Interview with Louis C. Gueltzow, June 13, 2002

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Talks about being drafted while in high school.

Keywords: Army; La Cross, Wisconsin; Louisville, Kentucky; World War II; draft; infantry

Subjects: Draft.; Infantry.; La Crosse County (Wis.); Louisville (Ky.); United States. Army.; World War, 1939-1945.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Talks about going to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for basic training.

Keywords: 106th Infantry Division; 87th Division; African campaign; Air Force; Fort Jackson; Fort Sheridan; Miami Beach, Florida; Milwaukee; army post; basic training; motor pool

Subjects: Basic training.; Fort Jackson (S.C.); Fort Sheridan (Ill.); Military bases.; United States. Air Force.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Talks about his trip overseas on the Queen Elizabeth ship and hoping he doesn't get sea sick.

Keywords: English Channel; German submarines; HMS Queen Elizabeth.; La Havre, France; Liverpool; mutton; sea sickness

Subjects: English Channel.; Motion sickness.; Mutton.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Talks about using weapons against German patrols that were always infiltrating, while taking ammunition to the front lines.
Talks about blowing up jeep when he drove over a land mine and not being injured.

Keywords: Germans.; ammunition; jeep driver; land mine

Subjects: Ammunition.; Germans.; Land mines.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Talks about receiving a shrapnel wound during battle and being saved by a spoon that he used to eat his C-rations with.

Keywords: 88 shell; C-rations; German Tiger Tank; Germans; first aid station; shrapnel; stitches

Subjects: Germans.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Talks about spending 156 days on the front lines of battle in Europe. Talks about the end of war in Europe and VJ-Day. Talks about the weather conditions during combat and his experience with death.

Keywords: 106th Infantry Division; Battle of the Bulge; Camp McCain; Czechoslovakia; Fort Benning; La Havre, France; Metz, France; Siegfied Line; South Pacific; VJ- Day; cold; furlough; purple heart; snow

Subjects: Ardennes, Battle of the, 1944-1945.; Camp McCain (Miss.); Civil service Furloughs.; Cold.; Czechoslovakia.; Fort Benning (Ga.); Metz (France); Purple Heart.; Siegfried Line (Germany); V-J Day, 1945.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Talks about the awards he received for being in the war and being discharged. Talks about getting mail from his family during the war.

Keywords: Battle of the Ardennes; C-rations; La Cross, Wisconsin; beef stew; bronze star; chocolate chips; coffee; discharge paper; letters; packages; purple heart; unit citation

Subjects: Ardennes, Battle of the, 1944-1945.; Bronze Star Medal (U.S.); Coffee.; Mail.; Military discharge.; Purple Heart.

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Talks about the French people being "cold" towards the Americans in France and the German people being happy to see them. Talks about his feelings toward the officers he served under.

Keywords: Eiffel Tower; French; French occupational money; Germans; Paris; money exchange

Subjects: French.; Germans.; Paris (France); Tour Eiffel (Paris, France)

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Talks about attending reunions for the 87th Division. Talks about not wanting to visit the battlefield and how the service affected the rest of his life.

Keywords: 87th Division; Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Louisville, Kentucky; Nashville

Subjects: Louisville (Ky.)