Oral history interview with William D. Leigh [sound recording], 2004.

ArchivalResource

Leigh, William D., 1925- ,. Oral history interview with William D. Leigh [sound recording], 2004.

Oral history interview with William D. Leigh [sound recording], 2004.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/85361064

William Leigh, a Spruce, Wisconsin native, discusses his World War II service as a fireman and water tender with the Merchant Marine crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Leigh talks about enlisting, boot camp at Sheepshead Bay Maritime Service Training Station (New York), and engineer school. He speaks of his duties as fireman water tender: cleaning the oil burners, maintaining water balance in the ship's boilers, and helping with naval guns when necessary. Leigh describes the night he arrived aboard his ship, the SS Lucian B. Maxwell, and discusses escorting a convoy to Great Britain. Landing in France two days after D-Day, he talks about transporting landing craft, seeing heavy antiaircraft fire, and seeing bodies on the beaches. Leigh portrays transporting French troops returning from Africa. He reveals his wages and bonuses and tells of returning home on leave. Leigh touches upon reassignment to the SS Santa Leonor, transporting ammunition from New Jersey to Cherbourg (France) for the breakout at St. Lo, losing ships in his convoy to torpedoes a few days before V-E Day, and sailing from Marseille to the Pacific theater of operations. While in the Pacific, Leigh mentions shore leave on Magmag Island and going through a typhoon at Okinawa (Japan). He addresses his post-war trip with the Merchant Marine to South American. Upon discharge, Leigh touches on getting married and becoming a carpenter.

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.Military papers : 0.1 linear ft. (1 folder)Transcript : 22 p.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center