Oral history interview with Norman C. Southergill recorded on 2005 June 17

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Title	Oral history interview with Norman C. Southergill recorded on 2005 June 17
Description	Interview conducted by Eileen Hurst. Southergill was drafted into the U.S. Army in March of 1943. He originally volunteered for the Army Air Corps; however, the army placed him in an engineering battalion instead. Southergill was a tool keeper, and he was sent to West Virginia to train in combat engineering. His unit specialized in building temporary bridges, laying mines, and sweeping mines. From West Virginia, his unit went to Fort Dix, and subsequently sailed to Gloucester, England on the Queen Mary, which took 11 days. Southergill stayed in England for six months while his battalion did additional training and built an airport. In July of 1944, his unit landed in Normandy, where they maintained the roads and bridges that were under U.S. control. It was at this time that his unit became part of Patton's third army, and the soldiers constructed miles of bridges across France and Germany. After the war in Europe ended, Southergill was transferred to an artillery unit, where he was charged with building a garage using the labor of German prisoners of war. When he was discharged in November of 1945, he returned to Connecticut, and learned how to paint, among other skills, on the G.I. Bill. He also wrote a book about his experiences in the army and became a second lieutenant in the CT State Guard. Southergill has kept in touch with his battalion through annual reunions.
Coverage	1943-1945
Date Original	06/17/2005
Digital Format	video/x-ms-wmv
Duration	01:53:24
Contributors	Hurst, Eileen
Software	Windows Media Player required for viewing
Access Restrictions and Permissions	No access restrictions. For permission to reproduce contact Central Connecticut State University, Center for Public Policy and Social Research at (860) 832-2976
Image Identifier	VHP2005/7.IVa
Creator/Owner	Southergill, Norman Clarence
War or Conflict	World War, 1939-1945
Branch of Service	United States. Army
Unit of Service	United States Army. 150th Combat Engineer Battalion.
Rank	Private
Status	Veteran
Subject	World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American Veterans -- Connecticut -- Interviews United States. Army. Engineer Combat Battalion, 150th World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Germany Prisoners of war -- Germany Armed forces -- Insignia
Geographic Location	Fort Devens (Mass.) Fort Dix (N.J.) France Germany England
Publisher	Central Connecticut State University. Center for Public Policy and Social Research
Language	eng
Relation	Veterans History Project (U.S.)
Type of Resource	Moving image
Citation	Norman C. Southergill Papers. VHP2005/7. Veterans History Project; Central Connecticut State University, Center for Public Policy and Social Research.
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Oral history interview with Norman C. Southergill recorded on 2005 June 17

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