Synopsis of oral history interview with Wallace A. Kline.

              Video Log
Wallace “Wally” Kline
US Marine Corps
World War II
b. 2.24.20
Interviewed on 1.27.09 by
Leslie Koons
0:00.07 introduction, born 2.24.20. WWII US Marine Corp Corporal. Served in Parris Island, SC, and VA.
00.27 service from 7.21.44 to 1.1.47
00.55 why Wally enlisted with Marines
02:00 taught to kill, not wound enemy
02:50 description of Japanese capture and interrogation
04:15 if a Marine was captured, quickest death was be-heading
04:40 reference to torture and Guantanamo
05:10 description of first days, travel by train to Parris Island
06:40 on enlisting: “If other guys have done it, I could do it”, doubts
07:34 never walked anywhere, either ran or marched
08:23 Boot camp for three months, furlough to be with wife, then Quantico, VA
10:30 outsourced to guard duty guarding radar equipment
14:00 Hangar full of F4U Corsair fighter planes
15:40 Marines on ground would make arrows out of bed sheets pointing to enemy
16:20 Igor Sikorsky was boss whilst working at Sikorsky before war
17:20 Made helicopter parts at Sikorsky
17:48 Igor Sikorsky convinced Army and Navy to use helicopters in war effort
18:20 Description of Mr. Sikorsky’s demonstration of helicopter
20:37 Ability to raise helicopter by just one inch whilst hovering over ground
21:20 Helicopter was invented to save lives
23:37 Description of first days after boot camp.
24:00 Made windshields out of Plexiglas for Piper Cubs
26:27 Began repairing aluminum on planes but realized it was wrong approach
32:42 Finally told master sergeant how to do it right
38:50 asked to go to Quantico to determine why a Corsair nose-dived into ground
44:10 description of his time at mess duty
45:10 story of leaving the potatoes on peeler all night long
46:45 description of rifle range. Had to re-qualify each year
48:00 shooting-training explanation
49:00 three weeks spent on rifle range
50:30 1st Sergeant made him go home to wife every night