This is a compilation of the writings of three local Civil War veterans that appeared in the Santa Cruz Sentinel newspaper. In their writings Andrew Kane, Isaac Blaisdell and Caleb Todd share their remembrances, feelings and observations.
Compiled by Robert L. Nelson
Contents: Remembrances of the War by Andrew H. Kane -- The Voice of the GAR by Isaac L. Blaisdell -- Life at the Soldiers Home by Caleb J. Todd.
Interview conducted by Jeanne Czarnecki and produced by Jennifer Cockerill. Recorded at the Downtown Branch, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, August 19, 2014.
Born in Virginia, Minnesota in 1926, Dirk West served in the United States Army from 15 November 1944 to 15 August 1946 in World War II. He was in the 8th Division, trained at Camp Hood, Texas, and was assigned to the Military Police at Le Havre, France. One of his assignments was to guard German prisoners. He received the following medals and ribbons: Good Conduct Medal, Army Occupation Medal (Germany), European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, and WWII Victory Ribbon. He reached the rank of Sergeant Military Police.
Creator
West, Dirk
Czarnecki, Jeanne
Cockerill, Jennifer
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
8/19/2014
Format
Video
Language
En
Type
MOVING IMAGE
Identifier
VH-WEST
Coverage
Santa Cruz (County)
2010s
1940s
Rights
Permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact Santa Cruz Public Libraries for assistance.
Interview conducted by Jeanne Czarnecki and produced by Jennifer Cockerill. Recorded at Dominican Oaks, Santa Cruz, CA, April 1, 2014.
Born in Joliet, Illinois, Robert M. Tracy served in the Navy from 1943 to 1946, as part of the USS LCU-34 (Landing Craft Unit) in Urbana (Illinois), San Diego, Oceanside, Fort Ord and Morro Bay (California) and Caroline Islands (Ulithi). He was promoted to the rank of Motor Machinist's Mate Second Class, and decorated with Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and Good Conduct Medal. Tracy also joined the Korean War from 1950 to 1952, serving on the USS AH16 (Hospital Ship) in Inchon, Chinampo, and Pusan, and participating in the evacuation of West Coast Korea. He reached the rank of Store Keeper First Class.
Creator
Tracy, Robert
Czarnecki, Jeanne
Cockerill, Jennifer
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
4/1/2014
Format
Video
Language
En
Type
MOVING IMAGE
Identifier
VH-TRACY
Coverage
Santa Cruz (County)
2010s
1940s
Rights
Permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact Santa Cruz Public Libraries for assistance.
Interview conducted by Jeanne Czarnecki and produced by Jennifer Cockerill. Recorded at the Downtown Branch, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, May 13, 2014.
Kenneth M. Stewart is a Montgomery native, born and raised in Alabama. He served in the United States Air Force beginning in 1968 at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado, Beale Air Force Base in California, U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base and Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand, Loring Air Force Base in Maine, and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. He served as a pilot for two tours during the Vietnam War and was part of the 744th, and 456th Bombardment Squadrons, the 42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, and the 42nd Bombardment Wing. He participated in Operation Arc Light in Vietnam. Stewart is a highly decorated veteran, receiving medals such as, American Defense Service Medal (ADSM), AFCM (Air Force Commendation Medal), DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross), JSAM (Joint Service Achievement Medal), Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal. He reached the rank of Major.
Creator
Stewart, Kenneth
Czarnecki, Jeanne
Cockerill, Jennifer
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
5/13/2014
Format
Video
Language
En
Type
MOVING IMAGE
Identifier
VH-STEWART
Coverage
Santa Cruz (County)
2010s
1960s
Rights
Permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact Santa Cruz Public Libraries for assistance.
Interview conducted by Jeanne Czarnecki and produced by Jennifer Cockerill. Recorded at the Downtown Branch, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, November 4, 2014.
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1923, Howard F. Sosbee served in the United States Air Corps from 1943-1946 during World War II, as a navigator as well as a cannon loader on a B-25 Mitchell medium bomber in the 82nd Squadron, and 12th Bomb Group of the 10th Air Force. He was stationed at Fenny Airfield in Bangladesh and participated in the Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre from Myitkyina to Rangoon in support of the British 14th Army. In addition to the bombing missions, his crew air-dropped supplies to support the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) ground troops. He received the Air Medal with cluster and reached the rank of Captain.
