Oral history interview with John Rettig, 2001.

ArchivalResource

Rettig, John, 1920-. Oral history interview with John Rettig, 2001.

Oral history interview with John Rettig, 2001.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/53121896

John Rettig, a Logansport, Indiana native, discusses his World War II service as a communications officer with the 926th Signal Battalion attached to the 9th Tactical Air Force. Rettig talks about being drafted out of college, basic training at Camp Crowder (Missouri), assignment to the 82nd Airborne Division, radio repair school and officer candidate school at Fort Monmouth (New Jersey), and radar supply training at Lexington (Kentucky). He touches upon short assignments in Arizona and California. He addresses his trip overseas, role as a PX and mess officer, and work establishing communication facilities at Air Force bases in England. Rettig describes landing at Utah Beach, laying and moving communication wire, and traveling through France. He describes delivering payroll and explains why he had a reputation as a liquor dealer. Rettig touches upon being in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge, having their barracks bombed, crossing the Rhine, and occupying a former SS camp near Marburg (Germany). He briefly mentions being an officer in a Black signal construction battalion. Rettig comments on almost being sent to the Philippines, his discharge, and his subsequent enlistment in the Army Reserves. He mentions attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison to get Masters degrees and his career in campus libraries. He describes duties as unit commander in the active Army Reserve, taking classes for Army historians, assignment to Army Material Command, and retirement from the Reserves.

Sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 25 min.) : analog, 1 7/8 ips.Videorecording : 1 videocassette (ca. 25 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in.Master sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 25 min.) : analog, 1 7/8 ips.Transcript : 23 p.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center