Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal narratives, American; Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Veterans -- Connecticut; United States. Marine Corps; Basic training (Military education); Military reconnaissance; Radio operators
Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Richard Smith enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1966 after a semester of college. He joined for a variety of reasons. Smith had his basic training on Parris Island (SC) which he vividly remembers...
World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Japan -- Okinawa Island; World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; United States. Marine Corps;
Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Busha enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on September 1, 1943. He chose the Marine Corps because of its reputation for "being the best", according to Busha. After basic training on Parris Island (SC), Busha...
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; United States. Coast Guard; General W.P. Richardson (Ship);
Interview conducted by Brett Bloom. John J. Donovan lived in the Frog Hollow neighborhood of Hartford, CT when he decided to join the military. He joined the Coast Guard and went to Sheepshead Bay, NY for basic training. After graduating from...
Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal narratives, American; United States. Coast Guard;
Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Christopher Wood joined the U.S. Coast Guard on July 14, 1969. He chose the Coast Guard because one of his friends had also enlisted, and he thought the chances of him going to Vietnam would be decreased. He...
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...
Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal narratives, American; World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Pacific Ocean; World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns --...
Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Norman J. Tailon enlisted into the U.S. Navy in 1944. At the time he was living in Bristol, CT. He attended basic training in Sampson N.Y, and then later was transferred to Key West (FL) for sonar training. He...
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Europe; United States. Army. Infantry; Browning automatic rifle; Sherman tank
Interview conducted by Jane Natoli. John T.W. Lawrence enlisted in the U.S. Army in September of 1944 just after his eighteenth birthday. He went to basic training in Camp Blanding (Fla.), and was trained as a replacement infantryman. Lawrence...
Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; United States. Coast Guard; United States. Coast Guard. Officer Candidate School;
Interview conducted by Michael Marinaro. Henry Singer joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1964 after receiving a draft notice. He decided on the Coast Guard because he would be eligible for OCS (Officer Candidate School) in this branch of the...
Iraq War, 2003- -- Personal narratives, American.; Iraq War, 2003- -- Veterans -- Connecticut; Black Hawk (Military Transport Helicopter); Patriot missile; September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001.; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews;
Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. JoelPatrick Leger enlisted in the U.S. Army two weeks before his 18th birthday, in December of 1997. He went to basic training in August of 1998, after graduation from high school, at Fort Jackson (SC)" He...
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives; War brides -- Australia; Marriage;
Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Thelma E. Symonds lived in Rockhampton, Australia, when she met her husband of over sixty years, Stanley Symonds. He was a member of the 41st Signal Company of the U.S. Army, and was stationed in Rockhampton...
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations, American; World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Europe; Ardennes, Battle of the, 1944-1945; B-17 bomber;
Interview conducted by Jane Natoli. John C. Taylor enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1942 while he was a sophomore in college. He was activated in February of 1943, and sent to basic training in Atlantic City, NJ. He was then sent to...
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...
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Europe; Vehicles, Military; United Service Organizations (U.S.); Queen Mary (Steamship)
Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Stuart W. Franklin enlisted in the United States Army in 1942. He had first applied for officer candidate school; however, he was called into active duty in September of 1942 after failing the test. He was...
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- France; Metz, Battle of, Metz, France, 1944; Armored vehicles, Military;
Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Niedermayer was drafted into the U.S. Army in April of 1943, while he was living in New Britain, Ct. He went to basic training at Camp Atterbury (IN), where he trained as an infantry soldier. However, after...
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narrative, American; Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Women; Military hospitals; Military nurses;
Interview conducted by Jane L. Natoli. Elaine Gemma was motivated to serve in the military after growing up hearing her uncle tell stories about his WWII Navy experiences. Her three brothers all served in the military and she joined the Air Force...
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; Women and the military; United States. Naval Reserve. Women's Reserve;
Interview conducted by Michelle Hannon. Constance Sullivan Collins Cain joined the WAVES, a branch of the U.S. Navy, in 1944 at the age of 20. She went to basic training at Hunter College in New York City, where the women underwent the rigors of...
Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; United States. Navy -- Sea life; Destroyers (Warships); United Service Organizations (U.S.);
Interview conducted by Jim Lyko. Richard Hill enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17, with his parent’s permission. Although World War II had ended, he was still anxious to join. He went to basic training at Camp Peary, Va., and from there...
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; United States. Army Air Corps; C-47 (Transport Plane); Flight crews;
Interview conducted by Jim Lyko. William Bormolini joined the U.S. Army Air Corps during Christmas break in his first semester of college. He was called into active duty in May of 1943, and went to basic training in Miami Beach, Fl. He then went...
World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Pacific Area; Military decorations;
Letter on behalf of the President of the United States awards Joseph S. Kulmacz the Air Medal stating, "His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service". Kulmacz was awarded the Air...
Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal narratives, American; Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews; Military education; Armed Forces Information School (U.S.)
Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Leon Sarin was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951, but because he was still in college, he was not ordered to report to basic training until 1952. After basic training at Camp Gordon for six weeks, he was...
