (00:15:50) Medical Issue -Before he left Madigan, he was diagnosed with a cyst on his heart -Developed after returning from Thailand -Excised without incident (00:16:15) Army Reserve Personnel Center -Worked in Libby for four years -Chief of Chaplains announced a new position -Army Reserve Personnel Center in St. Louis, Missouri -Got that position -Got to know the Army Reserve chaplains and some of the chaplain candidates -Worked in St. Louis for a couple years -Did mostly office work (00:18:40) Chaplain School -Went to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, for the Chaplain School -Stayed there for 4 ½ - 5 years (00:19:00) Return to Active Duty -Went back on active duty as Active Guard Reserve (AGR) tour -AGR tour lasted seven years -Continued to work with Army Reservists and National Guard forces (00:21:41) Gulf War -Served in the area-of-operations during, and after, the Gulf War -Tasked with checking on the morale of troops -Went to prisoner-of-war camps to check on the guards -Ensuring they were abiding by international rules of warfare -In one camp, the Muslim and Christian prisoners were kept separate �-Christians were using ration boxes to do the Stations of the Cross -Felt some unit commanders deserved to be relieved of command for their incompetence -Tour in the Middle East lasted a couple months -Military Police were the only units composed entirely of Army Reservists (enlisted and officers) (00:24:50) End of Service -Retired on September 1, 1995 -Retired with the rank of colonel -Worked at the Chaplain School -Worked at the Pentagon for four years -Old office was destroyed on September 11, 2001 -Worked with Army Reserve components (00:26:57) Reflections on Service -Had some deeply gratifying moments during his career -Being selected for the duties he had as a chaplain -Doing honest work -Testifying before Congress for a special committee supported by Colin Powell -Disappointed to hear the secretary of defense say 50,000 lives were wasted in Vietnam -Understand what the secretary meant, but it still stung to hear coming from leadership � 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_RasmussenJ2066V Title A name given to the resource Rasmussen, John A (Interview outline and video), 2016 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2016-10-28 Description An account of the resource John Rasmussen was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on February 24, 1942. He attended Concordia Theological Seminary, enlisted in the Army on February 24, 1968, and graduated from seminary in June 1968. His first assignment was with an Army Reserve engineer battalion in Wallace, Idaho. On July 1, 1973, he volunteered for active duty. He spent a year at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, then deployed to Thailand in February 1974. In Thailand, he provided spiritual coverage for the Central Identification Laboratory which worked on identifying the remains and bodies of soldiers lost during the Vietnam War. From Thailand, he went to Madigan Army Medical Center in Fort Lewis, Washington, and after that returned to the civilian ministry for four years. He returned to service at the Army Reserve Personnel Center in St. Louis, Missouri then served at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, for about five years. He was deployed to Middle East during the Gulf War, where he checked on the morale of troops and guards at prisoner-of-war camps. He retired on September 1, 1995, with the rank of colonel. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rasmussen, John A. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Keizer, Herman Jr. (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Veterans Video recordings Other veterans & civilians--Personal narratives, American United States. Army Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text 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/95e3391bdaacb83c96abb0090851ea85.mp4 c6a97242f4b69a6d8ebcc86507a637a2 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/9d77a324a9e59e60b3518ac8accbb64f.pdf f6de677cfdc4510733e5b48a708e8002 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Interview Name of War: World War II Interviewee: Richard Rasmussen Length of Interview: 00:59:36 Background:                Dr. Richard Rasmussen was born in Lakeview, Michigan. After two years, he family moved out between Greenville and Sheridan. The family farm is still there, owned by one of the grandsons and his family. He was born on June 4, 1913. He went to a one room school that was a mile and a quarter from his home. He walked all the way there and back, carrying everything they needed. He went on to attend Greenville High School, and graduated from there in 1931. The Depression was well under way. The principal suggested that he attend college, as many of his other fellow students had. (2:25) He attended Olivet College, which was paid for by a scholarship for $125. He wanted to be a physician, and knew it was going to be a long road. While he was in school, he also worked making $0.25/hour working in the dining area of the college. Working at the college helped to pay for his room and board. As many of his fellow peers called it, he worked hard to make it through the “Battle of Olivet” He used to communicate with a friend from Olivet up until his passing. When he was finished with Olivet, he decided to head for the University of Chicago. (4:00) He received some assistance for the University and worked there also. He believes that University of Chicago is one of the major Universities of this country and it was there that he received his medical degree. Medical school (4:45)      He lived outside the campus and walked to school for classes. He was married in 1936 to his girlfriend he met at Olivet. She eventually became a teacher in Muskegon. When she married him, she lost her job. He was able to get along by borrowing money from his relatives if he needed to. He was pretty careful about borrowing. In Chicago, he worked in the