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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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Displaying 81 to 85 of 85 results.

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World War II Veteran: Elvin Moritz

Moritz and other members of the 168th were surrounded by German troops at the Battle of Faid Pass in February of 1943. Major Robert Moore of Villisca was in command of the more than 900 men cut-off from ...
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World War II Veteran: John Phillips

In January of 1945, 22 year-old John Phillips of Waterloo was part of a group of replacement troops sent to the 106th Infantry Division fighting the Battle of the Bulge. After taking the town of Medell, ...
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World War II Veteran: Al Rolfes

After landing on Saipan in June of 1944, First Lieutenant Al Rolfes had dug in above Tannipeg harbor.
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World War II Veteran: Ray Schleihs

In April of 1944, 27-year old Second Lieutenant Ray Schleihs of Johnston, was starting his overseas tour of duty. Schleihs had joined the Army Air Corps in March of 1942 and was now piloting B-17 Flying ...
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World War II and the Home Front: Vivian Schleihs Builds Aircraft in Des Moines

During some of the breaks between flying missions there was time for relaxation and, of course, letter writing, the most common long distance communication device of the day. Back in Iowa, Ray Schleihs' ...