World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Italy; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; Airplanes -- American; Bombardier (Motion picture); United States. Air Force -- Aviation mechanics
Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Francis "Jim" Vail enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in September of 1942. He was living in Stafford Springs, CT at the time, and applied to be a pilot. Although, he failed the eye test, he wanted to remain...
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; Ardennes, Battle of the, 1944-1945; Queen Mary (Steamship); World War, 1939-1945 -- Prisoners and prisons, German; United States. Army. Infantry; United...
Interview conducted by Jane Natoli. William M. Blair Jr. was drafted into the U.S. Army in March of 1943. He was living in Waterbury, Ct. at the time, and working as a messenger in a bank. He went to basic training in Fort Sheridan, Ill. near...
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Pacific Ocean; World War, 1939-1945 -- Medical care; Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal narratives, American; United...
Interview conducted by Vincent Roche. Donald Martin was drafted into the U.S. Navy in the spring of 1944. He went to Bainbridge, MD for basic training, and then received an addition 12 weeks of specialized training as a navy hospital corpsman. ...
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; Military reconnaissance; Purple Heart; United States. Army. Special Forces; Tet Offensive, 1968; Ho Chi Minh Trail; Veterans -- United States -- Mental...
Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. William Phillips joined the U.S. Army in 1963 at the age of 18, with the goal of having a career in the military. He attended basic training at Fort Jackson, SC which lasted for 12 weeks. He then went to Fort...
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- France -- Normandy; Airplanes -- American; Purple Heart; Distinguished Flying Cross (Medal); Silver Star;
Interview conducted by Laura May Lachance and Benjamin Setelle. Jesse M. Harrison volunteered for the U.S. Air Force in 1942. He passed the required tests and attended flight school at Randolph Field, in San Antonio, TX. He aspired to be a...
United States. National Guard Bureau; Iraq War, 2003- -- Personal narratives, American.; Veterans -- Massachusetts -- Interviews; Veterans -- United States -- Mental health; Abu Ghraib Prison; Post-traumatic stress disorder;
Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Richard Vickery joined the Army National Guard in 1981, at the age of 17. He went to basic training Fort Benning (Ga.), which he describes as the “gateway to hell”. After basic training he finished high...
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; United States. Navy -- African American troops; Armed Forces -- Officers; Sabine (Ship); World War, 1939-1945 -- African Americans
Interview conducted by Jeanne Christie. Albert C. Stewart was drafted into the U.S. Navy in 1945, after graduating from the University of Chicago. He went to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station and was one of a select group of African American...
B-24 bomber; United States. Air Force -- Airmen; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Italy; World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives;
Interview with James P. Hurst conducted by Eileen Hurst. Hurst enlisted in the Air Force at the age of 17 with the hope of becoming a pilot. He attended basic training in Biloxi, Miss. and then later attended college-level training at UMASS...
Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Italy; United States. Army. Quartermaster Corps; Lend-lease operations (1941-1945)
Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Louis H. Cohen enlisted in the National Guard in 1940 just before the draft began. In September of 1940, when the National Guard was federalized, he became part of the U.S. Army. He went to Camp Blanding, FL...
Persian Gulf War, 1991 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; United States. Marine Corps; Infantry;
Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Eric Eaton enlisted in the Marine Corps the day after his 16th birthday in 1985. Because of his young age he had to sign up for the delayed entry program, which meant that he wouldn't go to boot camp until his...
Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Pacific Area; United States. Navy; Merchant marine -- United States; Mitchum, Robert; U.S.S. Los Angeles (Baltimore...
Interview conducted by Joseph Fish. Thur Hewitt wanted to join the United States Navy at the age of 16. However, because of age restrictions, he had to alter the date of birth on his birth certificate in order to join. When he was found out, the...
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; United States. Army Air Corps; Communications, Military; Bomb squad; B-17 bomber;
Interview conducted by Ryan P. Kelley. George R. Kelley enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in July of 1942 upon graduating from high school. Although he originally wanted to join the U.S. Navy, he notes that it was a positive move for...
Tarawa (Aircraft Carrier: CV-40); United States. Navy -- Firemen; World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American
Interview conducted by Jane L. Natoli. Sarando Giftos enlisted in the naval reserves in March of 1945, and was called into active duty just a month later. He went to the Sampson Naval training station in New York for his basic training, and then...
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; United States. Navy -- Medical care; Military hospitals; United States -- Armed Forces -- Civic action;
Interview conducted by Cynthia Tremaglio. Vincent F. Tremaglio was commissioned by the U.S. Navy in April of 1966. He was in his first year of residency at a hospital in New York City at the time. Because he was commissioned as a lieutenant and...
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; World War, 1939-1945 -- Women; Iwo Jima, Battle of, Japan, 1945; Military nursing -- United States -- History; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews;
Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Katherine Leahy enlisted in the U.S. Navy, as a nurse in 1934. She lived in Bridgeport, CT at the time. Before joining the Navy she was a registered nurse working in a public hospital. She graduated with...
American Red Cross; American Red Cross. Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas; Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal narratives, American; Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Women;
Interview conducted by Timothy H. Jones. Jeanne M. Christie grew up in Wisconsin and joined the Red Cross to work in Vietnam. She describes herself as naïve at the time and unaware of the full extent of what was happening in the war. Her job...
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Iwo Jima; World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Japan -- Okinawa Island; United States. Coast Guard. Combat Veterans;...
Interview conducted by Jim Lyko. Nicholas P. Greci joined the U.S. Coast Guard after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He went to basic training in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY. He was then sent to St. Augustine, FL for beach patrol duty. Greci...
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; Military discharge; Enterprise (Aircraft carrier : CVA(N) 65)
Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Joseph Niedermayer enlisted in the United States Navy in October of 1971. He chose the navy because his draft number was very low, and he wanted to choose the branch of service that he would be a part of...
United States. Army -- Military life; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; Persian Gulf War, 1991 -- Personal Narratives, American; Military nursing;
Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Mark D. Levine joined the U.S. Army in 1981, at the age of 31. He was a ninth grade Physical Education teacher at the time, but he had grown up in a military environment, and decided that the education and...