laboratories. His wife eventually got a job in the women’s hospital. She and the wife of another friend both needed jobs, so they got positions as clerks within the hospital. (6:48) He earned a stipend of $100 from the University. Which helped him pay back all of his loans with interest. �                     He graduated from the university in March, 1938. That gave him a total of 7 ½ years of college education. He then moved to Grand Rapids, where he interned at Blodgett Hospital in 1938-9. In the fall of 1938, he considered going into the Navy, where he would be able to give good service. So he took the exams in the fall of 1938 and was one of nine that were accepted. In the spring he was ready to go to the naval hospital, when he got an invitation to return to the University of Chicago to train in surgery. He deferred his Navy project to return to the university. It took 3 ½ years. He specialized in general and thoracic surgery. Thoracic surgery was just beginning to evolved to treat things like tuberculosis. (8:50) When he did his training, they did not have any drugs, so he had a considerable amount of training. He and others were very much aware of what was going on in the world, and the possibility of a war starting. The university was very aware of what might happen. While he was interning, his wife returned to Michigan and taught school in Rockford. However, when he returned to Chicago, she also returned with him and ran a switchboard at the apartment building they lived at. She also read to the semi-blind students at the University. The university offered her some extra schooling, but they declined because they were getting by. (10:54) When the attack on Pearl Harbor happened, he was in residency at the University of Chicago. He remembers when it happened; it was a catastrophe He and everyone else knew that they were going to get involved in the war because they rose up as a nation. In 2 ½ years, which could not be done today, the US was building tanks, and supplying the war, and the soldiers were on the beaches of Normandy. Before the US entered the war, they were supplying the Allied forces with materials that they needed. Ship building was also a major contribution that the US was making. He heard most of the news through newsmagazines and the radio. (12:55) When they listened to the radio, they heard a lot about what was going on in Poland and other countries. After he joined the Navy, he listened to what was going on in Japan. After Pearl Harbor, the University declared that three of them were ready and properly trained to help out the war effort through their services. So in the summer of 1942, three of them were sent out. Not a lot of people needed thoracic surgery at the time. In fact, while he worked in the laboratories at the hospital, they did all their work on dogs. (14:21) Training 14:40    When he first entered the Navy, he was assigned to Great Lakes Naval Training Station, in 1942. They had 75,000 coming in for training there. He and his friend drove there. He was there for a month and a half helping with recruits. �        After that he was assigned to the Navy’s Seabee training facility in Davisville, Rhode Island, near Providence. (15:30) There he was assigned to the 66th Naval Seabee Battalion. He stayed with them until he returned to the US. He was very lucky in his assignment. Some of his friends were assigned to the South Pacific, which picked up later on and was quite awful. His and a couple other battalions were assigned to the North Pacific, to Adak Island in the Aleutians. Alaska was not a state at the time and would not be until 1958. Backing up in his story, he went from Chicago to Rhode Island. He stayed in Rhode Island for a little while. He remembers it being Christmas eve, and he was listening to Bing Crosby sing “White Christmas.” His wife was back in Grand Rapids. They had moved back there before he left for the Navy. He remembers that Roosevelt came by Adak. It was the first time he had seen any President in his life. They all had to get their uniforms on and get out there to salute the President. Active Duty (18:30)                 He got out to Adak by taking the train from Davisville, RI cross-country. Two trains took about 1,100 people across the country. They had to pay for his meals. He did not pay for them while he was on the train, but was subsequently billed for it after. They arrived Los Angeles. From there, they took a train up to Seattle and from there took a boat out to the Aleutians. On the way, they stopped at the Dutch Harbor. They followed the islands as they got closer to Japan. They eventually landed at Adak. He remembers some of the ship ride out there. They traveled in a troop ship. Their dentist, a man by the name of Dempsey, was sick the entire ride out. (20:20) It was a rough sea, but it did not bother him. Although most submarines were in the Atlantic and had not quite made it to the Pacific, he still worried about them. They were ultimately brought out there to build airfields. He was at Adak for 21 months. He made his way back by troop ship. They were all excited to be back to see civilians, because there were not many people up where he was stationed. He remembers going under the Golden Gate Bridge in 1944 and he saw the lights. He then went to Camp Parks, outside of Oakland for reassignment and R&R. He was there for three weeks, before being reassigned to the Great Lakes Naval Hospital, where he made a significant contribution. (22:05) It was a 9,000 bed hospital, a very large hospital. They had great services and good staff. They lived on Lake Bluff for the next two years. Going back to Alaska, his life was very different from home. The nights were quite long and it was cold, however, since they were next to the sea, it was not too cold. However there was a lot of snow, which impeded the work they were doing. He lived in the Quonset Hut, with about six other officers from the Battalion. �                      He wrote to his wife every day, but sent it out every week