Interview with Walter D. Huddleston, September 26, 2001

Partial Transcript: Senator, since we last talked, the world changed dramatically for us didn't it? With the World Trade Center and the Pentagon?

Segment Synopsis: Birdwhistell and Huddleston discuss the recent events of 9/11 that had occurred since their last interview together. Birdwhistell asks Huddleston to talk about his morning on September 11th. Huddleston states that he thinks September 11, 2001 will be a day like Pearl Harbor, one that will live in infamy. Huddleston describes his activities that day and the feeling from thinking the attack was an accident to knowing it was a terror attack. He discusses the differences between threats of terrorism in 2001 versus when he was a senator and gives his criticisms of how the U.S. handles terrorism. Huddleston believes that, although he admired President Carter, the handling of the Iran hostage crisis is what has contributed to an increase in terrorist activity in the U.S. Huddleston believes that secret agents will play a large part in the war on terrorism and that the biggest problem that leaders will face is where to draw the line on world terrorism. He discusses the need to combat the activities of terrorist organizations in the middle east against Israel and the support they receive from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iran, but notes the issue of needing to maintain support from Egypt and Saudi Arabia in the region. Huddleston talks about his experience on the Senate Intelligence Committee during the Cold War, and says he developed a feeling that a great amount of what was going on was a charade kept up by the US and USSR. He adds that he thinks the USSR and US were not actually each other’s greatest enemies and mentions that KGB agents were present at many meetings in Washington DC despite the awareness of the US that they were there. Birdwhistell comments that many people are connecting the events of 9/11 to the consequences of the Post-WWII era, the establishment of Israel and the its thorny conflict with Palestine. Birdwhistell and Huddleston discuss President George W. Bush’s administration and his reactions to the September 11 terrorist attacks so far.

Keywords: 9/11; 9/11 terrorist attacks; Bush administration; Carter administration; Cold War; Combating terrorism; Espionage; Forgery; George Bush; George W. Bush; George Walker Bush; International cooperation; Iran Hostage Crisis; Israel-Palestine conflict; James Earl Carter Jr.; Jimmy Carter; Middle east; Post-Cold War; Recognition of Israel; Senate Intelligence Committee; September 11 terrorist attacks; September 11, 2001; September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks; September 11th; September 11th terrorist attacks; September 11th, 2001; September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks; Soviet Union; Terrorism; Terrorist attacks; Terrorist organizations; USSR

Subjects: Bush, George W. (George Walker), 1946-; Bush, George W., (George Walker), 1946-; Carter, Jimmy, 1924-; Cold War.; Espionage, American; Espionage.; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; International cooperation.; Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981.; Israel/Palestine; Kentucky--Politics and government; Kentucky--Politics and government--1951-; Kentucky--Politics and government.; September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001; September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001.; Terrorism.; United States. Congress. Senate.; War on Terror 2001-2009; War on Terrorism, 2001-2009; War on Terrorism, 2001-2009--Political aspects; War on Terrorism, 2001-2009.

Partial Transcript: We need to get back this morning--this, uh, this is September 26th, 2001.

Segment Synopsis: Birdwhistell and Huddleston return to the point they ended on in their previous interview, starting at when Huddleston’s family moved to Jeffersontown, Kentucky. Huddleston talks about his experience of learning of the attack on Pearl Harbor, explaining that he and a friend had been hiking in the area around Monticello, Kentucky and did not hear about the attack until returning home to find everyone huddled around the radio. He is not sure if he understood the implications at the time, but knew about the discussions of war and the ongoing war in Europe. Huddleston states that he didn’t anticipate that he would ever be involved in the war at the time because he thought it would be over by the time he came of age. He describes classmates leaving school and enlisting in the army. Birdwhistell comments that Huddleston’s entire world must have changed, mentioning rationing. Huddleston agrees, discussing how defense jobs opened up and the migration of people from small towns to work in factories in cities. Huddleston says that his family left Monticello in the midst of the war being waged in 1942. Birdwhistell asks Huddleston about living in the small town of Jeffersontown and the association of it with Louisville, Kentucky. Huddleston responds that he really liked the area and the people, it was completely different from the towns that he had been living in. Huddleston talks about the school districts in the area and mentions that his father was pastor of two churches in Jeffersontown, a Jeffersontown Church and Fern Creek United Methodist Church in the Fern Creek suburb of Louisville. Huddleston describes their home as an old house in the middle of Jeffersontown and says that he walked to school despite there being school buses. Huddleston says that he had an advantage at the school because his cousin was a teacher and basketball coach there.

