Oral history interview of George T. Duncan

Collection:: Veterans History Project: Oral History Interviews
Title:: Oral history interview of George T. Duncan
Creator:: Westbrook, Frances H.
Duncan, George T., 1909-2005
Date of Original:: 2004-06-29
Subject:: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
World War, 1939-1945--Occupied territories
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Europe
Duncan, Latrell Robertson, 1911-2006
Hill, Joseph Lister, 1894-1984
Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945
Auburn University
United States. Army. Junior ROTC
United States Military Academy
United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 29th (1901-1957)
Location:: Panama, Panama Canal, 8.99797, -79.59269
United States, California, Monterey County, Fort Ord Military Reservation (historical), 36.65278, -121.80056
United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
United States, Georgia, Atlanta Metropolitan Area, 33.8498, 84.4383
United States, Georgia, Chattahoochee County, Fort Benning, 32.35237, -84.96882
United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Fort McPherson, 33.70733, -84.43354
United States, Georgia, Henry County, McDonough, 33.44734, -84.14686
United States, Hawaii, Honolulu County, Honolulu, 21.30694, -157.85833
United States, Maryland, Anne Arundel County, Fort Meade, 39.10815, -76.74323
United States, New Jersey, Burlington County, Fort Dix, 40.02984, -74.61849
Medium:: video recordings (physical artifacts)
mini-dv
Type:: Moving Image
Format:: video/quicktime
Description:: In this interview, George Duncan recalls his career in the U.S. Army. Not sure what he wanted to do with his life, he attended college for a year when his father got a message from his congressman inviting George to an appointment at West Point. He graduated in 1932 and was stationed in Hawaii, leaving just one month before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served in General Patton's Third Army and recalls capturing a very young German soldier near the Fulda River near the end of the war. He describes traveling on a train with General Patton's dog which was being transported to Patton's widow following the General's death. Duncan served with occupation forces in Europe following World War II and also commanded an infantry regiment in the Korean War. Following his retirement from the military he worked at Emory University's Yerkes Primate Research Center.
George Duncan was an Army officer in World War II and Korea.
FRANCES WESTBROOK: All right, let's go ahead and begin. Today is Tuesday, June 29, 2004. We're here in the residence at Lenbrook Square of General George Thigpen Duncan and Mrs. Duncan. And we're here to record a veteran's history interview. Mrs. Duncan, we're now looking at you and we want both of you to speak up whenever you like. And my name is Frances Westbrook. I'm with the Atlanta History Center and have been helping with the Veterans History Project, and we're really grateful to you for all your service, and also for letting us come here today. So I'm going to turn the camera right on General Duncan just like that. Now, General Duncan, will you please tell me again where you grew up? GEORGE DUNCAN: I grew up in Montgomery, Alabama. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Yes. And how did you happen to go into the service? GEORGE DUNCAN: Well, I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life anyway when I graduated from high school, so I went one year to Auburn. And then I came back on a weekend visit. I went back to Montgomery, which I did frequently. My father said I got a message from Lister Hill [a Congressman] this week, and he said he had an appointment open to West Point. “Do you want to go to West Point?” I said, “Give me some time to think about it,” and after about two minutes I said, “Yes, I'd like to go. I'd like to see what it is like.” So, he did call Lister Hill and I went over to enter the military academy at West Point. And then from then on I did what every body told me to do, and it worked out very well for me because I was glad to do what they told me to do, otherwise I would be in a lot of trouble. So that began my years of service in the United States Army, four years at West Point, graduated in '32 and here I am listening to you questioning me. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Yes. Well, there are so many things that we could ask that we'd like to know about. What was the first year at West Point like? Was it a lot different from Auburn? GEORGE DUNCAN: Was it like different from Auburn? I'd tell you there is no similarity. It was, but it never bothered me. I had taken ROTC training before in high school and one year at college. So, it was not new to me. And some people got a little disturbed about being told what to do and do it quickly, because they never had been subject to that before. But I got along all right. I never got into any major trouble there at West Point. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Do you think that ROTC training was a good preparation? GEORGE DUNCAN: It was very good preparation. Well, I did what they told me to do that was the key to the whole thing. That's the way to stay out of trouble. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Excellent, well, what was your first; you graduated in 1932 as a second lieutenant I believe? GEORGE DUNCAN: Yes. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Commission, and then what did you do after West Point? GEORGE DUNCAN: I had thirty-something years. But when I graduated I was assigned first to Fort McPherson out here. And it was in 1932 and that's when I met Latrelle, she lived in Atlanta. And after a year of so I was so enamored with her that I asked her to marry me. Well, she got a little bit reluctant about that, but the main thing about that obstacle that we had was that I was in the Army, and therefore if she was in the Army she would have to travel a long way from home. She didn't want to leave home. But in a year I had her persuaded, and I got orders to leave anyway. So, I don't know what got her going but I went to Fort Benning and took her with me. We got married, First Presbyterian Church right here in town. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Wonderful, that was Rev. Howell's church, wasn't it? GEORGE DUNCAN: Yeah. FRANCES WESTBROOK: So many people remember him. GEORGE DUNCAN: I think his name was Bill. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Elizabeth Bloodworth's father. So you did in fact live all over the world, didn't you? GEORGE DUNCAN: Just about. FRANCES WESTBROOK: You really did. Now before you began moving and living in different places, what about the years before World War II? Many of the veterans we've talked to, of course, entered at age eighteen, so they were much younger. But you were already experienced? GEORGE DUNCAN: I had nine years service in the Army. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Right, what was your sense of the buildup that World War II was looming? That things were happening? GEORGE DUNCAN: Well, I don't know exactly, but it was my whole class was affected. So, I had most of my friends subject to the same duties as I was. So, they were called, they had the same problems I had if I had any. But it didn't bother me. What bothered me was leaving Latrelle. . . . .I guess, I went to Fort Benning. I went to infantry school there. I went into the 29th Infantry at Fort Benning. And from there I went to, well, I got married for one thing. Then I went to, wasn't it Fort Dix, Latrelle? LATRELLE DUNCAN: Yeah. GEORGE DUNCAN: Went to Fort Dix, New Jersey. And as the Army, they had a prep school there for soldiers who had apartments and who needed coaching for the entrance exam. And I was, I had that responsibility. And stayed there, I think it was two years. LATRELLE DUNCAN: Yes. GEORGE DUNCAN: I think it was two years I spent there at Fort Dix, New Jersey, teaching school. And that was a very pleasant job and not difficult with young men who were so eager to get this over with, and to pass that examination. So, that I did I think for two years and then I was ordered to Hawaii, isn't that right? LATRELLE DUNCAN: Yes. GEORGE DUNCAN: We went to Hawaii and we went over there in 1934 I guess. Am I speaking loud enough? FRANCES WESTBROOK: I think you're doing real well. LATRELLE DUNCAN: We went by boat. GEORGE DUNCAN: Yes, all the way around through the Panama Canal. Now they don't send people like that. They put them on a boat. LATRELLE DUNCAN: Plane. GEORGE DUNCAN: Or plane, yeah. When I went over I went on a boat and so that prolonged the trip, but it was really a sight-seeing trip for us, recreational. And to go from New York all the way around and end up in Honolulu, Hawaii, took about three weeks. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Very interesting. LATRELLE DUNCAN: We went through the canal. GEORGE DUNCAN: But I was out there two years. FRANCES WESTBROOK: I see. GEORGE DUNCAN: In Hawaii and the war came. That was 1934 I think or '35. LATRELLE DUNCAN: '39. GEORGE DUNCAN: '39. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Where were you when Pearl Harbor was attacked? GEORGE DUNCAN: I was in, not in Hawaii. We had been there, but one month before Pearl Harbor was attacked I returned to the United States, but there was certainly a very hostile attitude between ourselves and the Germans. And at the time war seemed like it was imminent, and we had already started to draft. So, I didn't know what was going to happen next. So I went to, where was it that I went to, Latrelle, was that to Fort McPherson? LATRELLE DUNCAN: Fort Benning school. GEORGE DUNCAN: I was in Fort Benning at the Infantry School when that happened. And I stayed there, of course, until it ended. Then I went to the West Coast. LATRELLE DUNCAN: Fort Ord. GEORGE DUNCAN: Fort Ord, California, and stayed there for less than a year. LATRELLE DUNCAN: And they sent us up to northern California to a little town. GEORGE DUNCAN: Fort Ord. LATRELLE DUNCAN: Yeah, Fort Ord. And they were guarding, what were you guarding at Fort Ord? GEORGE DUNCAN: Fort. LATRELLE DUNCAN: No, you were guarding something else, anyway? FRANCES WESTBROOK: Well, do you remember exactly where you were when you heard about Pearl Harbor? How you heard? LATRELLE DUNCAN: We had the radio on. GEORGE DUNCAN: Oh, we were visiting her parents in McDonough, Georgia. We heard it on a Sunday afternoon. . . .That's when the word got out over the radio that Pearl Harbor had been attacked. Then I went back to Fort Benning where I was in school. LATRELLE DUNCAN: I went with him, and I said I'm going even if I have to sleep on a park bench because I didn't have any place to stay. And I went down there with him, but fortunately we belonged to the Presbyterian Church down there. We had joined the church when we got down there. FRANCES WESTBROOK: First Presbyterian in Columbus. LATRELLE DUNCAN: In Columbus. So we called a friend that we had known at church and asked them if they would take us in, and they said yes. