Oral history interview with Ralph Schmitz, 2002.

ArchivalResource

Schmitz, Ralph, 1928-2011,. Oral history interview with Ralph Schmitz, 2002.

Oral history interview with Ralph Schmitz, 2002.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/83315970

Ralph "Mike" Schmitz, a Port Washington, Wisconsin native, discusses his World War II service with the Navy in the Pacific theater. Schmitz talks about falsifying his birth date to enlist in the Navy at age sixteen, boot camp at Great Lakes (Illinois), and assignment to an AKA (Attack Transport) sent to New Guinea. Working on shore building at a supply base, he comments on duty loading ammunition onto ships and transferring supplies from liberty ships to shore. He tells of an accidental casualty in his group. Schmitz discusses propaganda drops by Japanese airplanes, seeing Japanese soldiers taken prisoner when they snuck into the American chow lines, and visiting a nearby Army hospital. He speaks of Victory Mail, the food in New Guinea, and fitting in as an underage sailor. Schmitz describes his reaction to visiting a native village. Transferred to the Gilbert Islands in 1945, he talks about cleaning up the debris left from the Battle of Tarawa. He speaks of duty as a signalman and helmsman aboard an LCT and tells an anecdote about hitting a ship at night. He portrays having recreation in the native villages and seeing a USO show featuring Les Brown. Schmitz refers to photographs he took and being issued invasion money in preparation for the invasion of Japan. Near the end of the war, he reports thinking that the officers on his ship put too much emphasis on discipline. Schmitz describes his homecoming, getting a high school equivalency diploma, living on money from the GI Bill's "52-20 club," and eventually getting a job on a line crew at Bell Telephone Company. He touches on joining the American Legion and an underage veterans' association. Schmitz comments on being grateful for the atomic bomb drops and the maturing effect of his service.

Sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 45 min.) ; analog, 1 7/8 ips.Videorecording : 1 videocassette (ca. 45 min.) ; sd., col, ; 1/2 in.Master sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 45 min.) ; analog, 1 7/8 ips.Transcript : 13 p.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center