Oral history interview with Ernest Kelley, 2003 February 20.

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Oral history interview with Ernest Kelley, 2003 February 20.

Interview with Ernest L. Kelley, an Army veteran (A Troop, 112th Cavalry, Texas National Guard), concerning his recollections as a member of the 112th Cavalry in the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II. His life as a youth in northeast Texas; family experiences during the Great Depression; his long-time love of mules and horses; his decision to join the 112th Cavalry, Texas National Guard, November, 1940; mobilization of the Texas National Guard, November 18, 1940; training with horses, Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, 1940-41; advanced training at Fort Clark, Brackettville, Texas, 1941; return to Fort Worth for additional mounted training, 1941; Louisiana Maneuvers, July-September, 1941; voyage from San Francisco to New Caledonia, 1942-43; assignment to Townsville, Australia, 1943; assault on Woodlark Island, July, 1943; dismounting of the cavalry and its conversion to regular infantry; the landing at Arawe, New Britain, December, 1943; combat around Arawe; comments about the fighting qualities of Japanese soldiers; his role as a machine-gunner; rest and relaxation in Australia, July, 1944; combat near the Driniumor River, Aitape, June, 1944; invasion of Leyte, Philippines, November, 1944; combat around the Ormoc Valley; hospitalization due to malaria; landings at Lingayen Gulf, January 27, 1945; his battle wound from a Japanese machine gun burst; rotation back to the States, August, 1945, and subsequent discharge.

203 leaves ; 29 cm.

Related Entities

There are 7 Entities related to this resource.

University of North Texas. Oral History Collection.

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World War II Pacific Theater (Island Hopping) Oral History Project.

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Johnston, Glenn C.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6br9sqv (person)

United States. Army

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The United States Army is the largest branch of the United States Armed Forces and performs land-based military operations. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States and is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution, Article 2, Section 2, Clause 1 and United States Code, Title 10, Subtitle B, Chapter 301, Section 3001. As the largest and senior branch of the U.S. military, the modern U.S. Army has its roots in the Continental Army, which wa...

Texas. National Guard. Cavalry, 112th.

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Kelley, Ernest L., 1921-

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Texas. National Guard

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The Texas National Guard, the state militia, was mobilized by the federal government in November 1940. These troops fought during World War II in battles in Italy and France. From the description of Texas National Guard records, 1943-1945. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 38417572 Bulk of the collection consists of general files (1918-1961), the medical records and notes of Dr. G. Schilling (1903-1919), records and notes pertaining to the 36th Division (1...