at least. It took about 10 days to two weeks to get anything back, so he was always behind on information about the family. He had two sons in Chicago before he left. His daughter was born on Roosevelt’s birthday in 1941. His son, who became an M.D. was born on March 22, 1944. His third daughter, who is a teacher down in Georgia, was born in 1945. (25:15) They supplies that were received when he was in Alaska came by ship and by airplane. Any air travel happened after they built the airfields there. When they built the airfields, they first had to smooth out the area they were going to build on and then place metal tracks along the way. He was working as a Junior Medical Officer with the battalion. There was a Senior Medical Officer as well. It worked pretty well. They oversaw the 1,100 soldiers in their battalion and also saw others from the other Battalions that were there as well. They also had heavy equipment there. It was a struggle, but they managed to build both the airfields and hangars. The battalion that he was assigned to was made mostly of service people, such as plumbers and carpenters. The service people did their job a lot more efficiently than the civilians. This is because they were not as interested in getting the job done as the service people did, so they could get the job done and go back home. He has a map that shows what was going on in terms of the war. That map helped him follow the war. He learned what was going on in the war via the small radio that they had with them. (28:10) Although there was an Armed Forces Network, they mostly listened to Tokyo Rose. The truth was not always told, but it helped them to put different bits of news together to formulate an idea of what was really going on. He was head of the dispensary, the barber, the tailor shop and the shoe shop. He had to make sure that things were kept in order for these places. He also had a lot to do as a doctor. There was a sick bay building near the Quonset Hut. Most often people came in due to injuries and routine things. Most of the people there were older than most of the other recruits, and therefore subject to different diseases. After returning, he was able to move his family from a small apartment to a house in Lake Bluff. It was a pleasant time. After the war ended, he can recall quite vividly, there was a celebration. (30:40) He stayed in the Navy until January… he does not remember [1946?]. After he got out of the Navy, he immediately signed up for the reserves. He continued on with that until he retired in 1973. That required service once or twice a week during the Korean conflict and also into the Vietnam conflict. While he was in the reserves, he worked at an old Armory that was at the end of Wealthy St. in Grand Rapids. He was then moved into a newer building down on Monroe St. He was assigned to examine recruits from this area. � He remembers during the Korean conflict, he and a dentist friend signed up to help out, because the soldiers needed help. Other were sick of the Army and left. (33:27) Post Duty (33:30)               He gained a lot of experience from the Great Lakes Naval Hospital. At first he was in charge of one ward that held 44 beds, and soon he had to take over another one because he began to collect patients that had come back from over there. He had soldiers from each branch of service, but mostly dealt with Marines. The people that he cared for were the leftover problems that could not be dealt with by other doctors. In total, he had 84 beds to watch over. He saw a lot of chest infections and hemorrhaging. He also saw a lot of people from the camps there. One of the first things he truly noticed when he got back was the use of penicillin. It was a miraculous drug. (35:05) He got a lot of practical experience as a doctor from his time in the Naval Hospital. He did a lot of work cleaning out infected chest wounds, which became an increasing problem while he was there. The experience he got from those events specifically would help him in his work during his civilian life after. For tuberculosis at the time, the biggest thing that he could do as a doctor was to make sure that his patients got rest, and rested their lungs. Bed-rest was the prevailing treatment at the time. When penicillin was introduced, it was a miracle because it helped get the disease under control. Immigrants who sneak in these days still have some problems like this. He left the Navy in August. He used the accumulated vacation time he had to try and figure out where to go from there. He considered Minneapolis, and St. Paul, but ended up coming to Grand Rapids and opening up a clinic because he felt there was a great opportunity here. He believes that proved to be the case. Life in Grand Rapids (38:35)       His career in Grand Rapids began by him looking for a job. He got a hold some of the tuberculosis work that was being sent to Ann Arbor. He convinced the people to just keep the patients here in Grand Rapids. He knew some of the people in Ann Arbor, so he went over there to make sure that what he was doing was going to be ok with them. They approved his decision. He was eventually hired in at St. Mary’s Hospital, because they were the only ones who were willing to set up an isolation unit. He worked there from that point on, from January 1947. He then got ahold of another job at a prison. He knew that the doctor there had died, so he took care of the people there for about two years. Things got so busy that residents from Ann Arbor were sent over to help take care of his people at the hospital. (40:35) �                   He went to the prison in Ionia twice a week. It was an interesting experience. He started working with congenital heart defects right away at Blodgett, which he worked at before he got a job at the hospital. These patients were not being treated, so he went around advocating their treatment. Some of the blue babies died. He ended up collaborating with the children’s hospital in Chicago and began treating them too. It was quite