Oral history interview with Kendall E. Niebuhr [sound recording], 1996.

ArchivalResource

Niebuhr, Kendall E., 1924-,. Oral history interview with Kendall E. Niebuhr [sound recording], 1996.

Oral history interview with Kendall E. Niebuhr [sound recording], 1996.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/188040055

Niebuhr, a Madison (Wisconsin) native, discusses his service with the U.S. Navy Armed Guard as a signalman during World War II providing many anecdotes of his military service during the interview. Niebuhr, the youngest child of nine, tells how his mother raised the family by selling fishing bait at the family bait station; now the Madison Chamber of Commerce parking lot. He details his underage enlistment for the "kiddy cruise" over his mother's objections and being sworn into the Navy on October 27th, 1942. Niebuhr talks about his physical exam in Milwaukee and his basic training at Great Lakes (Illinois). He describes the rigors of preparing his clothing, weapons training, marching, and calisthenics. Niebuhr then attended signal school in Indianapolis (Indiana), where he encountered sixteen weeks of intensive training. His first duty station was with the 13th Armed Guard Signal School, on Treasure Island in San Francisco, where he was attached to the SS Del Brazil. Niebuhr describes the voyages he made with the Del Brazil including New Caledonia, New Zealand, Auckland, and Guadalcanal. Niebuhr tells how the Seabees established an earthen wharf (out of a jungle) in New Caledonia. He details one particular combat experience where a Japanese submarine fired torpedoes at his ship. After completing his duty on the Del Brazil, Niebuhr mentions being stationed in Brooklyn (New York) and setting sail with the SS Vera Cruz on trips to Trinidad, Brazil, and Venezuela. In between cruises, he married in Manhattan. He touches upon his excursions on the SS John Gorey to England and Cherbourg (France) where he was a member of the first convoy to move up the English Channel after the fall of France and the convoy's employment of torpedo netting. He characterizes the differences between naval personnel and the merchant marine and details how they interacted with each other. Niebuhr outlines the pay for a seaman, 3rd Class and how the Navy Armed Guard computed sea pay. Niebuhr mentions storms at sea including a hurricane his ship got caught in off the coast of Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). He was then assigned to the SS Jeb Stuart where they evacuated men that had recently fought at the Battle of the Bulge out of Rouan (France). He chats about V-E Day celebrations in Marseille (France). After the war ended, Niebuhr did duty on the aircraft carrier Antietam and the cruiser USS Alaska before being discharged at Great Lakes in December 1945. He had numerous jobs after the war: whitewasher, cab driver, and commercial fisherman. He elaborates on how he settled into his permanent position as a firefighter in Madison. The interview concludes with Niebuhr chatting on his involvement with the American Legion, the VFW, and the US Navy Armed Guard organization.

Sound recording ; 2 sound cassettes (ca. 115 min.) ; analog, 1 7/8 ips.Transcript : 28 p.Master sound recording ; 1 sound cassette (ca. 115 min.) ; analog, 1 7/8 ips.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center