Keywords: Attack on Pearl Harbor; Children of Methodist ministers; Children of Methodist pastors; Children of Methodist preachers; Children of clergy; Fern Creek United Methodist Church; High schools; Housing; Louisville mayors; Methodist churches; Methodist families; Methodists; Neighborhoods; Pearl Harbor attack; Pearl Harbor--WWII; Public schools; School transport; School transportation; Schools; WWII; WWII impacts on civilian life; WWII impacts on civilian life in the US; Wilson W. Wyatt; Wilson Wyatt; World War II; World War Two

Subjects: Children of clergy; Fern Creek (Ky.); Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Jefferson County (Ky.); Jeffersontown (Ky.); Kentucky--Politics and government; Kentucky--Politics and government--1951-; Kentucky--Politics and government.; Louisville (Ky.); Mayors; Methodist Church; Methodist Church.; Methodists; Monticello (Ky.); Pearl Harbor (Hawaii); Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941; Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941.; Public schools; Wayne County (Ky.); World War, 1939-1945; World War, 1939-1945.

Partial Transcript: Basketball was ready to start. I went out for basketball and, uh, made the team.

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston talks about playing high school basketball, remarking on his size, the positions he played, and how successful his team was. He talks about their opponents, adding that he played at most schools in the Jefferson County, Kentucky area. He talks about other teams' coaches and players who went on to have successful careers both in basketball and in other fields.

Keywords: Anchorage, Louisville (Ky.); Basketball; Basketball conferences; High school basketball; Jeffersontown High School; Middletown (Ohio); Middletown High School; North Central Kentucky Conference; Oz Johnson; Paul Walker; Peck Hitman; Valley High School; Valley Station, Louisville (Ky.)

Subjects: Basketball; Basketball coaches; Basketball coaches--Kentucky; Basketball coaches--United States; Basketball players--Kentucky; Basketball--History; Basketball--History.; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Jefferson County (Ky.); Jeffersontown (Ky.); Louisville (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: So when I, uh, was twice-named to that conference and my graduation was approaching, um, Coach Rupp contacted my coach to see if he thought I would be interested in coming to Kentucky.

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston says that the University of Kentucky’s basketball coach, Adolph Rupp, had attempted to recruit Huddleston before he graduated, but he had already been enlisted in the military by that time. Huddleston brings up playing basketball in the army after the war had ended with the 38th infantry team at Camp Swift, TX. When he came back to attend school at the University of Kentucky, Huddleston went to see Rupp in the chance that he remembered him and was invited to participate in large scrimmages with over a hundred other potential players. Huddleston explains the process that Rupp used to cut people from tryouts, mentioning that he lasted for the first three days before being cut. Huddleston comments that he became a sports broadcaster for the University of Kentucky’s radio station and was given permission by Rupp to watch him coach the basketball team as well as permission from Paul “Bear” Bryant to watch him coach the football team. Birdwhistell asks Huddleston what he makes of the controversial person that Rupp has become. Huddleston describes Rupp’s demeanor and character, and tells several stories about his interactions with Rupp including discouraging Rupp from entering politics. Birdwhistell asks Huddleston what he makes of the race issue surrounding Rupp’s career legacy. Huddleston briefly discusses his impressions of former UK football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.

Keywords: 38th infantry basketball team; Adolph Rupp; Army basketball; Basketball; Bear Bryant; Camp Swift (Tex.); College basketball; Football; Military basketball; Paul "Bear" Bryant; Race; Race issues; Racism in basketball; Tobacco; U.S. agriculture committees; UK basketball; UK basketball team; UK football; UK football team; UK sports broadcasting; University basketball; University of Kentucky basketball; University of Kentucky basketball team; University of Kentucky football; University of Kentucky football team; University of Kentucky sports broadcasting

Subjects: Basketball; Basketball coaches; Basketball coaches--Kentucky; Basketball coaches--United States; Basketball players--Kentucky; Basketball--History; Basketball--History.; Bryant, Paul W.; Camp Swift (Tex.); Football coaches; Football coaches--United States; Football.; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Kentucky Wildcats (Basketball team); Kentucky--Politics and government; Kentucky--Politics and government--1951-; Kentucky--Politics and government.; Racism in sports.; Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977; Segregation--Basketball; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Basketball; University of Kentucky--Basketball--History; University of Kentucky--Football

Partial Transcript: We'll come back to your, uh, to your college days and, uh, deal with that in m--in some more detail.