Creator
Sosbee, Howard
Czarnecki, Jeanne
Cockerill, Jennifer
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
11/4/2014
Format
Video
Language
En
Type
MOVING IMAGE
Identifier
VH-SOSBEE
Coverage
Santa Cruz (County)
2010s
1940s
Rights
Permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact Santa Cruz Public Libraries for assistance.
Interview conducted by Jeanne Czarnecki and produced by Jennifer Cockerill. Recorded at Headquarters, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, June 30, 2015.
Raised in rural Alabama and Georgia, Robert Edward Lee Shippen had a typically Southern childhood, with many family members having served in the armed forces during World War II. In 1966, Shippen enlisted in the army. Signing up as Airborne Unassigned, he received training in light weapons and attended both paratrooper and officer candidate school. After passing the Special Forces Intelligence test, he started his year-long training for academic medicine and combatant. In December 1967, he arrived in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. As an army medic, he performed many life-saving procedures, treated burns, shrapnel punctures, and chest wounds. During the army's "secret war" in Cambodia, Shippen rescued hundreds of refugees. For his military service, he received many medals of honor, among which are a Combat Medics Badge, a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. He reached the rank of E5 - Sergeant (Army). Shippen's tour of duty ended in December 1968, but re-enlisted in the army two years later to become a military diver specializing in hyperbaric chamber operations in Okinawa, the Philippines and Korea. He eventually settled in Santa Cruz, California to begin counseling veterans with PTSD at his nonprofit counseling center.
Creator
Shippen, Robert
Czarnecki, Jeanne
Cockerill, Jennifer
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
6/30/2015
Format
Video
Language
En
Type
MOVING IMAGE
Identifier
VH-SHIPPEN
Coverage
Santa Cruz (County)
2010s
1960s
Rights
Permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact Santa Cruz Public Libraries for assistance.
Interview conducted by Jeanne Czarnecki and produced by Jennifer Cockerill. Recorded at Dominican Oaks, Santa Cruz, March 25, 2014.
David H. Rosenthal is a San Jose native, born and raised in California. He entered into active service from 1940 to 1946. As part of Marine Corps, he served in the First Marine Provisional Brigade and the Second Marine Division in San Diego, California, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New Zealand, Guam (Mariana Islands), and Russell Islands. He fought in the Pacific Theater, and participated in the Battle of Guam. Rosenthal reached the rank of captain.
Creator
Rosenthal, David
Czarnecki, Jeanne
Cockerill, Jennifer
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
3/25/2014
Format
Video
Language
En
Type
MOVING IMAGE
Identifier
VH-ROSENTHAL
Coverage
Santa Cruz (County)
2010s
1940s
Rights
Permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact Santa Cruz Public Libraries for assistance.
Interview conducted by Jeanne Czarnecki and produced by David Addison. Recorded at the Roninger residence, Ben Lomond, CA, April 3, 2017.
Born in St. Louis, MO, on 29 February 1917, Robert Hugh Roninger, Sr. enlisted in the U.S. Amy Air Corps in September 1942. Trained as airplane mechanic and posted to bases in Las Vegas and Indian Springs, NV, he learned to maintain B17 and B24 aircraft. Roninger was commissioned to an airbase near Cairo, Egypt. He worked for 16 months on C46 and C47 aircraft supplying materials from cargo ships to troops in North Africa. Before and after military service, Roninger served in the National Guard. In his civilian life, he was a licensed airplane mechanic and worked at Sky Ranch Airport, Denver, CO and Garden City Regional Airport in KS. He worked for gas and water utility company in Colorado and California. Living in Ben Lomond, Santa Cruz County, Roninger has turned 100.
Creator
Roninger, Robert
Czarnecki, Jeanne
Addison, David
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
4/3/2017
Format
Video
Language
En
Type
MOVING IMAGE
Identifier
VH-RONINGER
Coverage
Santa Cruz (County)
2010s
1940s
Rights
Permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact Santa Cruz Public Libraries for assistance.
