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Stuart McIntyre

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McIntyre explains how a mortar is fired and the repercussions of firing one over and over for years. To this day, he still has problems with a ringing in his ears because every time he loaded the mortar it was extremely loud. He also remembers handling a bazooka and attempting to use it to shoot down a German aircraft. (6:16)

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McIntyre remembers that it wasn't all the time that the US Army was very coordinated from one company to another, and so while in his foxhole he noticed a tank parked next to him. It was quite a hazard because it was drawing enemy fire right to their exact location. The conditions of war were of course unhealthy, but nonetheless he and his company succeeded in crossing the Rhine River and survived in Kassel till the end of the war. From there, he was tasked with postwar guard duty. (6:55)

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After the war was over, McIntyre recalls many civilian interactions with the German people. Many of them were pleasant since they wanted to get on the US Army's good side, but some of them were still loyal to the Hitler youth program. Although he did eventually get to come back home to the states, McIntyre says that World War II has changed his life forever. He went back to Europe as soon as he could to be involved with the Foreign Service. (4:19)

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After growing up in and near Hollywood and Portland, Oregon, Stuart McIntyre decided to sign up for the Army's Specialized Training Program back before World War II. He was accepted into Stanford University for a brief while until he was called to action following the US involvement in the ongoing war. He was immediately sent to Fort Benning for infantry training. (5:06)

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After his infantry training at Fort Benning, McIntyre went to Fort Bragg and learned to be a jeep driver for his company. Whenever someone needed transport he was the guy they would call. One day while at training the unexpected happened; after being given a chance to fire a machine gun, he ranked expert on the amount of targets he hit. (6:17)

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When his mortar company was finally needed overseas, McIntyre was sent aboard the USS George Washington to arrive in France. It wasn't long before they had their first casualty, in which everyone was struck with a range of emotions. McIntyre begun combat in Baccarat, France, and was attacked by heavy German counter fire on New Year's Eve. (8:39)

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The battle of Baccarat took many lives with it, but it left McIntyre unharmed. From there he describes what his company had to do next, one significant event being the battle of Bitche, France. At one point, his hand was wounded during combat, and he was up for a purple heart because of it. When asked by the medic if he wanted to be put down for one, he declined not knowing it would get him points to go home sooner. However, he did manage to receive a bronze star later on down the line. (5:30)

Charles Mahaffey

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Charles Mahaffey was one of many men to go through the Army's basic training program. Many who finished early would end up fighting on the beaches in Italy, but Charles thought he had a bit of luck and ended up training with an anti-aircraft artillery battalion. (3:42)

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The trip overseas was long for many ships who needed to avoid German U-Boats, but Charles Mahaffey was able to go to Europe about the Queen Mary, one of the fastest ships in the Atlantic. While in England, they would prepare for the eventual invasion of mainland Europe. Moving men over the channel is one task, but moving their anti-aircraft guns would be another difficult endeavor. (4:52)

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Charles Mahaffey briefly describes his involvement during the Battle of the Bulge where his battalion was tasked with provided anti-air support for the struggling American forces. One of the biggest threats for all was the biting, December cold of Northern Europe. (3:36)