eHistory at OSU | Primary Sources

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(re)collections
"collections + (re)collections" is based on the memories of William Yenofsky, an 89-year-old American veteran of World War II. The timeline spans from his 1940 induction into the Armed Forces, through the harrowing Anzio invasion of 1944, to the final liberation of Dachau in 1945

Return to Vietnam (Scott Laidig)
In 2008 Scott Laidig returned to Vietnam for the first time since the war as part of the 2d Battalion, 4th Marines (2/4) 40th Anniversary Return to Vietnam Tour.

Chu Lai, South Vietnam, at the 3rd Battalion 7th Marine LZ (Joseph P. Carey - Vietnam War)
I do not really know if this is the right thing to do, but I was asked to write about how I received the Bronze Star by my kids. I thought about it, and I told them that I would be too embarrassed to do that, as it would sound like bragging, but one day I started typing and this is my story.

Battle for Dong Ha (Major Frank Breth - Vietnam War)
First person account by Frank Breth, Major S-3 3/9 who was present on April 30, 1968.

Battle for Okinawa, 24 March -30 June 1945 (Frederick Julian Becton - World War II)
Recollections of Commander Frederick Julian Becton, USN, Commanding Officer of the destroyer USS Laffey (DD-724) which, despite being struck by eight Japanese suicide (kamikaze) aircraft on 16 April 1945, did not sink.

U.S. Navy Nurse in the Pacific Theater during World War II (Ann Bernatitus - World War II)
Recollections of CAPT Ann Bernatitus, NC, USN, (Ret.), recounting her, service in the Philippines including Bataan, evacuation from Corregidor on USS Spearfish (SS-190); and service on USS Relief (AH-1) during the Okinawa campaign and the return of American prisoners of war from Japanese-occupied China.

Invasion of Normandy, 6 - 25 June 1944 (Joseph H. Gibbons - World War II)
Invasion of Normandy, 6 - 25 June 1944. Recollections of Lieutenant Commander Joseph H. Gibbons, USNR, Commanding Officer of U.S. Navy Combat Demolitions Units in Force 'O' during combat operations on Omaha Beach during and after the D-day landings.

The Sinking of USS Indianapolis (Lewis L. Haynes - World War II)
Recollections of the sinking of USS Indianapolis (CA-35) by CAPT Lewis L. Haynes, MC (Medical Corps) (Ret.), the senior medical officer on board the ship.

Battle of the Atlantic, 1941-1945 (Basil D. Izzi - World War II)
Battle of the Atlantic, 1941-1945 Recollections of Seaman Second Class Basil D. Izzi, USNR, an Armed Guard crew member on the Dutch merchant ship SS Zaandam which was torpedoed by German submarine U-174 off the coast of Brazil. He was rescued after 83 days adrift on a raft, 2 Nov 1942 - 24 Jan 1943.

The Sinking of USS Indianapolis (Charles B. McVay - World War II)
The Sinking of USS Indianapolis Recollections of Captain Charles B. McVay, III, USN, Commanding Officer of USS Indianapolis (CA-35) which was sunk by Japanese submarine I-58 on 30 July 1045 near the Philippines

Battle of Guadalcanal, 1942-1943 (Louis Ortega - World War II)
Battle of Guadalcanal, 1942-1943. Excerpt from Oral History of Pharmacist's Mate First Class Louis Ortega, With the Marines at Guadalcanal.

Iwo Jima Flag Raising (John H. Bradley - World War II)
Recollections of the flag raising on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima by Pharmacist Mate Second Class John H. Bradley, USN, with the 5th Marine Division.

Battle of the Atlantic, 1941-1945 (Dudley S. Knox - World War II)
Battle of the Atlantic, 1941-1945 Recollections of Lieutenant Commander Dudley S. Knox, USNR, on destroyer escort USS Chatelain (DE-149), of the sinking of German submarines U-515 and U-68 off Madeira Island on 9 and 10 April 1944.

Oral History of Captain Joseph W. Kinzer, US Army (Joseph W. Kinzer - Vietnam War)
U.S. advisor Joseph Kinzer discusses his role in advising South Vietnamese units and his role in the lifting of the siege of Khe Sanh.

Oral History of Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Smith (Douglas Smith - Vietnam War)
In an interview with Army officials at the end of his tour in Vietnam, Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Smith talks about the use of mechanized infantry and the development of junior officers.

Alan and the Water Buffalo (Alan Michael Tanguay - Vietnam War)
The last day of Alan Michael Tanguay, a Private First Class of the United States Marine Corps, was no different than any other day for any other Marine in Lance Corporal Barone’s Fireteam of the 1st Platoon of Kilo Company the Third Battalion of the Seventh Marines, in Chu Lai, Vietnam. There was nothing very special that would differentiate Alan from the other Marines he served with, and the best that could be said about Alan was that he was a Marine, and that did his job so very well with honor to the very end. And, of course, there was the water buffalo incident.

Oral Histories