00:30 introduction; born in St. Louis, Missouri, February 23, 1917; recently celebrated 100 year birthday
1:50 prior to enlistment, worked in family grocery store, manufactured bullets for Remington Arms Company, and worked as an auto mechanic
2:40 enlisted in Army Air Corps in 1942 at age 26; WWII in progress; joined Air Corps to become a pilot; could not qualify due to colorblindness and airsickness
3:15 first military post was Las Vegas; sent to Indian Springs, Nevada where he received air-to-air gunnery training and worked as aircraft mechanic on B17 and B24 aircraft
4:05 assigned to military base near Cairo, Egypt; stationed in Egypt for approximately 16 months as aircraft mechanic; supplies were transported via cargo ships from air base to troops in North Africa; squadron lived in tents, ate dehydrated food; it was 120 degrees in the shade
7:16 he saw very little combat while in North Africa
7:57 remained in contact with home through letters; had a wife and two sons at home
9:06 R&R in Egypt included visiting the Pyramids & Sphinx; he walked the Nile River and saw Moses’ bulrushes; troop mostly confined to Barracks because of war in desert
10:25 was released from service and adapted well to civilian life; he lived in parents basement in Denver, CO and had a nice reception home
11:00 he remained in contact with two Air Corps friends after military service
11:35 he joined The American Legion and was commander of two posts
12:30 did not receive service medals or stripes for service and remained at rank of private for four years; none of the 20 men in his squadron were given stripes despite being told they would after six months
14:32 following release he spent four years in National Guard earning $20 per month including longevity pay
14:52 following service he obtained two aircraft engineer licenses and worked as a mechanic at Denver Sky Ranch airport and Garden City, Kansas airport
17:24 prior to enlistment in the Air Corps he and his brother both served in the National Guard; his brother later served in the Army with General Patton in North Africa, Germany, and Japan and retired as a colonel after 20 years
22:38 in Egypt he learned basic Arabic phrases to converse with civilians; occasionally he spoke a little Arabic with an Egyptian man in Ben Lomond; recalls that American soldiers were referred to by the Egyptians as “The Rich Yanks”
24:30 he was relocated to California by his employer, a gas utility company in Colorado; he worked for a water utility company; he arrived in Boulder Creek in 1959 and has resided at his current address for 50 years
26:50 one of his two sons served in the National Guard; no other children served in the military
27:58 he does not think his military service has affected his life
29:38 recalls stealing canned sea rations from cargo; canned food was far superior to the everyday rations for soldiers
31:08 photos from large personal collection shared [samples shown on camera]; photos represent members of his military squadron, airplanes painted with female pinups, photos of the Egyptian pyramids and sphinx
Interview conducted by Jeanne Czarnecki and produced by David Addison. Recorded at Dominican Oaks, Santa Cruz, April 12, 2016.
Born in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1927, Bernice Robertson joined the Cadet Nurse Corps after high school. She received three years' comprehensive nursing education, with a specialty in medical-surgical nursing at Philadelphia General Hospital. From June 1948 to December 1952, she served as an ensign in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps. Her first military assignment was at St. Albans Naval Hospital in New York. Six months later, she was assigned to Oakland Navy Hospital in California. Promoted to junior grade, Robertson was due for overseas duty, but was given an option to study dietetics at George Washington University in DC., because of her father's terminal illness. After completing the program, she was reassigned to Oakland, working as a dietitian to educate enlisted men in weight control behaviors. Robertson reached the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG). She was married to a naval offer and released from military service with her first pregnancy. Once her children were school-aged, she went back to school to earn a B.A. in education and a M.S in medical-surgical nursing. She held various positions in nursing, teaching and consulting at organizations such as San Mateo County Hospital, Stanford University, California Department of Health, Santa Cruz Visiting Nurses Association and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Since May 2015, Robertson has been living in Dominican Oaks, a retirement community in Santa Cruz.
