Oral history interview with Robert H. Botts [sound recording], 1997.

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Oral history interview with Robert H. Botts [sound recording], 1997.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/83319352

The Madison, Wis. veteran discusses his pre-war and World War II service as a tank commander with the 4th Regiment of the 6th Marine Division island hopping during the Pacific campaign. He talks about enlisting in the Marines because he wanted to serve in China, being issued supplies, guard duty at the Naval air station at North Island (California), and learning of the attack on Pearl Harbor. After being transferred to the 11th Defense Battalion, he left for overseas in 1942. Landing at Guadalcanal Island, he comments on participating in the fighting for the island, the effectiveness of training, bathing and washing clothes in a river, interacting with natives, and fishing using explosive charges. Botts details his experiences on Guam where including staying in flooded foxholes for three nights, having his tank set on fire by Japanese soldiers, finding and using Japanese weapons, and being wounded. Also discussed is the landing at Okinawa supporting infantry troops and trading captured weapons and souvenirs with sailors. Included are his feelings about the dropping of the atomic bomb, discharge, recovery from service experiences, use of the GI Bill, and recurring malaria.

Sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 90 min.) ; analog, 1 7/8 ips.Master sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 90 min.) ; analog, 1 7/8 ips.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center

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SNAC Resource ID: 8299144

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center

Related Entities

There are 5 Entities related to this resource.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum

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Van Ells, Mark D. (Mark David), 1962-

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United States. Marine Corps. Marine Regiment, 4th

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Botts, Robert H., 1922- ,

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Botts, (B. February 24, 1922) served with the 6th Marine Division. He served as a tank commander platoon head in Guadalcanal, Munda Islands, Florida Island, New Georgia, Southern Solomons, Ryuku Islands, Guam and Okinawa. He was awarded a silver star for action at Sugarloaf Hill in Okinawa after being shot eleven times. From the description of Oral history interview with Robert Botts [sound recording], 2001. (Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center). WorldCat record id: 76160168 ...

United States. Marine Corps

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The U.S. Marine Corps was established on November 10, 1775. From the description of Papers, 1933-1945. (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 754107146 The history of the Marine Corps Navajo Code Talkers dates from 1942-1945. In 1942, a white man by the name of Phillip Johnston, who had lived on a Navajo reservation for many years of his life, conceived an idea that he thought might help the war. He believed that the Navajo language, a verbal, rarely-written language, coul...