- Collection:
- Veterans History Project: Oral History Interviews
- Title:
- Oral history interview of Chester T. Cohen
- Creator:
- Bruckner, William Joseph
Cohen, Chester T., 1916- - Date of Original:
- 2005-03-23
- Subject:
- World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
Mitsubishi G4M (Bomber)
Motor vehicles, Amphibious
Hermitage (Ship : AP-54)
United States. Army. Division, 24th
United States. Army. Infantry Division, 34th. Battery, 2nd
Hermitage (converted cruise liner) - Location:
- United States, California, Contra Costa County, Pittsburg, 38.02798, -121.88468
United States, California, Monterey County, Fort Ord Military Reservation (historical), 36.65278, -121.80056
United States, Florida, Clay County, Camp Blanding, 29.94686, -81.97324
United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
United States, Georgia, Atlanta Metropolitan Area, 33.8498, 84.4383
United States, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, 41.85003, -87.65005
United States, Illinois, Winnebago County, Rockford, Camp Grant Station (historical), 42.20836, -89.08233
United States, Nebraska, Phelps County, Camp Atlanta, 40.3678095, -99.4733834 - Medium:
- video recordings (physical artifacts)
mini-dv - Type:
- Moving Image
- Format:
- video/quicktime
- Description:
- In this interview, Chester Cohen describes his life in the U.S. Army in the Pacific during World War II. Although he had a wife and child he was drafted and trained as a cryptographer in the Army. He sailed through the Pacific in an Italian cruise liner that had been confiscated by the U.S. government at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor. After leaving Australia, they learned that the food supply they had just acquired was filled with maggots. Sailors from the Navy surreptitiously left food on the fantails of their ship for them. His first action was on the landing at Leyte Gulf. Officers were particularly singled out by Japanese soldiers, so they wore their insignias under their lapels and their men called them by their given names. At this time, he became a messenger for his company's colonel. His unit's landing was made easier because of the bombardment from Navy ships. After landing, he watched the Navy ships sail out of the harbor, but soon learned it was because of attacking Japanese aircraft. From his vantage point, he was able to witness the dogfights between the Japanese and American aircraft, and the ships returned. During the landing, he became the messenger for the unit's commanding officer, and earned a Bronze Star for his actions in delivering messages. In the Philippines, he often traveled in DUKWs. Too much time in the swamps and rivers gave him a bad case of jungle rot, which probably saved his life, as his entire unit was killed in an enemy attack while he was back at the aid station. He spent time recuperating in Galesburg, Ill. and later Fort Sam Houston (Texas.). He was then sent to a POW camp to help get the German POWs back to Germany in convoys.
Chester Cohen was in the U.S. Army in the Pacific during World War II. - Metadata URL:
- http://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/cdm/ref/collection/VHPohr/id/343
- 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:
- 41:30
- 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
- Rights:
-
