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: Burdette Parrott (Shorty)
Sgt. Shorty Parrott was a platoon leader in Company K, 168th Infantry, 34th Division - the “Red Bull Division”. He tells us about the November 8, 1942 amphibious invasion of Algiers, North Africa.
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World War II Veteran: Wilbur Tiffany
Wilbur Tiffany bought a car for $35 in 1942 and drove home to Independence, Iowa to enlist in the paratroopers. He ended up a sergeant with a heavy weapons platoon. Wilbur also tells us about Sylvan ... 16:58
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World War II Veteran: Kenneth Lubben (Ken)
Kenneth Lubben served in the Army as a PFC in the 546th Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion, called the coast artillery corps at the time. He served January 1943- January 1946.
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World War II Veteran: Phyllis Freymann Koopman
Phyllis served in the Waves as an Aviation Machinists Mate 3rd Class. The Navy opened to women in the summer of 1943, and Phyllis joined that fall, as soon as she turned 20.
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World War II Veteran: Clifford Perry
Cliff Perry served in the Army with the 36th mechanized cavalry. Cliff was the company clerk for two years. When they ran short of replacements, Corporal Perry lost his typewriter and gained a tank.
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World War II Veteran: Merton L. Jessen “Stub”
Stub Jessen served with the 28th Division, 707 tank battalion 110th infantry 1942 – 1945. He tells us about being captured following the Battle of the Bulge. He was one of 2000 prisoners forced to ...
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World War II Veteran: John Schnepf
John Schnepf served with the 11th Air Force as crew chief. John worked with the 54th Fighter Squadron in the Aleutian Islands.
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Iowans in World War II - Part 2 (Full Program) (#116)
Full Program: In the spirit of Ken Burns' PBS documentary "The War," Assignment Iowa is looking back at some of our most compelling stories of World War II - tales of Iowa men and women who helped preserve our liberties.... 27:45
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Iowans in World War II - Part 1 (Full Program) (#115)
Full Program: In the spirit of Ken Burns' PBS documentary "The War," Assignment Iowa is looking back at some of our most compelling stories of World War II - tales of Iowa men and women who helped preserve our liberties.... 27:45
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World War II Veteran: Maurice Hoxie
Maurice Hoxie enlisted in the Navy when he was 17. He worked in meteorology on the West coast, on a frigate in the Pacific, and then in Hawaii. All of the forecasts were sent in code, and the code ...
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World War II Veteran: Norm Kling
Norm Kling served in the Navy aboard the U.S.S. Sirago. He tells us about training and qualifications to serve aboard a submarine.
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World War II Veteran: Glenn Clark Underwood
Clark Underwood was a flight engineer aboard a B-17 on a bombing mission over Bordeaux, France. They were shot down and crashed in the Bay of Biscayne.
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World War II Veteran: Mary Adams
Mary Adams rode to Fort Des Moines in the back end of an open pickup truck on a cold December day to join the army. After basic training, she worked on Cape Cod, Massachusetts making up the orders for ...
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World War II Veteran: Ervin Bostwick
Ervin Bostick lived with his grandfather on a farm near Shenandoah and went to country school. He served aboard the USS New Orleans from 1938-1945.
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World War II Veteran: Vince "Pete" Conners
Pete Conners was called up February, 1941 with Company E along with 112 young men from Shenandoah.
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World War II Homefront: Helen Castle
Helen Castle was 19 years old when Company E from Shenandoah was called up. She talks about the parade of soldiers marching to the depot.
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World War II Veteran: Dr. Kenneth James Gee
Dr. Kenneth Gee and a small cadre of people built a 3,000 bed hospital in Batangas, Philippines. They trained medics at Camp Grant who assessed wounded in the field throughout the Philippine Islands.
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World War II Veteran: William "Bill" Tyner
Bill Tyner was a forward observer in the 928th field artillery battalion of the 103rd infantry division. He tells us about various skirmishes with the Germans before his battalion ended up in Austria.
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World War II Veteran: Luther Smith
In the skies over Italy, 24 year-old First Lieutenant Luther Smith of Des Moines, was on his second tour of duty.
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The War - A Ken Burns Film (Preview Clip)
THE WAR, a new seven-part documentary series directed and produced by Ken Burns, explores the history and horror of the Second World War from an American perspective. 01:30
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