Veterans History Project 1714 items

Notes:: Frank Tichvon was born in Barry County, Michigan, and served in World War II. Drafted in 1941, Tichvon served in the U.S. Army. He worked in Canada building the Alcan Highway and trails. He was later sent to England and then to the European continent, where he worked for a construction battalion whose job was to clear mines and construct bridges. He served in the Battle of the Bulge. He was discharged in October, 1945.
Date Created:: 2004-12-07T00:00:00Z
Data Provider:: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries
Collection:: Veterans History Project (U.S.)

Notes:: Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Agnes Van Der Weide to Joe Olexa, dated June 27, 1944. The envelope is sent from 1913 Berkley Ave. S.W., Grand Rapids, Michigan, dated June 28, 1944. In the letter, Agnes describes the hot weather conditions she is experiencing while anxiously awaiting to hear from Joe and details the gifts she will be sending him on the following day.
Date Created:: 1944-06-27T00:00:00Z
Data Provider:: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries
Collection:: Veterans History Project (U.S.)

Notes:: Handwritten letter and envelope with transcript by Joe Olexa to Agnes Van Der Weide, dated July 25, 1941. The envelope is sent from Co. L, 26th Infantry, U.S. Army Transport, Hunter Liggett-Carib Force, dated July 28, 1941. In the letter, Joe introduces himself to Agnes for the first time, describing his looks and personality and expresses hope for a future friendship with Agnes.
Date Created:: 1941-07-25T00:00:00Z
Data Provider:: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries
Collection:: Veterans History Project (U.S.)

Notes:: Sidney Cavanaugh was born in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1942 and later moved down to Jacksonville, Florida. After graduating from high school in 1961, he tried going to college several times. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1964. He trained as a radio operator for the 2/17th Artillery 155 Howitzer out of Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He also was trained as a crew chief on a Mojave Helicopter. When he was sent to Vietnam, he was made a door gunner on a Huey Hog Ship with the 2/20th artillery, 1st Air Cavalry Division, and participated in the Battle of Ia Drang in November 1965.
Date Created:: 2013-08-15T00:00:00Z
Data Provider:: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries
Collection:: Veterans History Project (U.S.)

Notes:: Wayne Charles was born in Muskegon, Michigan, in 1925, and was drafted in 1943. He trained at Camp Croft, South Carolina, in wire communications, but was eventually sent to Europe as an infantry replacement. He shipped out in June, spent about a month in England, and was assigned to the 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, before the liberation of Paris in August. His unit advanced across France and Belgium, and fought through the Siegfried Line and into the Hurtgen Forest, where they saw their heaviest fighting. They were then sent to Luxembourg to refit, and wound up on the south shoulder of the Bulge in December. He then participated in the invasion of Germany and spent some time guarding German prisoners before being sent home and discharged.
Date Created:: 2013-01-24T00:00:00Z
Data Provider:: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries
Collection:: Veterans History Project (U.S.)

Notes:: Rex Funnell was born in Whitehall, Michigan and was drafted into the Army during World War II. He was trained initially to work with mules for mountain pack hauling, but his unit's function was changed so they didn't end up working with mules in combat. He worked in the message center for his unit during his time overseas. His unit was in France and Germany during the war.
Date Created:: 2009-06-16T00:00:00Z
Data Provider:: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries
Collection:: Veterans History Project (U.S.)

Notes:: Jim Lloyds experience in the military began when an ample amount of recruits entering simultaneously and according to Jim the military had no idea what to do with the new recruits. From Chicago to Texas, the military was shipping him from base to base with no orders of why he was there. Upon his arrival they would always ask him why he was there and Jim would have no skills to assist each base he arrived at. He was used for positions as a teacher of gun torrents and advanced electronics which he was unprepared for but made the best of each situation. He was able to adapt well into military life regardless of their lack of efficient placement of his person. He was transferred around often enough that he never made it into active duty during the war. As the war ended he returned to life back in the states, where he returned to his wife and his family. His experience shaped his ability to adapt to changing circumstances but created no life long friendships from the military.
Date Created:: 2007-11-17T00:00:00Z
Data Provider:: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries
Collection:: Veterans History Project (U.S.)

Notes:: Robert Park was born in 1925 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was drafted in 1943 and trained at Camp Roberts, California, and Camp Bowie, Texas, with the 13th Armored Division in a firing battery of the 498th Armored Field Artillery Battalion and was deployed to the European Theatre as an artillery observer in January, 1945. He saw action at the Saar River, in the Ruhr Pocket, and in Bavaria. After the war's end he served out his enlistment at Fort Hood, Texas, and was discharged in 1946.
Date Created:: 2013-01-17T00:00:00Z
Data Provider:: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries
Collection:: Veterans History Project (U.S.)

Notes:: Arthur Harnish served in the 347th Engineer Regiment between 1943 and 1945. He provides detailed descriptions of training and his service in Europe. He landed in Normandy shortly after D-Day and helped his unit rebuild bridges in France, Belgium and Germany, including bridges on the Rhine.
Date Created:: 2007-11-27T00:00:00Z
Data Provider:: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries
Collection:: Veterans History Project (U.S.)

Notes:: Robert Livo, born in Detroit Michigan, serve in the U.S. Naval reserves from 1953-approximately 1954 to 1955. During his service, Robert went thought most of his training at Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois. The men were put to work often cleaning and repairing ships that had come into port. Robert worked in the electronics department. He was also sent on a small cruise assigned to refill line layers in the South Atlantic. During this cruise Robert was given 18 days in Brazil.
Date Created:: 2011-09-09T00:00:00Z
Data Provider:: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries
Collection:: Veterans History Project (U.S.)