interesting how things evolved. He was part of the Chest Club, which consisted of a dozen or so people from Chicago and himself who got together and discussed the issues at hand. They voted him secretary of the club, and he remained their secretary for 33 years. (43:28) They met twice a year and talked about what they were doing. They were innovating and experimenting on how they were building the heart/lung machine. They ended up creating the machine that would become part of routine today. November 11, 1958 was the day that they accomplished the first case. There is a machine on exhibit over in Blodgett. He had himself a partner at the time, who had worked in Chicago and came to join him in Grand Rapids in 1948. Since he was so busy, he was happy to accept his help. (45:30) For some of his work, he had to travel back to the University of Chicago to work in their laboratories, because they did not have one in Grand Rapids. He got another person, who just got out of residency in 1955, to join him in his work. Together they worked with dogs in the basement of Blodgett hospital. To ensure they did not bark, the dogs cords were cut. It was there that the first case was made in the cardiovascular system, in 1958. (47:28) From there, he continued to develop and improve the practice. He worked at Butterworth, Blodgett and St. Mary’s. He did occasional work at Butterworth, but denied the job offer they gave him. Gradually, the work moved to Blodgett and St. Mary’s, and he was able to get rid of his job at the prison. The Meijer Heart Center continues to do the work that he started. He knew Fred Meijer, his father used to cut his hair when he was a kid. It cost 25 cents. Other Medical Records (49:50)     He was cited as an innovator in the Physician’s Society at Spectrum Health. He was elected in 1949. As such, he attends certain meetings, luncheons that keep them up to date on what is going on, etc. During his time there, he became quite interested in tobacco. He knew it was harmful and started collecting information that dated back to 1925, when tobacco was under suspect of being harmful. (51:02) By 1952 he had a book that contained 17 pages about the harmful effects of tobacco. It is a multifaceted thing. It affects the repertory, gastro-intestinal and many other systems in the body via cancer, from the products that were put in tobacco. �               He began looking into the history of some smokers he knew and began recording their symptoms in 1948 He volunteered his services to the Michigan Air Pollution Commission. He knew the physician that worked there, and was offered a position there as well. While he was there, he got smoking out of the air commission. It was quite an accomplishment. He advocated getting it out of public places, like schools, libraries, etc. Even after he retired in 1983, he continues to go to schools to talk about smoking and its harmful effects. Now, 62 years after that, smoking is also now out of the work places. The tobacco industry was his biggest opposition. He believes they were completely fraudulent. They claimed that smoking was not harmful, but new research has proven that it indeed is. It also explains why it is so difficult to get a good set of lungs for transplant because 1/3 of our society still smokes today. (55:35) Now the number of smokers is reducing, but is still a problem today. It is a public health hazard. For those who smoke one pack of cigarettes a day, they lose 4.8 years of their life. It is doubled for those who smoke two packs a day. They also learned second-hand smoke effected people as well. He also feels the same of the gun lobby and the NRA. Unlike a person in Texas, he believes that students do not need to have guns on campus. (57:20) As a doctor, over the years, he and others would routinely get called out for emergency visits to the hospital. He saw gunshot wounds and stabbings. Today, you see more automobile accidents, not so much fighting. Also, emergency rooms have their own physicians. Things have also changed due to the introduction of new drugs. Tuberculosis is no longer a problem for most people. Instead the problems that arise are from immunities to drugs because too many of them have been used. (58:56) He has seen a lot of medical history. � 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 RasmussenR1078V Title A name given to the resource Rasmussen, Richard (Interview outline and video), 2011 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rasmussen, Richard Description An account of the resource Richard Rasmussen, born in 1913, grew up on a farm outside of Greenville, Michigan. After finishing high school, he attended Olivet College and the University of Chicago Medical School on scholarships. After receiving his medical degree, he was accepted into the Navy in 1938, but wound up going back to Chicago to train as a thoracic surgeon. He was still in training when Pearl Harbor happened, and in 1942 he entered the Navy. He was assigned to a Seabee battalion that trained in Rhode Island and was sent to Adak Island in the Aleutians, where he served over two years. Once back in the states, he began practicing in Grand Rapids and became part of the research group that developed the first heart/lung machine and became an early anti-smoking activist. 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 United States. Navy World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American 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 2011-02-22 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/33679c070784d809c464f00859fbc9a2.jpg 5e4ec906878d22a941f64ed44929adbf 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_LS00181 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 Rating current meter at Tientsin Description An account of the resource Black and white lantern slide of three men in a small boat guaging the canal water level. Subject The topic of the resource Lantern slides China Yellow River (China) 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