Scope and Contents Baessler (b. 1925) emigrated to the United States from Germany in 1931. He attended school in Salt Lake City, Utah, and joined the Seabees in June 1943. After basic training in Virginia, he was assigned to Pleasanton, California, prior to being shipped overseas. Attached to the 107th Seabee battalion, he served on Ebeye and Bigej Islands (part of the Marshall Islands), as a clerk and on various construction projects. He was transferred to Tinian (in the Marianas) where he worked as a baker for...

Scope and Contents Bleggi (b. 1921) was the son of Italian immigrants. He recalls his childhood in Mapleton, Utah. He was drafted into the army in September 1942 and took basic training at Camp Kohler, California, before attending Signal Corps training at Camp McCain, Mississippi. He was assigned to the 33rd Construction Battalion and left New York on the in February 1944. He spent five months in Wrexham, England, practicing for the invasion of France. He landed on Utah Beach on D-Day plus six. His unit supported...

Scope and Contents Clay (b. 1922) was born in Topeka, Kansas, where his father was a salesman for Winchester Arms Sporting Supplies. His family moved to Utah, where Clay attended school, enrolling in ROTC at West High. He enlisted in the Navy and was assigned to the 16th Seabees Battalion as a cook. He sailed from San Diego on the to Hawaii, where his unit served for two years building storage tanks and warehouses. He was discharged in October 1945. 30 pages.

Scope and Contents Curtis (b. 1924) grew up in Salt Lake City, where his father operated a coal company in the Sugarhouse area. He attended the University of Utah and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1944. He applied for dental training, which he received at the University of Kansas City. After receiving his degree he was given the option of choosing to serve in the Army or the Navy. He chose the Navy and was sent to Corpus Christi. He was transferred to Norfolk, Virginia, to a repair ship where he provided dental...

Scope and Contents Dee (b. 1920) describes his genealogy and recalls his boyhood in Ogden, Utah. He graduated from Stanford University before enlising in the Army Air Corps in December 1941. After training in Palm Beach, Florida, he was assigned to the 14th Airways Communications Division stationed in Cairo. He discusses his assignment and experiences there, including a detailed account of a C-60 twin-engine transport crash he survived. He was sent back to the states to recover and remained there until the end of...

Scope and Contents Epperson (b. 1925) joined the Marines in 1943, attended officer candidate school and graduated as a 2nd lieutenant. He was assigned to the 79th replacement draft and was enroute overseas when the war ended. He participated in reparation duties in China and was discharged in 1946, remaining in the reserves. He was called up in 1950 and assigned to the 1st Marine Division, 7th Regiment, 1st Battalion, C Company, and participated in the Inchon landing, Chosin Reservoir campaign, Pohang patrols,...

Scope and Contents Forsgren (b. 1922) recalls his Salt Lake City boyhood and describes being drafted into the army in 1942. He was assigned to Third Army headquarters at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and served there and at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, before heading overseas in January 1943. Forsgren reminisces about serving in the Adjutant General's office under General George Patton. 21 pages.

Scope and Contents Fullmer (b. 1923) joined the Navy in December 1940. After basic training he was transported to Hawaii on the oil tanker USS Tippecanoe before transferring to the West Virginia on the morning that Pearl Harbor was attacked. He describes the attack in detail and recalls his experiences on his next ship, the Chicago. He saw action in the Pacific around New Zealand, Australia, and the Coral Sea. He...

Scope and Contents Gillen (b. 1925) enlisted in the army in 1943 and was assigned to an engineering unit. He was transported by ship to Le Havre, where he was assigned to the 87th Infantry, 4th Division. His responsibilities included transporting prisoners of war. He gives a description of ferrying U.S. troops across the Rhine River while under fire from German 88s located on the banks of the river. After the war he served in the army of occupation until his discharge in April 1946. 65 pages.

Scope and Contents Orval Gillen (b. 1923) was born in Sandy, Utah, and spent his childhood there and in Myton, Utah. He was drafted into the army in December 1943 and assigned to the 718th Railway Operation Battalion, Company A. His duties took him to Europe, where he operated bulldozers and other heavy equipment, clearing away rail accidents, damaged bridges, and other large large-scale operations. He was discharged in February 1946. 37 pages.