Video: Collections: Iowa's WWII Stories
On December 7, 1941, the United States entered World War II. By the time the war ended on August 15, 1945, almost every person on earth was affected in one way or another. Iowans who were at home had major roles to play in winning the war as well. Their sacrifice helped determine what kind of conditions, both political and social, would exist once the war was over. More than 276,000 Iowans went into military service during World War II. 8,398 never returned. Iowa Public Television's collection of veteran's oral histories is a tribute to those Iowans who put their lives on hold for more than three years to fight against the Axis powers of Germany, Italy and Japan. This collection preserves the memories of some of those Iowans who served on the home front and the battlefront.
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World War II Veteran: Willis Haddix
Willis Haddix served as ground support attached to the second Air Corps in 1944 and 1945. He was attached to the quartermaster and worked in the laundry. 05:10
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World War II Veteran: Bob Benson
Bob Benson was farming with his father on 200 acres near Story City. The army deferred him. When it was his time to go, Bob joined the Navy and served aboard the U.S.S. Chincoteague, a seaplane tender ... 08:21
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World War II Veteran: Jack Smith
Jack Smith says his service really began in High School. He had 3 years of junior ROTC and knew he wanted to fly. He joined the Navy and flew Wildcats and Hellcats. 12:56
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World War II Veteran: Vincent Martinez
Vincent Martinez served as a first class petty officer 1943-1945. When the war ended, he liked the Navy, and reenlisted. During the war, he could not tell his parents where he was. He sent letters ... 02:02
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World War II Veteran: Maurice Vasquez
Maurice Vasquez served as a ship fitter second class on a net tender.They moved around the southern Solomon islands, Guadalcanal and Tulagi area in the Pacific securing harbors, putting out nets and laying ... 02:54
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World War II Veteran: Anthony Navarro
Anthony Navarro was born in Durango, Mexico. He was a Sergeant 1880 aviation engineers. He worked on the Burma Road in the China-Burma-India theater. 10:29
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World War II Veteran: Samuel A. Vasquez
Sam Vasquez was a sergeant with the 8th field artillery of the 25th infantry – the “Old Hawaiian Division”. He served at Luzon Island in the Philippines. Sam talks about the dangers of being in the jungles ... 08:14
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World War II Veteran: Elizes Chaves "Al"
Elizes Chaves was born and raised in Davenport. He volunteered for the service in September, 1942 because he was mad at the Japanese. He trained in aviation mechanics at Corpus Christi, Texas and then ... 07:50
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World War II Veteran: James Peavey
James Peavey was a professional tap dancer in Davenport before the War. He went to intelligence school, and was with the Eisenhower command. He worked in Washington D.C. and in Japan in counter intelligence.... 10:20
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World War II Veteran: Ivan W. Crees
Ivan Crees was a farm boy from Atalissa, Iowa. He served in Africa and Italy in the military police. 07:06
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World War II Veteran: Lonnie Conger
Lonnie Conger hitch-hiked 60 miles to Des Moines to enlist in the Navy. He trained as an aviation mechanic and served with the fighter squadron aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid. 10:18
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World War II Veteran: Robert Sullivan “Bob or Sully”
Sully tells us that patriotism was very high in the 40’s, and at 17, you don’t feel the war can be won without you. So he enlisted in the Marine Corps. 12:50
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World War II Veteran: Jerry Corrigan
Jerry Corrigan was the third oldest of 11 boys on the family farm north of Harper’s Ferry, Iowa. He tells us about the build-up in February 1945, toward the invasion of Japan. 09:14
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World War II Veteran: Don Cottrell
When Don Cottrell turned 17 he told his dad that he wanted to join the Navy, and to do it that very day. 05:44
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World War II Veteran: Francis Toale
Francis Toale joined the Navy on September 6, 1942 and served in the 4th division aboard the U.S.S. Idaho until November 1945, after the war was over. 06:06
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World War II Veteran: Vernon "Bud" Hall
Bud Hall was in the amphibious forces in the Navy from “44 to ’46. 09:44
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World War II Veteran: Marvin Boyenga
Marvin served with the 475th Infantry and the Mars Task Force in the China-Burma-India theater, although he had trained in horse cavalry. 10:38
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World War II Veteran: Dick Blunt
Dick Blunt served aboard the U.S.S. Sumner. He was part of the shakedown cruise to Bermuda. 08:06
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World War II Veteran: Ben Colson
Ben Colson tells us that he grew up in the Marine Corps, enlisting at 17 and learning to obey. His first taste of combat was as part of the third wave on Iwo Jima with the 4th Marine Division 25th battalion. ... 11:11
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World War II Veteran: George Temeyer
George Temeyer joined the Army and went overseas with the 28th division as a replacement in January, 1945. They didn’t even take time to issue a gun; they went straight to the front lines. 10:01
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