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Wonderful, wonderful. So, you continued on there until the course was finished? GEORGE DUNCAN: Yes, until the course was finished. Then I got orders to I forgot where. LATRELLE DUNCAN: Well, you were ordered to come back to Fort Ord. GEORGE DUNCAN: Uh-huh. LATRELLE DUNCAN: And then from Fort Ord they sent you up to Willits, California. GEORGE DUNCAN: Willits, California, that's right, and from there? LATRELLE DUNCAN: Guarding the? GEORGE DUNCAN: A port over the sea coast there where they were shipping some very important cargo. They kept the infantry regiment out nearby and I stayed there for, how long? Do you remember Latrelle? LATRELLE DUNCAN: Not very long. They promoted you and sent you back to start a new division. GEORGE DUNCAN: Yeah. LATRELLE DUNCAN: At Fort Ord. GEORGE DUNCAN: That's right I went to Fort Ord, California, and was part of the cadre of a new division they were forming. I don't know where I went next. LATRELLE DUNCAN: You went to? GEORGE DUNCAN: Back to Fort Benning, wasn't it? LATRELLE DUNCAN: No, you went to Baltimore. What fort was at Baltimore? GEORGE DUNCAN: Mead, Fort Mead, to another division at Fort Mead. And stayed there for a while, in fact the Army was in turmoil with new units being formed. And I had to find a cadre for the new division and a cadre that had some experience. So I fitted very well into that because I had already had several years in the Army, much of it training soldiers. So I went over to Fort Mead there and then. LATRELLE DUNCAN: You hadn't gone to Hattiesburg by then? GEORGE DUNCAN: Hattiesburg, Mississippi? LATRELLE DUNCAN: Uh-huh. GEORGE DUNCAN: Yeah, there was little division formed out there. LATRELLE DUNCAN: That was the 65th. GEORGE DUNCAN: 65th division and I went as a cadre to the 65th division at Hattiesburg. LATRELLE DUNCAN: From there you went overseas. GEORGE DUNCAN: Uh-huh. Now, wait a minute I know I went as a cadre to that division but where was that cadre? LATRELLE DUNCAN: The cadre was in Hattiesburg. GEORGE DUNCAN: Hattiesburg, Mississippi, I didn't mention that, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. LATRELLE DUNCAN: And from there the whole division went overseas. And from there we went overseas as a division that trained together. And we went into the war. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Where did you go first when you were overseas? GEORGE DUNCAN: I went directly to Honolulu to the fort. I forgot the name of the fort. LATRELLE DUNCAN: No, you didn't go to Honolulu; you went to General Patton, when you got to Europe you went to General Patton's Third Army. GEORGE DUNCAN: I went to the Third Army? LATRELLE DUNCAN: Yeah, General Patton. You said all the soldiers after the war were always proud that they had been with General Patton. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Now, didn't you have an experience with General Patton's little dog? LATRELLE DUNCAN: Yes. GEORGE DUNCAN: Who have you been listening to? LATRELLE DUNCAN: Tell her about it. FRANCES WESTBROOK: We'd like to hear that. GEORGE DUNCAN: Well, anyway I went to Fort Ord. Was it Fort Ord? LATRELLE DUNCAN: No, you went to Hattiesburg and then you went over to England and then you joined General Patton. GEORGE DUNCAN: Yeah, so that's that. Did you write that down? FRANCES WESTBROOK: I'm listening. GEORGE DUNCAN: Well, then I went to England and then I joined a division. LATRELLE DUNCAN: The Third Army. GEORGE DUNCAN: The Third Army, which was already in the fighting. And that was Patton's Army and I stayed with them for the entire war. And we, I've forgotten where I was when the surrender came, but I was very glad to have a surrender. LATRELLE DUNCAN: You were on the Ends River [PHONETIC]. GEORGE DUNCAN: I was on the Ends [?] River, that's right. We were face to face with the Germans on the river. They were on the eastern side; we were on the western side of the river. And the fighting had pretty well ceased. Everybody was just feeling that the war was going to end soon. So, no one wanted to be the last person killed. So everybody was very cautious, well, it was true on the other side too. We were pretty quiet there. And then the war was, the armistice came and then the war was over. And I stayed over there, though, and didn't get home until the following year. The following year I went back, and I think it was because I had had only six months over there. And people who had longer than that went ahead of me, which was only right. I couldn't argue about that, but I did get home in December, about December. And stayed there. I was on thirty day leave and then you didn't go back with me did you? LATRELLE DUNCAN: No. I didn't. GEORGE DUNCAN: Then I went back. LATRELLE DUNCAN: But that's when you met Willy. GEORGE DUNCAN: Oh. yes. LATRELLE DUNCAN: When you were coming home that time. GEORGE DUNCAN: Oh, yes. LATRELLE DUNCAN: You went on the train, you got a leave and you were going to Paris for your leave, and you got on the train and you saw Willy sitting there on the seat. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Tell us about that. GEORGE DUNCAN: Willy was General Patton's dog and he got first class treatment. And I got on board the train, I think going from Paris or the other way. LATRELLE DUNCAN: Going to Paris. GEORGE DUNCAN: Going to Paris. LATRELLE DUNCAN: From Vienna. GEORGE DUNCAN: From Vienna, and to Paris and the dog, he had—when I got on board of the train there was a dog sitting on the seat opposite of me with a captain. And the captain, I had been with him in another unit and we greeted each other warmly, and sat down in the same compartment, and talked about where we'd been and where we were going. And he said, “I'm going to stay at the George V Hotel in Paris and there's enough room in there for you and that dog.” And this dog, he had the dog, it was General Patton's dog. General Patton had died of pneumonia on his way back to the states, he had died and left his dog to be sent home to his wife. And his aide was taking the dog back. And the dog was, what kind of dog was that? LATRELLE DUNCAN: He was an English bull terrier. GEORGE DUNCAN: English bull terrier, beautiful dog, but he didn't have any courage. He was a pet dog and he was a very nice dog. Anyway, so much for the dog, we took him back to Paris and stayed at George V Hotel. FRANCES WESTBROOK: With the little dog? GEORGE DUNCAN: With the dog, they didn't complain. And so we had the dog there for several days waiting for transportation back to the United States, which developed after a few days and I came on home and had a month's leave, and my friend was, who was aide to General Patton. He took the dog back to West Coast where General Patton's wife was. And we parted company, I haven't seen him since, but it was a nice little vacation we had in Paris with the dog. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Yes, great story. GEORGE DUNCAN: So, I went from there to Atlanta. And where Latrelle was, she was staying with her mother down in McDonough. And I think I had a month's leave. And [Unintelligible] Latrelle from there, I had to go back. LATRELLE DUNCAN: He had to go back. GEORGE DUNCAN: I had to go back to Europe. LATRELLE DUNCAN: And I got to go over on the third boatload of wives that they let go over, and I joined him in Vienna. And he had bought a dog and had hired a cook, who did not speak a word of English. And so, I had to learn German so I could talk to the dog. But when he met me he had captured German Ford convertible and the dog was sitting on the back seat, and his head was about one inch from the canvas top. I thought it was the biggest dog I had ever seen in my entire life, but I fell in love with him. He was Bonzo, and when we came back from Europe we brought him back with us. He lived a rich old life, he lived to be sixteen. And he got the best treatment. GEORGE DUNCAN: Is that his picture there in that sketch? LATRELLE DUNCAN: No, his picture is on the bureau. I have a photograph of him. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Now is this in Vienna? LATRELLE DUNCAN: That was in Vienna; George was in Vienna, stationed in Vienna. FRANCES WESTBROOK: So, I was thinking we could try to take a picture of these wonderful portraits because, tell me, talk while I do that. He told me these were done in Vienna? LATRELLE DUNCAN: In Vienna while we were stationed there. And we loved Vienna. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Let's see if we can get these on the camera because they are very lovely. GEORGE DUNCAN: They were by a Viennese artist. LATRELLE DUNCAN: And he was very good. GEORGE DUNCAN: Well, he was—I looked like that, hair and all! FRANCES WESTBROOK: And we actually have an interesting picture in the background because this gentleman here is reflecting in the mirror. LATRELLE DUNCAN: Oh, really [Unintelligible] FRANCES WESTBROOK: Really, and was he from McDonough too? LATRELLE DUNCAN: No, he lived in Macon. FRANCES WESTBROOK: And there we have the General's portrait. These are excellent, they're wonderful, very nice. GEORGE DUNCAN: Will they show up that way? FRANCES WESTBROOK: I think we'll have something. They're not going to be perfect but they'll give us a record I think. They're just such beautiful paintings, really did want to try to include them. GEORGE DUNCAN: That man had a good likeness. We paid him. FRANCES WESTBROOK: And that was Vienna? And you mentioned you loved Berlin so much, too. GEORGE DUNCAN: Well, we did, as a matter of fact Latrelle liked it better than Vienna. FRANCES WESTBROOK: And that was after the war, of course, you said. LATRELLE DUNCAN: That was in '56 to '58. FRANCES WESTBROOK: I see, so is that what was called the Cold War period? LATRELLE DUNCAN: That was the Cold War. FRANCES WESTBROOK: How did it feel to you being over there in Germany? LATRELLE DUNCAN: Well, the Russians, we met them at parties. And they would invite us as a group you know, to come to a big party. And we would invite them, too, as a group for the Fourth of July, the big reception or something. And then some people invited individual Russians, so we met some individual Russians at different individual parties. But this was just about the time the Russian plane went around. FRANCES WESTBROOK: The U2 [possibly Sputnik]?. LATRELLE DUNCAN: Yeah, and so they were very proud of that. GEORGE DUNCAN: Oh, yeah, they'd greet us at parties telling us about the U2. LATRELLE DUNCAN: But we, one Russian at one cocktail party, Russian general I met, and I said, I'm reading—what was I reading that I told him about? GEORGE DUNCAN: War and Peace. LATRELLE DUNCAN: War and Peace. And he said, he was just so interested. And I said, “I've just gotten to where Bonaparte has gotten into”—wherever he went. GEORGE DUNCAN: Russia. LATRELLE DUNCAN: He said, “Well, you go back and read it until he gets out.” FRANCES WESTBROOK: Great, and so after Berlin what came next? LATRELLE DUNCAN: We went to Washington and all of the Russians used to say, “Oh, I can't wait to get back to Moscow.” Of course, they were lying because their life in Moscow was nothing compared to the life in Berlin. So, then when we got out, I'd say, “I can't wait to get back to Washington,” which was, I really lied. There's a difference between the life in Berlin and life in Washington, but anyway. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Very interesting. I would like to ask, I don't want to skip anything, but I did notice that [your career concluded] in 1966 to '67. GEORGE DUNCAN: '65 I think, when I retired. FRANCES WESTBROOK: You retired in what, '67 I think? GEORGE DUNCAN: '67, yeah. FRANCES WESTBROOK: So you were with the Third Army General Headquarters? GEORGE DUNCAN: Yeah, that was right wasn't it, Latrelle? LATRELLE DUNCAN: Yeah. GEORGE DUNCAN: Right here at Fort McPherson . . . . as the administrator. FRANCES WESTBROOK: [discussion about tape] Okay, great. Now were ready. So after retirement where did you go, the Yerkes Primate Center? GEORGE DUNCAN: Yerkes Primate Research Center. FRANCES WESTBROOK: And would you like to tell us about that? GEORGE DUNCAN: Well, I was right here at Emory University, on the property of Emory University. There's a research center there, have you heard of it? FRANCES WESTBROOK: Oh, yes, indeed. GEORGE DUNCAN: Well, then I won't explain that to you. I went there as the administrative officer. I'm no scientist but I do know a little thing about keeping order and some discipline among the people. And that was really a pleasant assignment. I liked the people, very friendly. And they were all honest with each other and with me. And it was just a very pleasant assignment. I stayed there for how long, Latrelle, ten years? LATRELLE DUNCAN: Wasn't it, I think it was twelve years, wasn't it? GEORGE DUNCAN: Yeah, 1967. LATRELLE DUNCAN: I think twelve years. GEORGE DUNCAN: Twelve years I was out there. And I enjoyed it very much. . . . And the scientists out there . . . they were also, we think of scientists as being peculiar people in some ways. And they have a few peculiarities, but in general they were very nice people to work with. I enjoyed the association and enjoyed the work. And I'm sorry I got the age limit on me and I had to leave. So, I haven't done anything since then in the way of a job. LATRELLE DUNCAN: He said his first rule out there was no monkeying around or he would write his congressman. GEORGE DUNCAN: We had faculty members over there that would write their congressman. Well, one or two, but the thing is, soldiers wrote their congressman, that's what used to get me. Soldiers would write their congressman when they felt mistreated. Then you had these commanders who had to get out and write a letter back to the congressman to explain what had happened and all that. And that made the job unpleasant when that happened, but [it was] one of those things we expected. Some of them will complain, but I didn't have that among those apes and monkeys. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Excellent. Well, I would like to ask, looking back on your military career. What were some of the stand-out experiences that you might remember? You have so many? GEORGE DUNCAN: Well, first place, I had a long service in the Army before I graduated in 1932 and I think in '41 is when I was assigned to that division, infantry division. I think, I don't know, I'm having difficulty with my dates now. But anyway I was with the, in training, this division in training ready to go overseas, east or west. But I think everyone knew that we were going to Europe. And that's where we went from Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and that's were our camp was where we trained for, I guess a year, before I went overseas to Europe. And anything you want to add to that, Latrelle? LATRELLE DUNCAN: No, except that you were glad you got in General Patton's Army. GEORGE DUNCAN: Yes, I did, I got into the Third Army with General Patton. And he was a man that was a hard leader, stern is the word. And he was pretty hard to please, but it helped—if you pleased him you were doing all right. But anyway it was General Patton. The war ended while I was over there and I'm trying to remember what the time element was when General Patton died in the hospital over there. He had a heart attack or something and died over there. We were in Germany at the time in the division. Latrelle wasn't there. The division stayed there. Where did I go from there, Latrelle? LATRELLE DUNCAN: Well, you got out and you came home. GEORGE DUNCAN: Yeah, but I had to go back. LATRELLE DUNCAN: Yeah, but you were in the Army of Occupation. GEORGE DUNCAN: Well, yes, I know, when we quit occupation was long after I left. LATRELLE DUNCAN: Yeah, well you came back to, you mean where were you assigned? GEORGE DUNCAN: Yeah, were did we go? LATRELLE DUNCAN: I don't remember. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Well, I think we can look on, I think we have a list of stations. GEORGE DUNCAN: Stations. FRANCES WESTBROOK: So we can fill in the blanks on this. LATRELLE DUNCAN: Oh, I know where we went. We went to Washington, because remember I told everybody, I told those Russians, “I can't wait to get back to Washington,” and I hated it. But I didn't. GEORGE DUNCAN: Russians were always talking about wanting to get back to Moscow. LATRELLE DUNCAN: Life in Washington and in Berlin, because I enjoyed being near Washington, but I didn't like the hardships. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Yes, well, were there other personalities and such like Patten that you particularly remember? GEORGE DUNCAN: Oh, yes, I remember a lot but don't depend on my weak memory because I did have a lot of friends. The man who brought General Patton's dog back was a friend of mine, but I've forgotten his name, and it's been many years since this has happened. So, I don't have a good recall. