WWII Heroes

The World War II Heroes Project at Glenville State College was the initiative of Congressman Alan B. Mollohan through Vandalia Heritage Foundation. His vision was to record and preserve experiences of Glenville State College students and Gilmer County residents during World War II.

The United States was involved in World War II from December 1941 through September 1945. Many former students and future graduates of Glenville State College served in the various branches of the armed forces. Experiences of how the war affected their lives are cited by both men and women veterans.

Twenty-five interviews were conducted and videotaped by GSC students during the 2003-2005 academic years. Students studied the history of World War II and methods in conducting oral histories. They then applied what they had learned and created a list of questions to ask each interviewee. Each veteran has a different story to tell and presents it in his or her own words. The students conducting the interviews were honored to meet these veterans and hear their real-life stories. From these interviews, the students gained a better understanding of the realities of war, as well as a deep respect for the true heroes……the men and women who fought for our freedom.

Veteran	Topics Discussed
Hoy Creed Barton Video	Army, Air Corps, Exam for High School Grads to Fly, Flight Training, Maxwell Field, Pre-flight, Primary, Single-Engine, Basic, Advance, Aviation Military Academy, Cochran Field, Spence Field, Retractable Wheels, Constant-speed Propeller, Gun, Mitchell Field, Instructor, Dover, Delaware, Formation Flying, Dogfight Training, High-altitude, Impression of Pearl Harbor, Europe, Southern France, Impression of A-Bomb, Mail Delays, Communications, En Route to Philippines, Return Home, Red Cross, England, Infantry.
Robert Billeter Video	World War II, Army, California National Guard, Pacific, Okinawa, Escarpment, August 15, 1945, End of War, Occupation, Korea, Surrendered Japanese Soldiers.
James Collins Video	Army, Induction, C & O, Columbus Ohio, Air corps, Testing and Processing, Communications, Flight Radio Operator, Biloxi, Radio School, Sioux Falls, Mechanics, Gunnery School, Air Crew, Heavy Bombardment, B-17 Flying Fortress, Staging, Painting of Planes, Personal Gear, "Nut's Corner", Northern Ireland, Irish Sea, 490th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, 850th Squadron, FW 190 Factory Bremen, 30 Combat Missions, Memphis Belle, Lead Crew, Ball Turret Replaced with Radar Equipment, "Mickey Operator", Tail Gunner, 50-caliber Machinegun, Chaff, Bombing Run, Bomb Sight, Flight preparation, Battle of the Bulge, Scratch Mission, Birds, After the Flight, Heavy Bombardment, P-51, Fighter Escorts, P-38, P-47, Berlin, North Sea, Air-Sea Rescue, White Cliffs of Dover, English Channel, Self-Sealing Fuel Tanks.
Jack Conrad Video	Army, Basic Infantry Replacement Center, Training Cadre, Aleutian Islands, Army General Classifications Test, Infantry Officer's Training School, Second Lieutenants, Replacement, Europe, 79th Infantry Division, Field Hospital, Dijon France, Battle of the Bulge, University of Michigan Medical School, Paris, Pittsburgh, Replacement Depot, England, Crossing the Rhine, Virginia, Convalescent Leave.
Everette Ellison Video	Navy, Construction, Carpenter's Mate, Great Lakes, Destroyer Base, Amphibious Landing Force, Commando Training, Treasure Island, Philippines, Sumar, Sea Bees, Lati, Lendia Gulf, Luzan, 99 LST, Pearl Harbor, Supplies at Home Front, Replacements, Benefits, Mail Delays, End of War.
Anne Jones Video	Navy WAVES, Basic Training—eight weeks at Hunter College New York, storekeeper school, Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, Patriotism Among Women, Women in Service, Grand Central Station, Pullman Car, Chorus, War Bonds Parades.
Carl Luzader Video	Navy, Electronics Repair Ship, Honolulu, Okinawa, China Sea, Hong Kong, Sasibo Harbor, Occupation, Mines, Nagasaki, PC602—Sub Chaser, Pear Harbor—Impression, Commissary, Unemployment, 52-20, Five-inch 38 Gun.
Sull McCartney Video	Navy, Chief Radio Operator, U.S.S. Ranger, Convoy, South Africa, Trinidad, Submarine, PT Boats, Pear Harbor, Norfolk, U.S.S. Hornet, Atlantic, Pacific, Cigarettes, Alcohol, Maug Maug Island, G.I. Bill, Persian Gulf, North Africa, Impression of Atomic Bomb, Sasibo, U.S.S. Curtis, Sea Plane, Occupation.
Espy Miller Video	Civilian Conservation Corps, WVU, Concord, Army Officer's Training School, Navy, Commissioned, Harvard, Communications Training, Tanker, Baltimore, Norfolk, New York, Cargo Ship, San Francisco, Amphibious Forces, Luzon, Iwo Jima, Glenville State College.
Joan Schneider Video	Civilian—England, Plymouth, Start of War, Navy Yards, Bombing, Air Raid Shelters, Unexploded Bombs, School, Evacuations, Food Rations, Black Marketing, "Jerry's Over", Fire Departments, Low Tide, American Ships, Rebuilding of Plymouth, Firebombs, Civilian Signaling Bombers.
James Spaur Video	Navy, Gunner's Mate, Pacific, Mendora, Luzon, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Lati, Norti, Philippines, New Guinea, Battle Stars, Great Lakes Illinois, Gunner's School, Five-inch 38 Gun, Guam, Alcohol, Kamikaze, Torpedo, Convoy, Suicide Attacks, Northern Honcho Japan, Surrender Terms, Prisoners, Tokyo Bay, "Battle Wagon".
Goff Summers Video	Air Force, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Biloxi Mississippi, Flight Training, Armament School, 50 Cal. Machine Gum, 20 mm Cannon, Gunnery School, Flight Crew, Waist Gunner, Tail Gunner, Ball-turret Gunner, England, Bomb Group, "Togglier", B-25, Nuremberg, Antiaircraft, Berlin, First-Aid Training, Sulfa, Morphine, CzechoslovakiaB-17, Bomb Bay Catwalk, Mission Routine, Personal Equipment, 52-20, G.I. Bill.
Robert Traugh Video	Navy, Great Lakes Illinois, Basic Training, Tonga Islands, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Solomon's, Air Attack, U.S.S. Chicago, New Guinea, Japanese, Destroyers, Night Operations, Supply, Five-inch Guns, Cigarettes, G.I. Bill, Great Lakes Illinois, South Pacific, Invasion of Japan, Atomic Bomb, Japan Surrender, Surrender Terms, Occupation.