Segment Synopsis: Birdwhistell returns to the subject of life in Jeffersontown, Kentucky and asks Huddleston to tell him about his time as a high school student. Huddleston replies that he was an average student, pointing out that there wasn’t as much of an emphasis on grades back then to get into college, but otherwise he was an ordinary student. He says that he had good teachers and that he enjoyed mathematics, mentioning that he did very well in trigonometry. Huddleston also says that he was interested in history and English. Birdwhistell asks about Huddleston’s social life at school. Huddleston responds that it was excellent, commenting that most people there ran in the same social circles and there was never alcohol or drugs at any parties he attended. He talks about attending shows at theaters in Louisville, working for money to go to the shows, and his interactions with his future wife while in high school. Birdwhistell remarks that World War II was occurring while Huddleston was in high school, and Huddleston says that his brothers were already in the service by the time his family arrived in Jeffersontown. He explains that his brother Earl was a radio operator in the pacific and his brother Charles was enlisted after working for a few months in Jeffersontown. Birdwhistell asks Huddleston what was going through his mind when he was about to graduate high school, realizing that he was most likely going to be drafted into the military.

Keywords: Adolescent dating; Bus systems; Cinemas; City transportation; Dating; Enlistment; High school dating; High school graduation; High school jobs; High school parties; High school social life; High schools; Jeffersontown High School; Kroger; Louisville movie theaters; Louisville music theaters; Louisville theaters; Military draft; Military enlistment; Movie theaters; Music theaters; Part-time jobs; School social life; School subjects; The draft; Theater entertainers; Theaters; WWII; World War II; World War Two

Subjects: Bus travel; Dating (Social customs)--United States; Draft; Draft--United States.; High school; High school student activities; High school students, White; High school students--Employment; High school students--Social conditions.; High school students--United States; High school students.; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Jefferson County (Ky.); Jeffersontown (Ky.); Kentucky--Politics and government; Kentucky--Politics and government--1951-; Kentucky--Politics and government.; Louisville (Ky.); World War, 1939-1945; World War, 1939-1945.

Partial Transcript: So I continued to work there at, uh, at the Kroger store.

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston says that he continued to work at Kroger until he got drafted by the army. He mentions that he wanted to apply to join the air force, but that was counted out because he’s halfway colorblind. He talks about the attitudes of new recruits versus that of seasoned soldiers. Huddleston gives his personal experience as a tank gunner encountering his first enemy fire. He talks about the war’s impact on his family, especially on his mother. Huddleston describes how he neglected to put that he had asthma on the medical card given to him. He talks about his experience during his physical examination and then his journey to Camp Atterbury in Indiana. Huddleston lists the things he then did: having his head shaved, getting his shots, and getting a duffle bag before being assigned to his basic training camp at Fort Riley, Kansas. He describes the facilities at Fort Riley and the intensity of training in the hot weather of a Kansas summer. Huddleston states that he was in the Cavalry Training Replacement Center (CTRC), noting that there were still some units of horse cavalry there but that he was part of mechanized cavalry. He talks about his experiences in basic training and the friendships he formed there. He talks about what it was like to come home on furlough after basic training. Huddleston states that he found out after furlough that he would be deployed to Fort Meade, MD, a clear sign that he would be deployed overseas.

Keywords: 9th Armored Division; Active combat; Active combat WWII; Armored units; Armories; Army recruits; Asthma; Basic training; Camaraderie; Camp Atterbury; Cavalry Training Replacement Center (CTRC); Color blindness; Deployment; Enlistment; Furlough; Louisville Armory; Mechanized units; Military draft; Military enlistment; Ninth Armored Division; Overseas deployment; Soldier's parents; Soldiers; Soldiers WWII; Tank gunners; Tanks; Veterans; WWII; WWII soldiers; WWII veterans; World War II; World War Two

Subjects: Asthma; Basic training (Military education); Camp Atterbury (Ind.); Color blindness; Draft; Draft--United States.; Fort Meade (Md.); Fort Riley (Kan.); Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Jefferson County (Ky.); Kentucky--Politics and government; Kentucky--Politics and government--1951-; Kentucky--Politics and government.; Louisville (Ky.); Tank gunnery; Veterans.; World War, 1939-1945; World War, 1939-1945--Tank Warfare.; World War, 1939-1945--Tank warfare; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans.; World War, 1939-1945.