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Well, I think you recall extremely well all this long career and all of these many different things that happened. What about Eisenhower? GEORGE DUNCAN: General Eisenhower was, I think he'd come back home and somebody else had taken his position. But I'm not sure about that. I didn't see him that often, and I'm not very close to him either. FRANCES WESTBROOK: But being in Patton's Army was— GEORGE DUNCAN: It was something. All of the soldiers, you ask them. The soldiers that had gotten out of the Army, people would ask them where they served. They would say, “I served under General Patton with the Third U.S. Army,” because they were proud to be a part of Patton's group. Because Patton was a hard driver but nevertheless was greatly respected by the people he commanded. And he deserved it, he was a real soldier. But now where are we. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Well, we've come all the way up through your retirement and the Yerkes Primate Center, and then now being here at Lenbrook and retired. GEORGE DUNCAN: Yeah. FRANCES WESTBROOK: If I could ask one or two more questions going way, way back, even in elementary school. I started wondering, do you remember certain teachers? GEORGE DUNCAN: Miss Daisy Neal. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Tell us about her? GEORGE DUNCAN: First grade. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Well, I would love to here about Miss Daisy Neal. GEORGE DUNCAN: Well, she was a well known character in Thomasville, Georgia, in the public school and taught, I don't know, the first or second grade, and I was in it. And she was loved by all, but she was a [demanding] teacher too. And anybody who had her for a teacher, he or she always said, “I was in Miss Daisy Neal's class.” FRANCES WESTBROOK: The General Patton of the first grade. GEORGE DUNCAN: The General Patton of the first grade, that's right. Yes, it was. And that was down in Thomasville, Georgia. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Any other teachers along the way that made such an impression? GEORGE DUNCAN: No, I can't think about it. Oh, there was one named Birdie Birdsong [?]. That was in Thomasville too. And she had another, she had the next class up above Miss Daisy, but she was a good teacher. And I can remember, you can attest to that. So I must have been impressed. But Miss Daisy Neal, just ask anybody that had been in the first grade with Miss Daisy Neal, very proud of it. She was valued person, but one who did it without beating you over the head. Where are we now? FRANCES WESTBROOK: Well, is there anything else you would like to add? I think we've covered a lot, any experiences you would like to particularly mention or anything you'd like to say? GEORGE DUNCAN: Well, I also want to say that I went on to high school in Montgomery, Alabama. Then from there I got an appointment to West Point, the congressman and now senator, he's dead now, Lister Hill appointed me to West Point. I think I mentioned that. LATRELLE DUNCAN: One thing, Lister Hill and his wife came to Berlin on a trip while we were there. So we invited them to dinner and they had dinner with us. And he said, “I know how to pick them.” FRANCES WESTBROOK: I bet he did. GEORGE DUNCAN: I was a general officer then. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Yes, indeed. You were definitely to his credit. So would either of you like to say something for future generations about service or? GEORGE DUNCAN: Well, I think those that did best were those who like military service, and like the discipline required. And also they were confident they were in something valuable when they got in the Army, well, service to the country anyway. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Well, thank you so very much. If there's anything you would like to add we can do that? GEORGE DUNCAN: Well, let me see, well the Korean War. I was in the Korean War. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Well, please tell us all about those experiences. GEORGE DUNCAN: Yeah, I would have been in the Vietnam but I wasn't. I was back there training troops to go to Vietnam. But then after that there was Korea. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Would you like to talk some about the Korean War? GEORGE DUNCAN: Yes, I was a regiment commander, infantry regiment in the Korean War. And it was a demanding war, but the worst of the fighting I think had gone on before I got there, although I had enough to suit me. But the Army and the United States were having a hard time in Korea from the beginning, but they finally got control of the situation and the war ended as you know. And we had successfully defended South Korea, which was our purpose in fighting that war, anyway. But I was with them at the time they were face to face with the Chinese, who were up in North Korea. And North Korea had their troops, too. But that was interesting service, but we were handicapped in that service because the North Koreans were fighting against brothers. It was South Korea and North Korea, and that made it difficult for them and somewhat difficult for us. But I was over there until the Korean War ended, wasn't I, Latrelle? LATRELLE DUNCAN: No, I think you came back before it ended. GEORGE DUNCAN: Uh-huh, I missed Vietnam. FRANCES WESTBROOK: I'm glad you did. I read that a lot of Korean veterans feel almost overlooked. GEORGE DUNCAN: Well, they did, we never declared war. I commanded an infantry regiment, and they were fighting a war that had never been declared. I had a lot of men killed over fighting a war that had never been declared, and hasn't yet been declared. I sort of resented that. It didn't