Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

COMBAT STORIES FROM World War II

Al Samsel | 1st Cavalry Division - Army

2:41   |   It was the Summer of 1946 before Al Samsel came home from the Pacific. He was grateful he had seen some of the world overseas, because it gave him a new appreciation for America. He was also grateful that President Truman didn't need long to look at a horseshoe.

More From Al Samsel

Keywords   :     Al Samsel    seasick    California    train    bus    Bean Station    Tennessee    Ft. Sheridan    Illinois    University of Tennessee    Atlanta    Japan    Philippines    service    Truman

Videos ( 3 )
WWII
  • Al Samsel  |  WWII  |  1st Cavalry Division  |  4:58

    Young draftee Al Samsel says he learned important lessons in basic training and it would be good if everyone had to go through it. He thought he would be sent to Europe as a replacement but instead was put on a train for California and the Pacific.

  • Al Samsel  |  WWII  |  1st Cavalry Division  |  6:11

    Seasick? It's as sick as you can get, remembers Al Samsel. His Pacific crossing took him to the Philippines, where he went in with Gen. Douglas MacArthur in his promised "return." They moved through the countryside in a clean up operation against isolated Japanese and nearly became victims of friendly fire.

  • Al Samsel  |  WWII  |  1st Cavalry Division  |  3:52

    Like many in the Pacific, Al Samsel was training for the invasion of the Japanese homeland when news came about the atomic bombs. Instead of invading them, he got to know the Japanese people while assigned to post war duty.

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