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: 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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World War II Veteran: Bill Watters
Bill Watters was a Master Sergeant in the Air Force. He was on O'ahu in Hawaii for a while. Then they transported him to Johnston Island, an Air Force landing strip. 07:25
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World War II Veteran: Darwin “Dar” F. Reber
The doctors told Dar Reber that he did not have enough sight to be accepted into the Air Force. That was not acceptable to Dar, so he insisted, asking to be let in at limited service. 09:01
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World War II Veteran: Ed Callanan
Ed Callanan joined the army on April Fool’s Day, 1942. He served with the 91st Cavalry Reconnaissance squadron. 08:16
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World War II Veteran: Art Gratias
June 6, 1944 has two memories for Art Gratias of Mason City. He had been married June 6, 1943. On his first wedding anniversary - D-Day - he went in to Omaha Beach with the 2nd infantry division as ...
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World War II Veteran: Willard Leon McCormick, Jr. (Mac)
Mac was in the 58th construction battalion, called the Seabees. After the Admiralty Islands, they joined the 6th Marine Division at Guadalcanal. Mac was with the heavy equipment. 14:17
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World War II Veteran: James Van Ginkel (Jim)
Jim Van Ginkel was a 1st Lieutenant with the Army Air Corps, 8th Air Force, stationed in England. He did a tour as co-pilot then pilot with a crew of 10 on a B-24 bomber from summer 1942 – December 1945. ... 10:57
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World War II Veteran: Martin R. Grandquist (Marty)
Marty Grandquist knew that he was going to be in the military as a child. He is a three wars veteran, serving in the Marine Corps, Army and Air Force 1943 – 1972. 08:52
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World War II Veteran: Curt Bauer
Curt Bauer of Ames, Iowa served in the Navy 1944 – 1946 aboard a supply ship to the Seabees. 07:59
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World War II Veteran: Edward O’Connor
Ed O’Connor found it difficult to study engineering at Iowa State in 1942 with the draft just around the corner. So he enlisted in the parachute troops and was inducted into the Army at Camp Dodge. ... 11:51
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World War II Veteran: Leo Soderholm
Leo Soderholm was assigned to the 411th AAA gun battalion as their radar officer. 10:14
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World War II Veteran: Michael Cervantes
Michael Cervantes was in General George Patton’s 3rd army. His service in Europe 1943-1945 includes the Battle of the Bulge.
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