Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Jim Vidal

WWII | 103rd Infantry Division

Jim Vidal tells the story of how he asked a German prisoner to help him carry a large battery pack for him. After a couple of days together, the two created a bond that his Colonel said was against the rules of war. (3:25)
During heavy battle in Germany, his Lieutenant was killed, so Jim Vidal was temporarily put in charge by the Captain, however one timid soldier in his platoon made him realize he was not prepared for this appointment. (1:44)
After his head injury during one of his early missions in the Vosges Mountains in France, Jim Vidal explains why another soldier told him he needed to give up his boots. He also shares a story he heard in the hospital from another wounded soldier. (3:46)
Jim Vidal shares a story about a humorous comment he told his men to help break the tension during a break in battle. This occurred soon after suffering a head injury from shrapnel, which led to his receiving a Purple Heart. (2:05)
In the heat of battle, Jim Vidal and his platoon came across a few abandoned German horses that were rather shell-shocked by the gunfire, however his training back in the states actually prepared him to use the horses effectively. (2:45)
Jim Vidal explains why and how he chose to enlist in the artillery instead of infantry per a Colonel's advice. However after entering training camp, he learned that certain roles within artillery could actually be more dangerous. (2:09)
Jim Vidal was not a smoker before joining the Army, but he tells the story of how certain situations forced him to take on the habit. (:52)
Jim Wall

WWII | 530th Fighter Squadron, 311th Fighter Group

Jim Wall recounts his first dive bomb mission flying ground support for Merrill's Marauders in Burma. (2:23)
Jim Wall tells of his one on one dogfight with a Zero (1:15)
Jim Wall recalls a dangerous encounter with a group of B-25s over China with flight leader Jack Emery and fellow pilots Randy Reeves and Tiny Wilbourne. The B-25s led them into 8 Japanese Zeroes, and Wall and the men tried to break up the Japanese attack. (4:57)