Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Wilmer Roland

WWII | 1306 Engineer Service Regiment

Engineer Wilmer Roland was trained to build bridges and destroy mines, but before he followed the Army onto Omaha beach he managed to lose some stripes in England and nearly freeze in a dive from a ship. (5:29)
When he did not have enough points to be discharged after the Europe campaign, Wilmer Roland found himself on a ship to the Pacific. There was nearly a riot when troops found out the destination - Manila. (7:19)
A surrendering German officer supplied a new sidearm for Wilmer Roland, a Luger. A town where the scorched earth technique had been used by the enemy still amazes him. And what was that password? (5:20)
During the Battle of the Bulge, Engineer Wilmer Roland was used as a recon driver and recalls dodging cows on the roads. He also remembers the hospitality of the people of Luxembourg and the novelty of hearing a Buzz Bomb. (3:40)
Wilmer Roland encountered Russian troops while camped in Czechoslovakia and marveled that they had women soldiers. After the European hostilities ceased, he nearly was seen fraternizing with a civilian by Gen. Patton, who was riding by on a Jeep. (4:20)
As the ship left Japan to carry Wilmer Roland home to America, the troops took up a collection for the captain of the ship, who was fined for leaving port too early. Back home, the Army engineer reflected that he was "just another soldier." (3:07)
Winfield Baldwin

WWII | USS Mellette (APA-156)

Like all his friends who graduated high school in 1943, Winfield Baldwin was eager to get into the war. He grew up around the water so, naturally, he joined the Navy, where he became a signalman. On the USS Mellette, a troop transport, he was part of the beach battalion, men who landed with the troops and managed the activity on the beach. (This interview made possible with the support of RALPH DERRYBERRY.) (5:41)
The dawn was beautiful that first day at Iwo Jima, recalls Winfield Baldwin, who was lucky he was not scheduled for the first wave. He was a signalman in the Navy's beach battalion and his turn would come soon. In the meantime, he had a front row seat from the signal bridge of the chaos and misery on shore. (This interview made possible with the support of RALPH DERRYBERRY.) (6:06)
The second day at Iwo Jima, Navy signalman Winfield Baldwin readied himself to go ashore. His job was to land with Marines and do the ship to shore communications. When he got there, he saw a surreal landscape of wrecked machinery, vehicles and weapons. Then there were the casualties. (This interview made possible with the support of RALPH DERRYBERRY.) (7:48)
Winfield Baldwin was glad to be relieved on the Iwo Jima beach and with a few dozen others on a landing craft, he headed out to return to his ship. Unable to board because of Japanese attack, they struggled to keep up with the ships heading further out to sea. After a queasy night, they woke to a startling sight. (This interview made possible with the support of RALPH DERRYBERRY.) (4:35)