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: 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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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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