Gantsoudes, Lillian

Description

In this interview, Buell Gifford recalls his service in the U.S. Army in the Pacific during World War II. At the outbreak of war, he had been working on a degree in agriculture. His father owned land in Missouri that the government took to build an airfield; his uncle had to help his father with the tractor payments before the government paid for the land. He was drafted, but deferred a few months because his father was ill, and was eventually called up in spite of it. In Hawaii, he completed six weeks of jungle training in preparation for invasions in the Pacific. He recalls the hardships of battle, including a lack of provisions. At one point, they were reduced to eating raw field corn. He also describes war atrocities on both sides. He remembers their entertainment and receiving packages from home. He describes segregation in the Army and recalls an incident while returning home in which a black sergeant was robbed by two policemen. He describes his work and pastimes after the war and shares his feelings about the United States Marine Corps.Buell Gifford was an infantryman in the Pacific during World War II.BUELL GIFFORD VETERANS HISTORY INTERVIEW Atlanta History Center October 22, 2003 Interviewer: Lillian Gantsoudes Transcriber: Stephanie McKinnell Lillian Gantsoudes: This is a veteran's oral history interview on October 22, 2003. My name is Lillian Gantsoudes. I will be doing the interview. Our veteran today is Buell Wallace Gifford, and his daughter is also with us today,...

Record Contributed By

Atlanta History Center

Record Harvested From

Digital Library of Georgia