Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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John Reitz

WWII | 262nd Infantry Regiment, 66th Infantry Division

During his short stay in England, John Reitz had more training and his infantry unit received new weapons. It was two miles to the pub, but that was just a short stroll to infantrymen. Their machine guns were late, which prompted a little ingenuity to get the packing grease cleaned off in time to ship out. (This interview made possible with the support of COL ROBERT W. RUST, USMCR (ret.) in honor of LtGen Lawrence Snowden & LtGen George Christmas.) (3:32)
They were late to the ship, having tended to the equipment, so John Reitz and his sergeant were put in a different part of the SS Leopoldville from their unit. His spot was just above the water line, which was to mean a lot to him once they were a few miles from Cherbourg. Part 1 of 4. (This interview made possible with the support of COL ROBERT W. RUST, USMCR (ret.) in honor of LtGen Lawrence Snowden & LtGen George Christmas.) (6:31)
John Reitz had made it out of the flooding lower decks and was at the rail on the top deck of the SS Leopoldville. The crew had fled. The ship was slowly sinking and his options were narrowed to one. He slid down the rising angle of the deck into the water. Part 2 of 4. (This interview made possible with the support of COL ROBERT W. RUST, USMCR (ret.) in honor of LtGen Lawrence Snowden & LtGen George Christmas.) (5:46)
He'd been rescued from the frigid water of the English Channel, but John Reitz was still cold as he made it to the docks of Cherbourg. He got dry clothes, thanks to the hospitality of a quartermaster unit, and he also got a large glass of some unknown beverage. Part 3 of 4. (This interview made possible with the support of COL ROBERT W. RUST, USMCR (ret.) in honor of LtGen Lawrence Snowden & LtGen George Christmas.) (4:51)
In the aftermath of the sinking of the SS Leopoldville, John Reitz wandered the streets of Cherbourg for two days. He was contemplating something he never would have imagined before he realized that this war could very well kill him. Part 4 of 4. (This interview made possible with the support of COL ROBERT W. RUST, USMCR (ret.) in honor of LtGen Lawrence Snowden & LtGen George Christmas.) (5:57)
They gave John Reitz the big pitch about staying in the Army Reserves once he returned from Europe. There wasn't much chance of that happening, as he makes clear. He returned to his career in music, embittered by his military experience. (This interview made possible with the support of COL ROBERT W. RUST, USMCR (ret.) in honor of LtGen Lawrence Snowden & LtGen George Christmas.) (4:09)
John Rodgers

WWII | 27th Bomb Group (Light)

John Rodgers remembers the more intensive parts of his training before deploying overseas. All of his preparation paid off as he began flying missions in North Africa. (11:33)
During one of his missions over Italy, John Rodgers was forced to bail out of a plane, but managed to land safely. After landing, he was captured by some enemy forces and taken as a prisoner of war. (15:15)
After being captured, John Rodgers met an old friend at the camp where he was being held. While being brought back to Rome by his captors, Rodgers was able to buy some sustenance for himself and his friends that kept them going as they were transferred to Poland. (Part 1) (5:17)
With their final destination set as Poland, Rodgers and his fellow captives stop at a small camp in Szubin, where they were held. By the end of his time there, there were nearly 2,000 other officers being held captive. (Part 2) (11:35)