Oral history interview with Thomas Doherty, [videorecording], 2002.

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Oral history interview with Thomas Doherty, [videorecording], 2002.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/777000554

Tom Doherty, a resident of Madison, Wisconsin, discusses his research into the history of the 32nd Infantry Division, including a detailed account of their role during World War II. Doherty describes the social activities of Wisconsin National Guardsmen in the 1920s and 1930s and the role of armories as a social hub for local communities during the Great Depression. He comments on the fame earned by the 32nd Division during World War I and its "legendary" red arrow insignia. He talks about the evolution of the National Guard in the late 1800s, the efforts of Charles King to bring Guard units up to Army standards, and the successful test of the units in World War I. Doherty touches on the organization of the 32nd Red Arrow Division and lists some Wisconsin communities with hometown National Guard companies. He speaks of the money National Guard companies brought to their towns, social aspects of the companies, and the sorts of training they had. Doherty talks about mobilization of the Guard before World War II, including war games in the summer of 1940 and increased enlistments. He mentions that in 1941 many of the trained Guardsmen were dispersed throughout the Army as replacements for brand new divisions. He describes the 32nd Division's lack of urgency before the attack on Pearl Harbor, preparations to fight in Europe, and the shock of being sent to the Pacific instead. Doherty discusses their arrival in Australia and preparations to defend the Australian coast. He analyzes the effects on the unit of being federalized and the significant losses some communities saw in single battles when local Guard companies had heavy casualties. Doherty tells of General MacArthur sending the 32nd Infantry Division on the offensive to Papua New Guinea, despite the fact that they'd been in transit almost a year and had "lost their edge," and expectations for an easy defeat of the Japanese there. Doherty portrays the true strength of the Japanese forces and camouflaged fortifications, losses to the 32nd from diseases such as malaria, and unexpected difficulties of jungle warfare. He mentions heavy casualties to a Marshfield (Wisconsin) company in the 128th Infantry Regiment, who were spearheading the movement towards Buna. He analyzes General Edwin Harding's reluctance to waste men as the realization came that a quick victory could not happen with his available resources. Doherty tells of General MacArthur's firing Harding and other Guard officers and installing General Eichelberger, who continued to lose infantrymen. Doherty states the stalemate was finally broken by the arrival of American tanks, crewed by Australian soldiers, which broke through some of the Japanese fortifications. He characterizes the work of Robert J. Doyle, a reporter for the Milwaukee Journal who compiled stories of Wisconsin soldiers. Doherty analyzes the catchphrases "No more Bunas" and "After Buna it was a different war," and he reflects on the lesson MacArthur and the Army learned about depending on naval support and artillery to fight against fixed emplacements. Doherty talks about a year of rehabilitation for the Division, the dilution of its regional character, and its activities in New Guinea and the Philippines. He characterizes the two Herbert Smiths in the 32nd, one from Neillsville and one from Oshkosh. Doherty reflects on the identity of the 32nd Division and its reputation as "among the hardest fought divisions" in both world wars. He refers to his interviews with 32nd Division Soldiers and relates the animosity he encountered towards General MacArthur and some of his appointed officers. Doherty comments on the political battles between the Army and National Guard after World War I, and the role of the Guard as a fighting force at the start of the World War II while the Army was training and mobilizing.

Video recording : 3 video cassettes (ca. 65 min.) ; sd., col.; 1/2 in.Transcript : 17 p.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 8201120

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center

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Doherty, Thomas P.

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Doherty served with the 112th Public Affairs Detachment of the 32nd Division in the 1970s. His major research focus is the Battle of Buna, and he has recorded several oral histories with 32nd Division veterans. From the description of Oral history interview with Thomas Doherty, [videorecording], 2002. (Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center). WorldCat record id: 777000554 ...