Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Will Gehlen

Vietnam | French Foreign Legion

Fighting for the French Foreign Legion in Indochina, Will Gehlen relates his experiences during the battle of Dien Bien Phu, in which he was wounded and captured by the Viet Minh. (11:28)
Pressed into service on a flak gun crew, Will Gehlen, a boy at the time, describes the technology used to battle Allied planes and the routine of life on the crew. (The Flak Guns, Part 1/2) (9:40)
As the war was winding down, Will Gehlen crossed American and German lines to get to his grandfather's funeral in Luxembourg. With the Americans fully in control, civilians began to know the GIs as friends and protectors rather than adversaries. (Post-war Interactions with Allied Soldiers, Part 1/2) (12:32)
As a messenger on a German flak gun crew, Will Gehlen's job was to deliver messages from the spotters to the gunners. This exposed him to fire from the diving fighter bombers. (2:52)
Will Jasmund

WWII | Headquarters and Service Company, 158th Engineer Combat Battalion

His brother had already been drafted and he gave Will Jasmund this advice about going into the Army, don't get sent to Texas and don't get assigned to the engineers. Never one to agree with his big brother, he wanted both. He was anxious to go, but first he had to break the news to his parents. (This interview made possible with the support of RICHARD MCDONALD) (5:20)
Will Jasmund was on a train with no idea where he was going. A corporal told the young inductees that they would soon be able to say they had seen Paris. That caused some raised eyebrows but they were soon in the plains of Texas training for an engineer battalion. France would have to wait a bit. (This interview made possible with the support of RICHARD MCDONALD) (4:33)
It was total blackout. Newly arrived in England, Will Jasmund was led through the darkness to a mess hall for the worst meal yet, powdered eggs and terrible coffee. Quartered on the grounds of a castle, his engineering battalion prepared for the coming invasion. They knew it was on when the aircraft activity became constant, with damaged planes coming in and going right out again. Finally the word came, it was their turn. (This interview made possible with the support of RICHARD MCDONALD) (6:07)
They worked within two miles of the Normandy coast, repairing roads and bridges. Will Jasmund and the others in the engineer battalion had no doubts they were in the middle of a war. The strafing, shelling and, eventually, the friendly fire made them sure of that. (This interview made possible with the support of RICHARD MCDONALD) (3:30)
The brass wanted to go into Paris for a fun evening. The city wasn't completely secure, but driver Will Jasmund had a good time anyway. There was only one problem. The jeep was gone when he woke up. He hitched a ride back to his outfit where he was informed that there was a much bigger problem. (This interview made possible with the support of RICHARD MCDONALD) (4:41)
After his good friend was killed, Will Jasmund would not get close with anyone else. He was camped outside Bastogne when the Germans surged into the area, causing cooks, clerks and engineers like him to man the front line. He recalls an incident in which six soldiers wandered into camp on foot after abandoning their truck convoy in the face of enemy tanks. (This interview made possible with the support of RICHARD MCDONALD) (8:35)