Partial Transcript: So then we head, uh, yeah we head up to Maryland and, uh--

Segment Synopsis: Birdwhistell asks Huddleston what his time at Fort Meade, Maryland was like. Huddleston recalls that it was a peaceful time until news arrived of the Battle of the Bulge. He describes his journey across the Atlantic Ocean on the ship The Queen Mary. Huddleston describes having to sleep on the deck of the ship some nights and how he and other soldiers were told not to fall off because the ship wasn’t stopping for them. He mentions that the ship took a zig-zag course on its journey. Huddleston states that the trip took five days and says, since the north Atlantic is stormy during the winter, he got sea-sick everyday and not eating a full meal for the duration of the entire trip. Huddleston states that the ship docked in Glasgow, Scotland. He adds that his group took a train to Southampton in England before crossing the English Channel to Le Havre in France. He talks about the soldiers’ mentality at the time. He says that his group joined a company in the 9th armored division, 2nd battalion that had just come out of the Battle of the Bulge. He describes the train journey to meet up with this company in Belgium, including lighting a fire on the train to keep warm. He talks about arriving at the Fontainebleau Palace and being given his assignment.

Keywords: 40&8s; 40/8s; 9th Armored Division; 9th Armored Division, 2nd Battalion; Active combat; Active combat WWII; Armored crews; Armored divisions; Armored units; Army morale; Battle of the Bulge; Belgium; Christmas in the military; Deployment; English Channel; Fontainebleau; Fontainebleau Palace; Forty and eights; Forty-and-eight boxcars; Forty-and-eights; Glasgow, Scotland; Holidays in the military; Le Havre, France; Military Christmas; Military training; Morale; New York (N.Y.); Ninth Armored Division; Overseas deployment; Queen Mary; Queen Mary boat; Queen Mary ship; RMS Queen Mary; Religion; Religious outlook; Sea sickness; Soldiers; Soldiers WWII; Southampton, England; Tank crews; Tank divisions; Tank gunners; Tanks; Training; Transatlantic transport; Transatlantic travel; Transatlantic troop transport; Troop morale; Troopships; Veterans; WWII; WWII Christmas; WWII soldiers; WWII veterans; War-time correspondence; War-time letters; World War II; World War Two

Subjects: Belgium.; Christmas--Miscellanea.; Fort Meade (Md.); Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Kentucky--Politics and government; Kentucky--Politics and government--1951-; Kentucky--Politics and government.; Le Havre (France); Military training camps; Morale; Queen Mary (Steamship); Tank crews; Tank gunnery; Transatlantic voyages.; Veterans.; Washington (D.C.); World War, 1939-1945; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Europe; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Europe.; World War, 1939-1945--Europe; World War, 1939-1945--Europe.; World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American; World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.; World War, 1939-1945--Tank Warfare.; World War, 1939-1945--Tank warfare; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans.; World War, 1939-1945.

Partial Transcript: What's the, uh, as you're getting ready to go into this tank warfare as a--as a tank gunner, what--you're--you're going to be--here, again you're going to have to help me because I don't understand this much, but the tanks are going to be moving up and providing sh--shelling for the infantry, right?

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston says that the worst thing that could happen to a tank would be to be hit by a German 88 mm artillery shell because it easily could rip through a tank and blow it up, recalling seeing burning tanks while traveling to the front. Huddleston says that he was in Belgium and joined a company in the 9th armored division that, out of its original seventeen tanks, had lost fifteen of them in the Battle of the Bulge and worked on outfitting the new tanks that came in for the first few days after his arrival. Birdwhistell asks Huddleston what you do when you outfit a tank. Huddleston explains that one of the things you did was to change the tracks from the old steel tracks to rubber and comments that everything about tanks is hard work because everything is heavy. He continues that you also had to clean off artillery pieces that had been packed in creosote. Huddleston comments that the first week was full of really hard work and that the only survivors of the tank crew he joined were the tank commander and the tank driver. He talks about how new arrivals adjust to the crew and their duties. Huddleston explains that soldiers were staying in houses with Belgian people at the time and that he really enjoyed the time he spent with them. Huddleston describes entering a heavily damaged Aachen, Germany and arriving at the front line after all of these experiences. He describes riding inside of a tank. Huddleston explains that his first encounter with the enemy was at the front while standing guard duty alone and noticing a group of Germans, being able to tell they were German by their hats, marching single-file. Huddleston explains that he was bothered by the event and talked to his sergeant about it, saying he knew that he could have shot at least a couple of them, but that the sergeant said that it was for the best because it was most likely a patrol that was trying to determine what was in the area. Huddleston describes the Battle of Remagen, which he was witness to. Huddleston explains that his company wasn’t leading the attack, but got there just as the bridge was found and protected those that were crossing the bridge. He recounts protecting the bridge from airplanes, seeing a jet airplane for the first time, and the volume of troops that crossed the bridge before it fell. Huddleston states that he and other troops were aware of the significance of what was happening and how it would shorten the war. He recounts accidentally shooting down an American plane, but explains that the pilot landed the plane safely. Huddleston recalls the rest of the advance into Germany.

