- Collection:
- Veterans History Project: Oral History Interviews
- Title:
- Oral history interview of Randall L. Hughes
- Creator:
- Bruckner, William Joseph, 1944-
Hughes, Randall L., 1940- - Publisher:
- Atlanta, Ga. : Kenan Research Center
- Date of Original:
- 2016-04-11
- Subject:
- Cold War--Personal narratives, American
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962
Dachau (Concentration camp)
Kristallnacht, 1938
Howitzers
Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963--Assasination
United States. Army. Armored Division, 4th
United States. Reserve Officers Training Corps - Location:
- Germany, Fürth, Zirndorf, 49.4424, 10.95414
Germany, Nuremberg, 49.453872, 11.077298
United States, Florida, Polk County, Auburndale, 28.0653, -81.78869 - Medium:
- oral histories (literary works)
- Type:
- Moving Image
- Format:
- video/mp4
- Description:
- In this interview, Randall Hughes recalls his experiences serving in the United States Army in Germany during the Cold War. He grew up in a small town in Florida and received his commission after four years of ROTC at the University of Florida. His first assignment was to an "Honest John" rocket company in Nuremberg, Germany. He describes in detail several experiences he had in Germany, including visiting the Dachau concentration camp and discussing the Holocaust with his German landlord. He describes the tensions prevalent during the Cold War and explains that his wife was given punch cards to use in the event hostilities broke out, so that she could travel from Nuremberg to Atlantic ports. He was tasked with commanding a troop train from Nuremberg to Bremerhaven for soldiers returning to the United States on November 22nd, 1963, and describes hearing about President Kennedy's assassination and how it affected the men on the train. One soldier insisted they return to Nuremberg because he was convinced a Soviet attack was imminent and he wanted to return to fight with his unit. He recalls a missile launch demonstration that went terribly wrong and compares the Army's reaction to that event with other, less significant incidents that occurred later. He describes his family, his post-military career and activities, and reflects on what the military taught him about leadership.
2nd of the 16th Artillery Battalion; forward observer; Honest John rocket (MGR-1); top secret clearance; "Brown Shirts"; troop train; communications; 8" Howitzer
Randall Hughes served in the United States Army during the Cold War. - Metadata URL:
- http://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/cdm/ref/collection/VHPohr/id/814
- 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:
- 59:02
- 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:
-
