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Thomas Dahill joined the Army Air Corps in 1943, shortly after graduating from Arlington High School. He eventually became a navigator on a B-24, and was sent to the Philippines and New Guinea. He would fly 45 missions, including one that would be the longest trip ever made by a B-24. Tom Dahill drew this portrait of the B-24 to which he was assigned as a navigator. The map of the Sulu Sea where Dahill took part in the longest trip undertaken by a B-24.
https://natickveterans.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Vet-Somersall-MP3-for-Audio-Podcasting.mp3 In summer 1943, Richard Somersall had just entered MIT to study aeronautical engineering when the Marines called him into service. Somersall would become a machine gunner for the 21st and 1st Marine regiments, and serve in Guam and northern China.
https://natickveterans.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/McCarthy-MP3-for-Audio-Podcasting.mp3 This interview covers Mr. McCarthy’s service as a platoon commander with Co. L, 182 Infantry, Co. L, 335 Infantry in Guadalcanal and Europe.
U.S. Marine Corps, 1943-46 https://natickveterans.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Vet-Dan-Callanan-MP3-for-Audio-Podcasting.mp3 Dan Callanan left Malden Catholic in February 1943 to join the Marine Corps, because his father had served with the Marines during World War I. Callanan would be trained as an aerial photographer, and would serve in North Carolina, Florida and at Midway Island in the Pacific Theater. A portrait of Dan Callanan when he served with the Marines.
U.S. Navy 1939–1945 https://natickveterans.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Yelsey-MP3-for-Audio-Podcasting.mp3 Interview discussing Mr. Yelsey’s service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, focusing particularly on his experiences as an electronic technician, and his participation in the Battle of Okinawa. View in catalog
U.S. Navy 1942–1945 https://natickveterans.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Witt-MP3-for-Audio-Podcasting.mp3 When he was only 16, “Mannie” Witt convinced his parents to let him enlist in the Navy. He was assigned as a signalman to the USS Arkansas which, as part of a convoy of ships, participated in the Normandy Invasion at Omaha Beach and saw action at Iwo Jima, the ship’s target being Mt. Suribachi. Mannie witnessed from the mast the battles, the Kamikaze pilots and all the close calls. After the war, he was assigned to the USS Tennessee under Vice Admiral Jesse Oldendorf, who was in charge of the occupation of Southern Japan. He witnessed the devastation of Hiroshima and finished his tour of duty on the USS Appalachian, where he was discharged as a Signalman First Class. Mannie Witt – greetings from Casablanca Samples of money, including Italian and Japanese USS Arkansas signalmen group View in catalog
U.S. Army 1939–1945 https://natickveterans.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Vinci-MP3-for-Audio-Podcasting.mp3 Interview discussing Mr. Vinci’s service with the U.S. Army’s 854 Aviation Engineers in the Pacific, building airstrips in Kwajalein Atoll (Marshall Islands), Guam (Mariana Islands) and Okinawa (Japan). View in catalog
U.S. Army 1942–1945 https://natickveterans.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Todisco.mp3 At the age of 22, Joseph A. Todisco was called up to join the Army. After learning to fire artillery weaponry and helping to write ground-to-air defense manuals, Joe was soon sent to New Guinea and the Philippines, with expectations of defending against the Japanese. In the Philippines, he was a sentry at the home of General Douglas MacArthur and saw firsthand the results of war. He speaks fondly of the general and his leadership. View in catalog
U.S. Army 1936-66 https://natickveterans.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Taffe-MP3-for-Audio-Podcasting.mp3 This interview covers Mr. Taffe’s service in the infantry in the Pacific Theater; to the Office of the Chief of Staff during the Korean War; and to the Office of the Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War. view in catalog
U.S. Marine Corps 1939–1945, 1950–1953 https://natickveterans.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Surman-MP3-for-Audio-Podcasting.mp3 Interview discussing Mr. Surman’s Marine Corps service as a telephone and radio man in Saipan, Okinawa and China during World War II, the Inchon invasion during the Korean War, and embassy duty in Mexico City, Mexico. View in catalog