Keywords: 88 mm artillery; 9th Armored Division; 9th Armored Division, 2nd Battalion; Aachen, Germany; Active combat; Active combat WWII; Armored crews; Armored divisions; Armored units; Battle of Remagen; Battle of the Bulge; Belgium; Civilian casualties; Collateral damage; Deployment; Germany; Military equipment; Ninth Armored Division; Overseas deployment; Soldiers; Soldiers WWII; Tank crews; Tank divisions; Tank functions; Tank gunners; Tank outfitting; Tank training; Tanks; Veterans; WWII; WWII narratives; WWII soldiers; WWII stories; WWII veteran narratives; WWII veteran stories; WWII veterans; World War II; World War Two

Subjects: Belgium.; Fort Meade (Md.); Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Kentucky--Politics and government; Kentucky--Politics and government--1951-; Kentucky--Politics and government.; Military training camps; Tank crews; Tank gunnery; Veterans.; World War, 1939-1945; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Europe; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Europe.; World War, 1939-1945--Europe; World War, 1939-1945--Europe.; World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American; World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.; World War, 1939-1945--Tank Warfare.; World War, 1939-1945--Tank warfare; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans.; World War, 1939-1945.

Partial Transcript: We'd--(coughs)--and we'd advanced to the Mulde River and that's as far as our section of the--of the front went until the war ended.

Segment Synopsis: Huddleston explains that, in April of 1945, his unit advanced to their farthest point at the Mulde River before the German surrender. He explains that he learned that President Franklin Roosevelt had died from a German prisoner, but didn’t believe it at first and dismissed it as propaganda. Huddleston states that he understands why the Soviets were given the privilege of taking Berlin since the Germans had caused so much suffering for them and recalls Germans surrendering to his unit rather than surrendering to the Soviets when they arrived. Birdwhistell asks what the most danger Huddleston was ever in while marching across Belgium and Germany. Huddleston describes a skirmish in a little town where his company was being hit by heavy artillery fire on a hillside. He recalls a projectile getting stuck in the barrel of his tank where it couldn’t be fired, but being saved when his commander left the tank to dislodge the projectile while under small-arms fire. He talks about his experiences being on guard duty. He talks about their reception by both German soldiers and civilians. Huddleston gives his opinions on the reasons for America’s success in the war. Huddleston says that the war made a huge impression on him and recalls thinking that humans would never embark on this path of war again after seeing all of the destruction while he was serving, but notes that the US was involved in the Korean War shortly before he got out of college. He talks about his feelings on possibly revisiting the area later in life, his memories of the people in his unit, and the German people. He discusses his experiences freeing concentration camps.

Keywords: 9th Armored Division; 9th Armored Division, 2nd Battalion; Active combat; Active combat WWII; American soldiers; Armored crews; Armored divisions; Armored units; Army citations; Asthma; Berlin; Berlin, Germany; Civilian life; Civilians; Concentration camps; Franklin D. Roosevelt; Franklin Roosevelt; Fraternization; German soldiers; Germany; Military command; Mulde River; Ninth Armored Division; Soldiers; Soldiers WWII; Soviet Union; Soviets; Tank crews; Tank divisions; Tank gunners; Tank malfunctions; Tanks; USSR; Veterans; WWII; WWII narratives; WWII soldiers; WWII stories; WWII veteran narratives; WWII veteran stories; WWII veterans; World War II; World War Two

Subjects: Fort Meade (Md.); Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926- --Interviews; Huddleston, Walter D. (Walter Darlington), 1926-2018; Kentucky--Politics and government; Kentucky--Politics and government--1951-; Kentucky--Politics and government.; Tank crews; Tank gunnery; Veterans.; World War, 1939-1945; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Europe; World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Europe.; World War, 1939-1945--Europe; World War, 1939-1945--Europe.; World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American; World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.; World War, 1939-1945--Tank Warfare.; World War, 1939-1945--Tank warfare; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans.; World War, 1939-1945.