World War II Veteran: Michael Cervantes
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Collection: Iowa's WWII Stories
Michael Cervantes was in General George Patton’s 3rd army. His service in Europe 1943-1945 includes the Battle of the Bulge. Michael’s brother Leonard was in General Bradley’s army, and his oldest brother Jack was in the Pacific fighting the Japanese. Michael tells us that during the War, his Mother and sisters went to the cathedral San Juan de los Lagos in Mexico. They made their way from the front gates to the doors of the church on their knees praying that all three would come back from the war. They did.
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Post Date: September 20, 2007
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World War II Veteran: Bob Benson
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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 ... 12:56
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World War II Veteran: Vincent Martinez
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World War II Veteran: Maurice Vasquez
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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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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: Willis Haddix
Willis Haddix served as ground support attached to the second Air Corps in 1944 and 1945. He was attached to the quartermaster ... 05:10
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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 ... 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 ... 11:11
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World War II Veteran: George Temeyer
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World War II Veteran: Bill Watters
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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 ... 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 ...
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World War II Veteran: Willard Leon McCormick, Jr. ...
Mac was in the 58th construction battalion, called the Seabees. After the Admiralty Islands, they joined the 6th Marine ... 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 ... 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 ... 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 ... 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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Now Playing
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World War II Veteran: Burdette Parrott (Shorty)
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World War II Veteran: Wilbur Tiffany
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World War II Veteran: Kenneth Lubben (Ken)
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World War II Veteran: Clifford Perry
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World War II Veteran: Vince "Pete" Conners...
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World War II Veteran: Dr. Kenneth James Gee
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World War II Veteran: William "Bill" Tyner...
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World War II Veteran: Billy M. Amos (Bill)
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World War II Veteran: Harold Lamont Schoolen
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World War II Veteran: Donald R. Vaughn (Don)
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World War II Veteran: Richard Henneman
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World War II Veteran: Richard O. Keep (Dick)
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World War II Veteran: Robert A. Helgerson (Bob)
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World War II Veteran: Aurelio Barron
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World War II Veteran: Henry Leonard
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World War II Veteran: Glenn McDole
McDole was at the Cavite Naval Base in the Philippines when the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor began. Because the Philippines ...
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World War II Veteran: Galen Kittleson
In early 1945, 20-year old Galen Kittleson from St. Ansgar was stationed in the Philippines as part of an elite unit called ...
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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 ...
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World War II and the Home Front: Ed Tubbs
To help win the fight from the home front, the U.S. government asked its citizens to increase production of everything from ...
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World War II Veteran: Dean Lettington
As part of the 559th Field Artillery Battalion, Lettington had spent the last few months fighting across France.
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World War II and the Home Front: Working at Maytag ...
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World War II and the Home Front: Jeanne Ersland and ...
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World War II Veteran: John Phillips
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World War II Veteran: Malcolm Amos
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World War II Veteran: Paul Aschbrenner
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World War II Veteran: Ray Schleihs
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World War II and the Home Front: Rex Holmes
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World War II Veteran: Russell Smith
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World War II Veteran: Ruth Miller
After being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Ruth Miller was assigned to the 110th Evacuation Hospital and sent to Europe ...
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World War II Veteran: Thelma Kardon
For some, joining the service was a chance to relocate. Thelma Kardon, formerly Sherman, was a 21 year-old native of Chelsea, ...
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World War II Veteran: Verle Buck
Technician Fourth Grade Verle Buck, a 21-year old from Jubilee, had been drafted in January of 1943 and was now a part of ...
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World War II and the Home Front: Vivian Schleihs Builds ...
During some of the breaks between flying missions there was time for relaxation and, of course, letter writing, the most ...
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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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