affect the way we did our job, but by golly it was something that the country should have done. It made the soldiers feel that they weren't really appreciated and we're not doing anything to help the country, because the country didn't even feel like declaring war. LATRELLE DUNCAN: One thing, George wrote me one letter that he had gone up to see Charlie [unclear] that was a classmate of his. And he was, George had a company right on the front line and so did Charlie. And so I wrote George back and said, “Please don't go up to see Charlie because that's too dangerous.” And George said he laughed and laughed when he got the letter, because he wrote me back and said, “Everything we do over here is dangerous.” But they were so close they could see the enemy. FRANCES WESTBROOK: We had an interview the other day with a Korean veteran. And this was an African American. GEORGE DUNCAN: Uh-huh. FRANCES WESTBROOK: And he was saying that across the front lines they were broadcasting propaganda, “Why are you here?” I thought that was very interesting, but they kept with it. GEORGE DUNCAN: Uh-huh. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Well, I'm going to pause it for a moment, so we'll stop it for a second. GEORGE DUNCAN: I thought we were through. [END SIDE OF TAPE] [resumes] Well, I want to thank you for reminding me because it was one of the humorous things that happened. Not many [humorous] things happened during the war but I was the operations officer of an infantry division in World War II. And we got up around the Fulda River in Germany, and the Germans were defending their territory real well. What was it, Latrelle? LATRELLE DUNCAN: And he came up to you, it was midnight on the Fulda River. And he came up, Bob came up to you. GEORGE DUNCAN: And said, a fellow came up to in the middle of the night, and a little fight was going on then. And this man was a liaison officer between us, my division and the division next to us. And he came over to us and reported that he was a liaison officer and he was going to be right nearby if I had [anything we needed, they] would help. Let him know and he would take it back to his division commander. Well, that's fine. But as he talked he had a southern accent, and I said, “Where are you from?” And he said, “I'm from Georgia.” And I said, “Where did you go to school?” He said, “I went to the University of Georgia.” I said, “My wife went to the University of Georgia.” And he said, “What was her name?” I said “Her name was Latrelle Robinson.” He said, “I knew her.” And I never saw him anymore, but that was just a coincidence that I should see him. LATRELLE DUNCAN: But you knew his nickname? GEORGE DUNCAN: I said, I'd forgotten that, but while he was talking I said, “Where are you from?” He said, “Georgia.” I said, “Where did you go to school?” He said, “University of Georgia.” And I said, “Did you know my wife Latrelle?” LATRELLE DUNCAN: No, you didn't, you said “Is Yard Dog your nickname?” GEORGE DUNCAN: I haven't gotten to that yet. I said, “Have you got a nickname? What is your name?” And he said, what did he say? LATRELLE DUNCAN: He just said Bob ______. GEORGE DUNCAN: “________, my name is ______ and I'm up here as a liaison officer from the unit up ahead. And I'll be right nearby.” And as he talked I knew he was from somewhere in the south, so I said, “Where are you from?” He said, “I'm from Georgia.” I said, “Did you go to the University of Georgia?” He said, “Yes I did.” I said, “My wife went to the University.” And he said, “What was her name?” And I said, “Latrelle Robinson.” He said, “I knew her.” FRANCES WESTBROOK: That's great. GEORGE DUNCAN: So that was a coincidence on the battlefield. LATRELLE DUNCAN: His nickname was the thing. GEORGE DUNCAN: His nickname was “Yard Dog.” LATRELLE DUNCAN: And George said, “Is your nickname Yard Dog?” And he almost fainted. GEORGE DUNCAN: That's the way it worked out, yeah. While he was standing I recognized that southern voice of his. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Because you had heard that nickname before. GEORGE DUNCAN: Yeah, I had heard that. FRANCES WESTBROOK: But you were probably the only person over there who knew what his nickname was. GEORGE DUNCAN: I said, “Is your nickname Yard Dog?” And he said, “How did you know?” FRANCES WESTBROOK: Well, that's great. There are so many memories and stories I'm sure. GEORGE DUNCAN: You're right. LATRELLE DUNCAN: But I thought that was particularly funny that here in the middle of the night in the Fulda River, George is asking “Is your nickname Yard Dog?” FRANCES WESTBROOK: Yes, I love that. That probably made him feel back at home for a minute. GEORGE DUNCAN: Yes, it brought back memories, I'm sure. FRANCES WESTBROOK: I'm sure it did. Well, thank you so much. GEORGE DUNCAN: You're welcome. [conversation] [Unidentified woman, assistant to the Duncans]: Did you talk about the little German boy you arrested that was in the Germany Army? LATRELLE DUNCAN: He told her that. FRANCES WESTBROOK: I don't remember hearing that. Did we talk about that? LATRELLE DUNCAN: Yeah, at the end of the war. GEORGE DUNCAN: Oh, yes, we were going through the—we had just crossed the Fulda River. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Should we turn it back on? LATRELLE DUNCAN: No, he told you. GEORGE DUNCAN: No, I didn't. LATRELLE DUNCAN: You did, you told her about the German boy. Oh no, you didn't tell her that one. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Well, let's see where we are. WOMAN SPEAKER: I know that was in your notes. