Oral history interview with Domingo W. Bongle, [sound recording], 2005.

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Oral history interview with Domingo W. Bongle, [sound recording], 2005.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/757934634

Domingo "Digger" Bongle, a Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin native, describes his World War II experiences in the Pacific Theater with the 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. Bongle states he was working in a cherry orchard when he was drafted in March of 1941. He talks about other folks from Sturgeon Bay who were drafted, basic training at Camp Livingston (Louisiana), and being shipped out as a response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Bongle explains he was a truck driver in the antitank company of the 127th Infantry Regiment. He discusses being shipped to Port Adelaide (Australia), going to Camp Timberlane (later renamed Camp Cable) near Brisbane, and training in New Guinea. He speaks of being a jungle training instructor working with replacement troops. Bongle tells of attending every class he could, including malaria school. He touches on combat in the Philippines, getting wounded in the knee while on escort patrol, and being sent to Oakland Regional Hospital (California) for surgery. Bongle tells of developing malaria in the States after he stopped taking his anti-malarial medication. He talks about living conditions in the jungle and mail service. He characterizes Bill Knaapen, a baker in his unit from Sturgeon Bay. After his discharge, Bongle discusses being hired right away by the Sturgeon Bay Police Department. He mentions joining the VFW, competing all across the county with the AMVETS drill team, and marching in President Kennedy's inaugural parade. Bongle mentions having two brothers in the service and reflects on the time he spent in the Army. He touches on seeing Gary Cooper at a USO show, having R&R at Camp Timberlane (Australia), and burying beer there for future visits.

Sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 25 min.); analog, 1 7/8 ips.Master sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 25 min.); analog, 1 7/8 ips.Transcript : 13 p.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center

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SNAC Resource ID: 8144637

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center

Related Entities

There are 9 Entities related to this resource.

Macdonald, Terry

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6kh0t40 (person)

United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 127th

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64j448b (corporateBody)

United States. Army. Infantry Division, 32nd

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Bongle, Domingo W.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6z07rr4 (person)

Bongle was born in Carlsville, Wisconsin and moved to Sturgeon Bay, where he graduated from Sevastopol High School in 1936. He served in the 32nd Red Arrow Division during World War II, and he eventually settled in Sturgeon Bay. From the description of Oral history interview with Domingo W. Bongle, [sound recording], 2005. (Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center). WorldCat record id: 757934634 ...

American Veterans (Organization)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sf90tm (corporateBody)

Wisconsin Veterans Museum

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w69s5frp (corporateBody)

Knaapen, William.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6cp1mtq (person)

United States. Army

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6km312r (corporateBody)

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...

Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6387zpq (person)

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917, to Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy of Brookline, Massachusetts. John Kennedy, the second of nine children, attended Choate Academy (1932-1935), Princeton University (1935-36), Harvard College (1936-40), and Stanford Business School (1941). In 1940, he published a book based on his senior thesis entitled "Why England Slept." The book criticized British policy of Appeasement. In 1941, Kennedy enlisted in the Navy. In August 1943, Kenn...