Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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William Wilkerson

WWII | A Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Regiment, 3rd Marine Division

In the chaotic aftermath of Iwo Jima, William Wilkerson and his unit hitched a ride back to Guam without any orders. There were no officers left in the outfit to give them. (9:26)
William Wilkerson explains how Japanese gunners on Iwo Jima achieved their pinpoint accuracy. He laments accidentally shooting Korean civilians and gives a surprising take on the iconic raising of the flag. Part 2/2 (10:28)
Taking Guam felt good to William Wilkerson because it reclaimed a U.S. possession. Then when a Japanese admiral was captured, his unit witnessed a surprising and puzzling reunion. (8:36)
The arrest and imprisonment of Tokyo Rose did not sit well with Marines who enjoyed her broadcasts. What other entertainment did they have? (2:29)
Even in a war, William Wilkerson was able to appreciate beauty around him. Intricate spider webs, jungle orchids and old Lutheran churches caught his eye. (3:13)
His first duty on Guadalcanal was to swim out and meet cargo ships. William Wilkerson then learned to keep a lizard under his mosquito net and got busted back to private. (9:40)
On Bougainville, William Wilkerson got the jump on Japanese troops as they were cooking breakfast. An iron ore deposit played havoc with compasses and a sniper incident took a disturbing turn. (13:05)
Willie Lindsey

WWII | 23rd Infantry Regiment, 69th Infantry Division

It was September of 1944 when Willie Lindsey was drafted and sent for infantry training at Camp Blanding. They had good experienced men training the draftees and he felt it helped him greatly when he got into combat. It didn't help him at all, though, when the man next to him on the grenade course dropped a live grenade at his feet (5:17)
After a short Christmas leave, Willie Lindsey shipped out for Europe. His unit was being rushed into place because the Battle of the Bulge had the Allied commanders worried. Even before they got ashore, they lost a man to the cold waters of the English Channel. (4:37)
Willie Lindsey arrived in France just as the Battle of the Bulge was winding down. His unit moved across France towards the action, but the cold was his primary enemy at this time. He could hear the Screaming Mimi's but they all went overhead. (5:24)