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Okay, well, we are going to start it back then. Is that all right? GEORGE DUNCAN: Wait, give me time to catch up on my thoughts. Where was I, Latrelle? LATRELLE DUNCAN: Well, you made him a prisoner. GEORGE DUNCAN: Now, we had crossed the river and the division had gone on ahead, and I was behind them, and crossed over the river on the bridge that we had built. Then he had— LATRELLE DUNCAN: You saw some movement. GEORGE DUNCAN: Oh, I saw some, I was by myself except for the driver. And the driver said, “There's somebody behind the bush right up there.” And so I looked and I could see the bush shaking and so forth. So I said, “Just drive a little bit closer.” Well, he did and when he did this German soldier came out from behind a bush, and he came up holding his hands like that. And I can't remember the conversation but at any rate, it was by sign language mostly. But I told him to get in the back of the jeep. And so he got in the back of the jeep and we went on up and I joined the regiment I was in, the division I was in. LATRELLE DUNCAN: And your friends were standing there. GEORGE DUNCAN: Oh, yes, my friends were standing there as I drove up to the command post. A bunch of my friends who had already gone ahead of me, and they said “Who is that you've got in the back seat?” And before I could answer someone had said, “Why he's a German and you've captured the heart of the German Army.” And they teased me about bringing that kid; he was only fourteen years old. Because they teased me about bringing in a fourteen year old, “broke the back of the Germany Army.” But I'll think about other things but you've got as much tape as you can handle. WOMAN SPEAKER: Did you want anything from him, his, did you see these? LATRELLE DUNCAN: She saw them when you took them up to the history center. GEORGE DUNCAN: She did? LATRELLE DUNCAN: When we went up to the history center and they did a thing on you, and they did. FRANCES WESTBROOK: This might be awfully nice to get on the camera. GEORGE DUNCAN: Let me see what it is. FRANCES WESTBROOK: See what you think. GEORGE DUNCAN: Well, it's a pretty thing. This is signed by Paul Freeman; yeah, you can take a picture of that if you like. FRANCES WESTBROOK: I just didn't remember seeing it in the material at the History Center. WOMAN SPEAKER: I don't think it came. FRANCES WESTBROOK: I don't think it came and it seems like it is close to the end of your career. WOMAN SPEAKER: Yeah, because she didn't take any of those back there with her. This is some other ones. And you did see those two here that she carried. FRANCES WESTBROOK: The medals, yes. GEORGE DUNCAN: Well, you've got a picture of that. WOMAN SPEAKER: He's got all kinds of things here. FRANCES WESTBROOK: You've got so many things. LATRELLE DUNCAN: You don't need anything else. GEORGE DUNCAN: Whatever you want, though, I'll be glad to pose. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Well, just hold it like that, and we'll at least get a picture of one thing. That's wonderful. Now do you briefly just want to tell me about that one? GEORGE DUNCAN: Have you taken the picture? FRANCES WESTBROOK: Yes. GEORGE DUNCAN: Well, this is just my Commanding General back in March of 1966 at Fort Monroe. And I think it's just prior to my retirement. LATRELLE DUNCAN: No, you retired from Fort McPherson; you hadn't gotten to Fort McPherson yet. GEORGE DUNCAN: Yeah, well anyway just before I retired, about a year before. And it's just a presentation of a medal, as it says “In recognition of the outstanding contribution you have made during your ten years as Chief of Staff and as Assistant Deputy Commanding General for Reserve Forces and in other key positions at Headquarters, United States Continental Army Command. We the undersigned offer this token of respect, admiration, and esteem. May the future hold many fruitful years of achievement and happiness so richly merited by your enduring devotion to duty, untiring devotion to duty.” Well, it wasn't very short, right along before I did retire. LATRELLE DUNCAN: No, you were at Fort McPherson. GEORGE DUNCAN: Paul Freeman, he commanded me at Fort McPherson Infantry. LATRELLE DUNCAN: No, he didn't, he commanded at Fort Monroe. GEORGE DUNCAN: Yeah, that's right, she was right, it was at Fort Monroe before I retired. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Well, it was a nice statement of appreciation. Not quite at retirement but almost. GEORGE DUNCAN: Almost, I retired at Fort McPherson. FRANCES WESTBROOK: This was about a year before that. And you retired in 1967. GEORGE DUNCAN: '67. FRANCES WESTBROOK: Okay, well, I thank you very, very much. It's so much a book should be written, it really should. I know we can't cover everything, but [the retirement presentation book that West Point put together] has got lots of details. WOMAN SPEAKER: See, I sit here at night and I'm here with him, and I hear them talking about all these things. And to me, just my husband and me, we just soak everything up that they say.
Metadata URL:: http://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/cdm/ref/collection/VHPohr/id/158
Additional Rights Information:: This material is protected by copyright law. (Title 17, U.S. Code) Permission for use must be cleared through the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. Licensing agreement may be required.
Extent:: 54:42
Original Collection:: Veterans History Project oral history recordings
Veterans History Project collection, MSS 1010, Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center
Holding Institution:: Atlanta History Center
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