Creator
Robertson, Bernice
Czarnecki, Jeanne
Addison, David
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
4/12/2016
Format
Video
Language
En
Type
MOVING IMAGE
Identifier
VH-ROBERTSON
Coverage
Santa Cruz (County)
2010s
1950s
Rights
Permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact Santa Cruz Public Libraries for assistance.
Interview conducted by David Addison and produced by David Addison. Recorded at the Downtown Branch, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, January 25, 2018.
Born in Chicago, Illinois on January 19, 1924, Frank Rimicci served in the Amy during World War II as a sergeant in the 718th Railway Operation Battalion. One of his main responsibilities in Normandy, France was to move equipment and heavy machinery on the train from the beach to the front line. He was in charge of transporting General Patton's 4th Armored Division Tanks on the train used in the Battle of the Bulge. He served in Strasbourg, Luxembourg, Belgium, Bastogne and Germany. Rimicci received three Overseas Service Bars, an American Campaign Medal, European-American-Middle Eastern Ribbon with 4 Bronze Battle Stars and medals, and French Legion of Honor Medal. After the war, Rimicci settled in Santa Cruz, California, after visiting his wife's aunt and uncle.
Creator
Rimicci, Frank
Addison, David
Publisher
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
1/25/2018
Format
Video
Language
En
Type
MOVING IMAGE
Identifier
VH-RIMICCI
Coverage
Santa Cruz (County)
2010s
1940s
Rights
Permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact Santa Cruz Public Libraries for assistance.
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Interviewer
David Addison
Interviewee
Frank Rimicci
Location
Downtown Branch, Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Original Format
MP4 video
Duration
56 min.
Time Summary
1:00 Introduction, place of birth
1:20 Correct pronunciation of last name
1:30 Parents occupation
2:00 Way he joined the Army
3:00 Names of siblings, what they did in the military
4:21 Occupation before the service
5:21 Decision on branch of military to join
5:49 Rank in service
7:59 Able to stay working on the railroads
8:10 Bootcamp experience
9:33 Battalion went on strike over food
10:33 Learned Army way of railroading
11:06 Made rifle sharpshooter
11:50 Stationed at Camp Harahan in New Orleans
12:20 Landed in Omaha Beach, then Normandy
12:54 Sleeping arrangements with tents in Normandy
13:24 With Myron Jones in Chicago and Normandy
14:08 Experience in moving trains
17:16 Looked for George after trains hit
18:11 No bombs exploded after trains hit
18:55 Troops move trains already loaded
19:25 Engine types used on trains
20:30 Transported what ever there was to front lines
20:58 In charge of transporting General Patton’s 4th armored train
22:20 Transported trains all through France
22:39 No combat missions
23:31 Food train experience
25:10 Received French Medal of Honor, 4 Battle Star pin
27:13 Transported train with refugees
28:20 No military protection while running trains
28:28 Picture of brothers and brother-in-law in uniform
29:00 Transported train to Bastogne, France, Battle of the Bulge
31:00 Friends made in France
31:49 No R&R
32:00 Met people from the FFE in Paris
33:06 Able to write letters home
33:27 Branches of the military brothers were in
34:28 Came home on victory ship
35:45 Experience coming home
36:18 Returned to work at the railroad
36:28 Frozen feet in Belgium
37:27 Married, wife wants to visit aunt and uncle in Santa Cruz
38:00 Moved to Santa Cruz
38:29 Uncle left inheritance to children
38:59 Two boys
39:27 Attended military reunions in Chicago. New York, Kentucky and California
40:26 Reunions dwindling due people passing
40:58 Talked about fellow soldiers passing
42:00 How fast the trains ran
43:22 Life member of VFW, quit American Legion
43:47 Meets with fellow soldiers twice monthly
44:43 Describes members of group
45:07 Has peripheral neuropathy
47:05 Never forgets scenes from war
47:40 Feels sorry for soldiers in all wars
47:59 War is hell
48:52 Book with pictures soldiers, bombed railroads
50:38 Picture of soldiers in Germany, he is in one picture
51:20 Advice for future generations: Try not to go to war
52:01 Looks for picture of Billy
53:00 Picture of train accident that Billy was in
54:01 Almost killed by train
55:26 Not easy to run trains